Deception (Infidelity #3)(39)

I stared at the beautiful room, the windows, the furnishings, and the ornate bookcases, but none of it registered. “Did you know my father?”

“I do.”

What the hell?

“Oren, my father died when I was three years old.”

“You’re right. Russell Collins died.”

“What does that mean?”

“I only meant that you would make him proud. He would be very pleased with the young woman you have become.”

The entire conversation was making me uncomfortable. “Thank you for calling. I have no intentions of hurting your son. His safety and his success are my main priorities.”

“Don’t let them be.”

“What?”

“Don’t give up your dreams for my son. He isn’t worth it.”

Indignation rose. How dare Oren Demetri call, question Nox’s and my relationship, and then demean his own son? “I would disagree; however, the point is moot. He has encouraged my dreams as I have his. It’s what two people do who love one another.”

“Hmm, I do appreciate your forza. Goodbye, for now, Alex. This conversation has been enlightening.”

I couldn’t disagree more. If anything, it left me totally puzzled.

“Goodbye, Oren. I’ll be sure to tell Nox you called.”

“That’s your choice, dear.”

The line went dead.

Slowly, I returned the handset to the cradle and stared at the phone.

What the hell had that been about? Was he telling me he didn’t want me dating Nox, and then saying he did? What about my father? How did he know both my mother and my father? Maybe he knew them as a couple.

The repeated rapping of a knock upon the door pulled me from my questions.

“Come in,” I called.

The door opened as Deloris entered, my phone in her hand. “You missed a call from Lennox.”

My heart dropped to the floor. I fought the urge to stand, afraid the wheels of the chair would crush it, tearing it to shreds. “Did you speak to him?”

“No, I was still speaking with Mr. Fitzgerald. By the way, he’s an interesting man. I’m guessing that he isn’t accustomed to hearing no, especially not from a woman.”

My one cheek rose in a lopsided grin. “I’d say that’s a pretty accurate assumption.”

“Your GPS—”

“I turned it off. I was going to talk to you about that. I’m not doing it to hide from you or Jerrod or Nox. I’m doing it so my location isn’t broadcast to everyone, including my family.”

Deloris nodded. “I concur. We can give you another tracker. You can keep it in your purse or I could have it put on jewelry? Something that will stay with you, but that others can’t access.”

Silvia entered with a soft knock to the open door. “Is there anything I can get either of you?”

Since I was still at Nox’s desk, I asked. “Do you know what I did with my backpack?” I remembered having it in the SUV on the way here. I hoped I hadn’t left it there. “Since I’m here at this desk, I could work on some schoolwork.”

“I put it in your room. I also put the things Mrs. Witt brought up there.”

My room. I liked the sound of that. Despite what Oren had said, I knew this was Lennox’s house. He’d said his mother had left it to him.

“Thanks, Silvia. I can get it.”

“Nonsense. I’ll bring it down.”

I smiled as she left us alone.

“I brought you a few days’ worth of clothes,” Deloris said. “Lennox should be back Friday night.”

I shook my head. “I can’t stay here. I have to go to class tomorrow.”

Her lips formed a straight line.

“You were the one who said I’m not a prisoner,” I reminded her. “I have a responsibility to do the best I can in school.”

“Lennox wants—”

“He wants me to be safe. I will be. I’ll wear the GPS you devise. I’ll not walk in the park or do any unplanned activities or outings. Jerrod can drive me.”

“Alex, Jerrod is no longer with us. Isaac is in DC. I think in the meantime, if you must leave this house, I’ll have one of the men from this morning assigned to you.”

“Why? I was used to Jerrod.”

She swallowed before meeting my gaze. “My job requires decisions that most people never want to make, ones most people are unaware even exist. You need to let me do my job. I can’t nor will I explain every decision.”

“That’s a reasonable request, but considering everything that’s happened, I should know why you fired Jerrod.”

“The partial print on the envelope matches his.”

I leaned back, causing the chair to recline as I blew out a puff of air. I was obviously becoming numb to the mortar fire occurring around me. “You think he…”

“I think that it would be difficult to breach my security unless you were familiar with the system and understood the way it worked. I had to look at this from the inside. I don’t believe he wrote the letter. I believe Jerrod was involved in placing it.”

“Whom did he do it for?”

“We’re currently in talks to discover that bit of information.”