Chapter 18

Monday

I slowly opened my eyes. The room was still dark, but there was some light filtering in under the door. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up. No wonder it was pitch black in here last night. I hadn't realized it before, but there wasn't a single window in V's bedroom.

I had slept surprisingly well. Better than I had in weeks. Maybe because I felt truly safe for the first time since moving to New York. No one could get in or out of V's lair. And even if they could, they wouldn't be able to get past him and figure out how to get into this room. I was glad that I stayed. I needed rest. Just like he said. He seemed to know everything about me.

Pushing the sheets back, I climbed out of bed. I had changed into the t-shirt he had given me. Part of me didn't want to take it off. The material was soft against my skin and it smelled like him. I could wear it for a few more minutes at least. I desperately needed a shower. I rummaged around the dark bedroom until I found the clothes I had been wearing last night.

Hopefully Eli and V were still sleeping. I balled up my clothes and opened up the door. I tiptoed out and quietly closed the door behind me.

Someone cleared their throat and I dropped my clothes as I turned around.

Eli and V were calmly sitting at the kitchen counter eating bowls of cereal. Staring at me. More specifically, staring at my very exposed legs. The t-shirt was so short that it barely covered my ass.

"Sorry," I mumbled as I bent down and gathered my clothes back up. "Um, is it okay if I take a shower?" I pulled at the hem of the t-shirt so I wouldn't accidentally flash them. I've already seen you naked, if you recall. V's words from last night started to echo around in my head.

V pointed to the bathroom that I had already found last night. "Of course. Make yourself at home."

Eli dropped his spoon in his bowl and it made a loud clattering noise. He pushed the bowl away. "I have to get to class. I'll see you in psychology, Summer."

I was glad that someone was referring to me by my real name. "You're still going?"

"My cover hasn't been blown. We need to pretend that everything is normal."

V glared at him.

"How's your leg?" I asked.

"It's been better." He glared back at V. "But I've had worse. I'm fine."

"Okay. Well, I'm just going to..." I pointed to the bathroom over my shoulder. This was probably the most awkward start to a day I'd ever had. I disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door before anyone could say anything else. Neither one of them had even tried to hide the fact that they were staring at me. God, what on earth did they have planned?

Spend my days with Eli and my nights with V. I rolled my eyes. I'm sure that wasn't their plan. What was I even thinking? I pulled the t-shirt off over my head and threw it onto the tiled floor. I turned on the shower. It only took a second for the water to get warm. This was definitely a hell of a lot nicer than my dorm.

I stepped in and immediately opened up the body wash. I was right. It smelled just like him. I quickly washed up, trying not to focus on how arousing V's scent was. Or the fact that I was completely covered in it now. I rinsed off, stepped out of the shower, and wrapped one of the fluffiest towels I had ever touched around me. V clearly lived a life of luxury. So where had his soft spot for the poor come from?

I opened up a drawer in his vanity. It was completely empty. As was the next. And the next. The only thing in the bathroom were one toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, and a roll of floss. Luxury on the cheap, I guess.

After running my fingers through my hair, swishing some toothpaste and water around in my mouth, and pulling on my dirty clothes, I was ready to walk back out there. I pressed my ear against the bathroom door. I couldn't hear a thing. If they were both still sitting in the kitchen, they weren't talking. That thought didn't surprise me. But I hoped that Eli had left for class.

I opened up the door and stepped out. V was standing at the sink, still in his disguise, doing dishes. He turned and shut the water off when he spotted me emerging.

"I'll pick up a few things for you," he said, as if reading my thoughts.

"I wasn't planning on spending the night here again."

"You didn't sleep well?"

"Actually, I slept really well. Probably better than I have in years." I walked into the kitchen and sat down at one of the stools. "There wasn't much in your bathroom."

"Then I'll pick up a few things," he repeated.

I shook my head. "You don't have to do that." I looked around the room instead of pouring myself a bowl of cereal. "It doesn't even seem like anyone lives here. You have nothing in your drawers. There isn't a spot on anything." I stared at one of the gleaming glass separators.

"I'm not here all the time. And I rarely ever sleep here."

"Where are you usually?"

He wiped his hands off on the front of his sweatpants and walked over to me. It took me a second to realize he wasn't wearing his gloves. I couldn't seem to look away from his hands. It wasn't that there was anything unusual about them or anything like that. But I wondered if they'd feel like fire if they touched me.

