He smirks. “Doesn’t matter what she thinks, the truth is much less interesting.”
“Well, come on,” I say, nudging him with my shoulder. “Keep going.”
“My surname,” he says.
“Arrow is your surname?”
He shakes his head. “My surname is Arrowsmith. Killian Arrowsmith.”
I bite my bottom lip. “You’re right, that is boring.”
He laughs this time. “I know. I think Faye’s story is a lot more creative.”
I make a note to find out just what that is.
“Why are you in such a good mood?” I ask him, feeling suspicious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this lighthearted, especially around me. “You’re usually grumpy.”
He stands up and holds out his hand. “A man’s not allowed to be in a good mood now and again?”
I place my hand in his large callused one. I wonder if this Jill is the reason for his sudden happiness. That thought instantly kills my good mood. “What are you doing, Arrow? You’ve stayed away from me all this time and suddenly we’re best friends?”
“I’ll be keeping an eye on you for the next few days. Don’t make this difficult,” he says, letting go of my hand as he opens the door.
“Is Lana going to be safe?”
“Lana isn’t on anyone’s radar, of course she’s safe,” he says patiently. “Come on. Faye wanted to see you as soon as you got here.”
“I don’t know Faye.”
“I know; that’s why she wants to get to know you.”
“Why?”
He looks at me then. “’Cause you’re family, darlin’.”
Well, when he says it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad after all.
“It’s a little weird being around her,” I admit to him.
“Why?” he asks, studying me.
“I don’t know,” I say, shuffling my feet.
“Tell me the real reason, Anna. You know you can trust me,” he cajoles, his expression not giving away anything.
I wring my hands together. “Fine, but don’t repeat this.”
“You know I won’t.”
I expel a deep sigh. “She knows my own brother better than I do, and he’s closer to her, so it’s . . . I don’t know.”
I can’t believe I just admitted that out loud. Nothing like letting a man with the power to break you see your weakness.
Arrow’s eyes flare in realization. “Your brother fuckin’ adores you, Anna, don’t worry about anything else. You let Faye in, she’ll be a good friend to you. Trust me.”
My phone rings. Damien’s name flashes on-screen.
Arrow sees it.
“Who the fuck is Damien?” he asks, in an even tone filled with restrained anger.
I roll my eyes. “A friend from school.”
“Why is he calling you?” he demands.
I lift my shoulder in a shrug. “How am I supposed to know? I didn’t answer the call.”
“You fucking him?” he asks.
I gasp. “What right do you have to ask me that?”
He looks away from me.
My phone rings again. Damien. It must be important.
Before I know what he intends, Arrow snatches the phone from me and presses the green button. “Hello,” he sneers into the line. “This is Anna’s man, call her again and I’ll be paying you a little visit.”
“Arrow, what the fuck?” I yell, trying to grab my phone back from him. “He’s a friend, you asshole! And I’m going to have to face him in class, so thanks a lot!”
Arrow steps back and I’m jumping in the air trying to get my phone back. He hangs up on poor Damien, who is probably traumatized, and looks down at me like I’m the one who did something wrong.
“At least now he knows where he stands,” he says in a smug tone.
“I’ve never wanted to punch someone more in my life,” I muse, poking him in the arm. “You’re turning me to violence!”
He has the audacity to laugh. “You’re fuckin’ cute when you’re angry, you know that?”
I huff. “Well, expect to see a lot of cute from me, then.”
He grins and hands me my phone. “Looking forward to it. Now let’s go and see Faye.”
I follow him out to the living area, quickly texting Damien that I was sorry and I would talk to him in class. He doesn’t reply, but then again I didn’t really expect him to. He’s seen the men who drive me home, so he’s probably scared shitless.
There goes my only friend in college. Guess I’ll have to make a new one next week. Arrow stops in his tracks, so I do the same. The place is still empty, but Arrow yells out Faye’s name, and she soon walks in.
“Hello, Anna,” she says to me, then hugs Arrow. “I hear you’re stuck with us for the next few days.”
“Looks like it,” I tell her, sitting down on the couch. “Where is everyone?”
“The women are out getting supplies. We like to stay stocked before we go on a lockdown,” she explains.
She really is beautiful. Wait, did she just say lockdown?
“Lockdown?” I repeat, looking at Arrow for an answer.
“What?” he asks.
“What about work?” I ask him. “I have to go to work!”
“I told Reid you aren’t coming in,” he says, leaning back against the couch.
“I’m sorry, what?” I whisper, my hands clenching into fists.
Faye cringes, obviously picking up on my anger before Arrow does.
I stand up. “You controlling bastard! I didn’t know I was literally stuck under this roof with nowhere to go!”
“Anna, calm down,” Arrow says, looking up at me. “It’s for your own safety, so I’m not fuckin’ sorry, and I know Rake isn’t sorry either.”
I see Faye look at Arrow curiously, a thoughtful look on her face. “You could have warned the girl.”
Arrow shoots her a look. “You think she would have come? She’s a fuckin’ spitfire.”
“Just how exactly do you plan to keep me here?” I ask him. “You can’t watch me twenty-four-seven, and with you being a man-whore and all, I assume there will be times when you’re busy getting your dick wet.”
Faye surprises me by bursting out laughing.
“Oh, fuck!” she says, tapping her hand on her thigh. She looks at me and grins. “I’ve never seen a woman, other than me of course, put Arrow in his place. This is gold.”
Arrow, on the other hand, doesn’t look so impressed.
“Don’t test me, Anna,” is all he says.
Don’t test him?
I look to Faye, the woman I didn’t think I liked but somehow in the last few minutes has become my ally. “I heard you’re a good fighter.”
She tilts her head, probably wondering what I’m getting at, but then nods.
“Want to spar?” I ask. “I could work out some frustration.”
She grins, widely, showing off perfect white teeth. “Hell yeah. Let’s go.”
“Anna . . .” Arrow says, warning in his voice.
I ignore him and walk off.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I hear him call out behind me.
Has no faith in me, does he?
I’m going to love proving him wrong.
DON’T worry,” Faye says, sounding genuine. “I’ll take it easy on you.”
I smirk. “No need to do that on my account.”
I tie my hair up so it’s off my face and stretch my arms above my head.
“You know, this is the first time we’ve actually been alone with each other,” she says, watching me.
I turn to the door to see Arrow standing there in the frame, his eyes on me. “Except for Arrow watching us.”
Turning my back on him, I face Faye and say, “You’re right. Even though these aren’t normal circumstances.”
Faye laughs. “Hey, you’re the one who wanted to spar.”
“I know.”
“A lot of frustration to get out?” she asks with a knowing smirk.
I purse my lips. “Something like that.”
When was the last time I’d even had an orgasm? I should really get that taken care of, and stat.