Chapter 0165

Ahand on my shoulder shakes me awake and I jump, gasping a little bit as my head spins to see Kent's guard sitting next to me

in the back seat of the SUV.

“Sorry,” he says, tentative and pulling away. “I didn’t mean to scare you — we're just...home.”

“Oh,” I say, surprised, turning to see that we are indeed pulling around to the front of Kent’s house. “Oh, wow,” I murmur, turning

back to the guard. “I was really out of it, wasn’t it?”

He gives me a little smile and a shrug. “Only minor snoring. Minimal drool,” he quips, making me laugh.

I narrow my eyes at him a little, working to remember. “Marco...right?” I hazard, and am rewarded with a wide grin on his face.

“You got it, miss,” he says, giving me a nod as the car pulls to a stop out front.

“Well, thanks, Marco,” I say, giving him a little smile. “For spending the night keeping me safe, and also waking me up before

Kent found me slumped and snoring in the back of his car.”

Marco laughs, shaking his head and leaning over me to pop my door open. “Any time, miss,” he replies warmly. As I climb out of

the car I realize that I’m starting to learn the ways of Kent’s house more than I thought I was — I’m learning names, patterns. It

feels...nice, I think, as the driver — Gianni — comes around the car and lifts my little suitcase out of the trunk. I smile at him as I

accept it, pleased when he grins at me in return, and then I turn towards the front of the house.

I stop when I see him standing there, my breath stolen from me a little bit. First because...well, because he looks really good,

standing there, clean-shaven in the morning light, already dressed in his finely tailored suit. But second because he looks mad.

I sigh, glancing between Gianni and Marco, who don’t meet my eyes under his gaze. What the hell did I do this time?

I reach down to grab the top handle of my suitcase, carrying it with me as I climb the steps towards Kent. He watches me come

towards him, his arms folded, his face...unreadable. Stern. When I get to the top, close to him, I don’t know what to do. Should

I...hug him?

I laugh a little bit, despite myself, at that impulse. Nothing about Kent right now — his size, his stance, the power radiating off of

him, the severe look he’s giving me — none of that says “hug me,” not at all.

Surprisingly, though, his face softens when he hears my little laugh. “What?” he asks, dropping his hands to his waist and turning

his head to the side, just a little bit. “What’s funny?”

“Nothing, Kent,” I say, shrugging. “It’s just...really early to get glared at that intensely. Can a girl get a cup of coffee first?”

Kent blinks at me then, his lips parting a little in surprise, and then he shakes his head, blinking as a little smirk pulls at his

mouth. “Come on, Fay,” he sighs, reaching out a hand that he places between my shoulder blades, ushering me neatly towards

the open door. “Come inside. Welcome home.”

Surprised, pleased, I do as he says, only turning back for the little suitcase. “Leave it,” he murmurs, continuing to urge me

forward. “They should have taken it in for you anyway.”

“Oh,” I say, glancing backwards at it

and then at Marco and Gianni, who

seem to be realizing tha same €Ring

atypesametirhe Marco sighs and

puts his head in his hands, but I give

them both a smile. Kent's back

turned, Gianni risks giving me a little

wave. Please read the original

content at .

Smiling, bolstered by the fact

that...well, that I think Kent's guards,

like me, at least a hulebibI Ae ih

Kane iatolite house and look up at

him. “Did you have a nice night?” I

ask, a little desperate to break the

silence. Please read the original

content at .

Kent looks down at me for a moment while he closes the door, but he doesn’t answer my question. “Did you have a nice night,

Fay?”

“Um,” I say, my fingers reaching up to

tangle in my hair, which I know

is...unkempt, after a little — just a little

- frisky busine wythnevers afd S night

snes aesine Kent's face goes

dark as he sees me playing with my

hair — something I only do when I’m

anxious. Realizing that I’m giving

away more than I want to, I drop my

hands and fold them neatly behind

my back. Please read the original

content at .