Elite (Eagle Elite #1)(24)

“Yup, just let me get my cash.” I opened the box and dug for the cash. My fingers hit something cold, curious, I dumped the box onto my bed.

A few things came out. The small picture of Grandma and me and a picture of my parents. Weird. I hadn’t seen one of those since I was really little. We didn’t carry many family photos around the house. Grandpa said it just made him sad.

My eyes focused on the wad of cash and then something totally unexpected. A necklace. A giant silver cross with diamonds in the middle lay effortlessly across my bed. I picked it up, expecting it to be costume jewelry, therefore really light. It wasn’t. In fact, if I wore this thing around my neck and went swimming I’d probably drown.

I examined it in my hands and then flipped it over. “Alfero.”

That word sounded crazy familiar when I repeated it out loud.

“What did you just say?” Monroe asked suddenly right behind me. I tucked the necklace into my jean pocket and shrugged.

“Alfredo, I could go for some Alfredo.”

Monroe’s pale face sagged with relief. “Oh, oh sorry, I just thought…” Her eyes narrowed. “Nevermind. No biggie. You ready?”

I nodded and grabbed the stash of cash, careful to put all the contents of the box away. “Let's shop!”

We walked arm in arm down the three flights of stairs, deciding we didn’t want to talk to anyone if they were in elevators.

The minute we reached the first floor, I felt freedom since the first time I’d arrived five days ago.

Monroe began chatting about Tex, so I wasn’t paying attention to the commotion outside until Monroe stopped talking and let out a heavy sigh. “Looks like everyone is ready.”

I gawked. Four black Escalades were lined up against the driveway with a black Ranger Rover in front. So five cars. “Are we taking the whole school?” I asked breathlessly.

Monroe laughed. “No silly, just us and the guys.”

“Right.” I watched in amazement as the guys, aka the Elect, got out of the Range Rover and motioned for us to get our butts in gear.

“Are all those cars coming?” I pointed behind me.

Monroe shrugged and said nothing.

A guy with aviators and an earpiece ran to the front door and opened it for me. He looked like he belonged on Air Force One, not here at the school.

I mumbled a thanks and got into the car. “Um, does someone want to tell me why we need so much security?”

Nixon started the ignition. “We’re important.”

“Right.”

Monroe was in the backseat with Tex. I assumed Phoenix and Chase were in one of the other cars. My tension increased as we drove down the long tree-lined pavement and finally reached the gate.

The armed guard waved then spoke into his walkie-talkie and motioned for us to go on through.

Had I thought my little grocery excursion would be this ridiculous I would have snuck out. I mean four cars?

I groaned into my hands.

Nixon stopped at the first light and nudged me. “What’s wrong? Are you sick or something?

“No, I just… is it really that unsafe for you guys out there?”

“You could say that.”

He leaned forward to turn on the heat. Great. Now I was going to sweat to death. The guy was already killing me with his good looks. Heat? Heat I did not need right now.

We drove in silence, and for some reason each time I moved, the necklace in my pocket kept poking me in the thigh. Stupid tight jeans. Exasperated I pulled it out and clasped it around my neck.

“Are we almost there?” I asked, adjusting my cashmere sweater so that the necklace dropped over it prettily.

“Yup, in like ten— Holy shit.” Nixon slammed on his breaks. “What the hell, Trace?”

“What? What’s wrong?” I looked around for the obvious danger, but Nixon wasn’t staring out the window he was staring at my chest.

“Where the hell did you get that?” He reached for my necklace, but I smacked his hand away.

“Stop.” He shook his head and then hit his hand against the steering wheel and then he started cursing in some sort of language that sounded vaguely familiar.

“It’s not worth cursing over,” I snapped. “It’s just a necklace.”

“You understood me?” he asked in whatever language he was speaking. I could only nod because honestly I had no idea how I understood what he was saying.

A vague flicker of a memory entered into my brain. A man with dark hair pushing me on the swing and telling me in that special language how beautiful I was. That I looked just like my mother. And then some strange men came and began cursing, just like Nixon cursed.

Suddenly I couldn’t breathe.

“Crap,” Monroe muttered. “I think she’s having a panic attack.”

I nodded and tried to unbuckle my seatbelt. Nixon’s hand came flying down across mine. “We’re in the middle of traffic. You’re staying here. I don’t care if you think your freaking heart is going to explode. We can’t be vulnerable, and right now, we are.”

I nodded through the swell of tears that began pouring down my face. What was wrong with me? And why was I suddenly having flashbacks? Was that man my dad? Who were those other men?

Nixon continued to curse until we made it to the grocery store. Finally, once we parked, he turned to Monroe and Tex. “Leave, both of you. I’ll deal with this.”