Folsom (End of Men, #1)(37)

I laugh under my breath but then think about what this means. They’re out here because of what I said. Governor Petite’s threats seem very tangible now, and that makes me speed a little faster to get home.

Folsom doesn’t need to see this on the news next or he’ll think he’s right.

There’s a large van outside my house. What now? Just as I’m going to the front door, it opens and my mother and three large women walk out.

“Oh, there you are. I was hoping to tell you earlier, but you’ve been gone all day…” My mom motions for me to move past the women. One is carrying boxes and the other two are moving a couch.

Sophia walks down the stairs, holding some of her nicer dresses.

“I’m just going to drive these over. I can come back for everything else later,” she says. She notices me there and stops. “Is Little Miss Perfect coming?” she asks.

My mother shakes her head. “Don’t be like that, Sophia.”

“Well, seriously, we can’t even have a party without her ruining it and making it all about her.” She walks out the door.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re moving in with Pandora. She has more room and we can plan the wedding better if we’re together.”

“Today? Why so sudden?” I take the box out of her hands and set it on the floor.

“Well, honestly, because of you,” she says, her brows creasing. “Pandora says she can protect us better there, and I have to agree. She has twenty-four-hour surveillance and I’ll feel safer there. Reporters have been calling here all morning. I think the only reason they aren’t camped out here is because of the protesters at the Regional office. ”

I get a sick feeling in my gut and clutch my arms around my stomach.

“Are you sick again?” She clasps my shoulder.

“No, I just don’t like any of this. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I can’t move into Pandora’s, though, Mother. I don’t trust her. Don’t you think it’s strange that she asks you to marry her now? You haven’t even been all that serious, and as soon as Soph and I are pregnant, right before election time starts, she wants to get married? It just doesn’t add up.”

“I considered that,” she answers. “But she’s the reason I was able to line Folsom up for you girls…she pulled a lot of strings to get you on his schedule. We have her to thank that these babies are being born to our family.”

“I don’t want to owe anyone anything,” I tell her emphatically. “Especially not Pandora.”

“Too late.” She shrugs and gives me a faint smile. “And you can’t stay here by yourself. Too dangerous.” She picks up the box and carries it out, just as the others are coming back in.

I follow her out. “We’re not selling this place, are we? I’m twenty-five. I’ll hire a guard of my own,” I tell her.

“I have a meeting in an hour and need to get ready, but this conversation isn’t over,” she says.

The loaded van pulls out and she gives me a pointed look before going upstairs. I stay out of the way until I hear her leave and then I crawl into my bed. I can’t seem to get enough sleep lately. I drift off and dream about Pandora and all the picketers. Something startles me and I wake up panting. My room is pitch black. The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

A low voice says: “Don’t make a sound. I’m not going to hurt you, I’m here to talk about the boy.”

The light clicks on and I blink hard, allowing my eyes to adjust. I have the comforter pulled all the way up to my neck, and below the blankets my entire body is trembling. A man sits in a chair, pulled up close to my bed, his wide shoulders blocking the light that filters in through the window. I sit up, pressing my back against the headboard and taking him in warily. He could snap me in two with one hand.

“Kasper?” I whisper, finally recognizing him. Of all the men, Kasper has the most unique style, choosing to wear bright colors and bold patterns. Whenever he’s in a news headline, they spend more time commenting on his clothes than they do about him being an End Man. Tonight, however, he’s dressed entirely in black and his face is somber.

“Gwen, Gwen, the Red Region shit-stirrer. I don’t have much time, so shut that pretty mouth for once and listen.”

I open my mouth, a retort balanced on my tongue, but then think better of it. It sounds like he’s here to…help.

“I couldn’t get to Folsom without them knowing I’m here. I need you to take him a message.” His voice, even deeper than Folsom’s, rumbles in his chest when he speaks. He’s so different from the brightly colored man on the Silverbook.

“Your press conference lit little fires under activists’ asses,” he says. “They’re trying to keep it under wraps, but when I left the Black Region this morning, the Governor’s Mansion was surrounded by picketers.”

I don’t know what to say, so I look on silently and wait for him to continue.

“The Regions are trying to contain the protesters for now, but as soon as it becomes public knowledge that they took Laticus in the night and shipped him off to the Red Region, shit is going to hit the fan. He’s sort of the Region darling, if you know what I mean. Excuse my language, Gwen. Do you mind swearing? I forget what a gentleman Folsom is.”