He cleared his throat and I looked back up at his face. "I don't live here is all that I meant."

"So where do you live?"

He sat down next to me.

And I couldn't even control myself. I reached out and grabbed one of his hands. They were warm, but not hot. They didn't burn me at all. Actually, the feeling of his skin on mine felt soothing if anything.

I thought he might pull back, or get upset. Instead, his fingers curled around mine. His hands were rough and I could feel the calluses on his palms. Everything about him emanated strength. He made me feel safe.

He turned my hand over and ran his thumb down my palm.

My breathing hitched.

He looked back up at my face. "I'm sorry about last night."

I swallowed hard. "Which part?"

A smile spread across his face. "About what I said. No, we don't end up together. I can't change that. It doesn't mean we have to stop whatever this is."

"And what do you think this is?" It really felt like my heart was going to explode.

He continued to rub his thumb against my palm. "A way to breathe a little easier."

That wasn't exactly what I thought he'd say, but I wasn't entirely surprised. I didn't expect him to suddenly make any sense. At the same time, though, I completely understood what he meant. He made me feel better. He took away the pain. And I did it for him too.

"Make no mistake, Sadie. Our time may be limited, but I plan on making the most of every second."

He grabbed my waist and pulled me in for a kiss.

I couldn't possibly say no to him when he was holding me like this. I parted my lips and let him make my head spin. And the truth was, I didn't want to say no. This was what living was supposed to be like. Taking leaps. Not wishing on a star that your life would suddenly be less dark.

"I need to get to class," I whispered against his lips.

He kept me firmly in his arms. "We're going to figure all of this out. I promise."

I nodded. As soon as he let go of my waist, this feeling of guilt seeped into me. Last night, if V hadn't accidentally shot Eli, I was going to go tell Miles everything. Nothing had changed. I had found out the truth and it was eating away at me. He had been looking for me. He most likely thought I abandoned him or that something terrible had happened to me. Didn't he deserve to know the truth? God, what would he think of me now? "Can I tell someone else about all this?"

He took a moment to study me. "Who do you want to tell?"

Miles. But I couldn't say that. I saw the way V glared at Eli. I didn't want to upset him. "Kins," I lied.

"Telling anyone would put them in danger. Let's just keep it between the three of us. Well, four actually."

"Four?"

"Liza."

"Oh. Right, of course." I had completely forgotten about Liza. I remembered how weirdly she had acted when I was at her apartment. "She has a crush on you, by the way."

V laughed. "No, she doesn't."

The sound made me smile. "I'm not joking. She does. Although, she thinks your computer skills could use some improvement."

He shook his head. "Well, it just so happens that I'm a little preoccupied by someone else right now."

His words should have made me happy. All I could seem to think about, though, was how our sort of relationship was ticking down. "But if we don't end up together..." I let my voice trail off.

"That doesn't change how I feel."

It should. I didn't want to be talking about this right now. Borrowed time. I knew it had to be referring to me. And Don. I tried to shake away the thought. "What am I supposed to tell Kins? She's going to wonder what I'm up to."

"Tell her whatever you need to in order to distance yourself."

"I don't want to distance myself. She's my friend, I..."

"Telling anyone would put them in danger," he repeated.

I bit my lip. "So I can only talk to Liza, Eli, and...you."

"Mostly just me."

I shook my head. "I really do need to get going. I'll see you tonight."

"So you are spending the night again?"

Crap. I hadn't really meant to say see you tonight. It just kind of slipped out. But I did want to see him again. I felt safest here. "Do I really have a choice?"

"No. Athena, unlock the entrance."

I heard a clicking noise and looked over my shoulder. The window slowly rose.

"Why doesn't she let me ask her to do anything?" I asked as I walked over to the window.

"She's probably jealous." He must have seen the look on my face because he laughed. "She's only programmed to answer to my voice."

I nodded. "Why the name Athena?"

"She's the Greek goddess of war."

"And..."

"You've started something here, Sadie. We're going to finish it. Together."

His words sent a chill down my spine. "I guess I'll see you later." I stepped out onto the fire escape, thinking about what Liza had said about the increase in crime. Had I brought a war to this city?