Chapter 171
I hadn’t brought much stuff, so it wouldn’t take me long to pack. I pulled out my phone and requested an Uber, wondering if it would even be able to get in through that gate. I thought about dropping the pin outside of the gate, but then, it would take so long to walk out there. I decided to see what would happen. Then, I went about packing.
Brandon came into the room just as I was throwing in the last of my stuff. “What are you doing?” he asked. “We don’t have to leave right now, and we certainly don’t have to be in such a hurry.”
“You may not have to, but I do.” I realized there was no way I could get out of there without telling him something. He was staring at me like I was nuts as I zipped up my bag.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his hands on his hips. “I’m your ride.”
“No, you’re not.” I took a deep breath. “I’m not going back to Shenandoah, not now.”
“Whoa—what are you talking about?” He grabbed my hand and pulled it away from my bag. I didn’t overlook the fact that this was the first time he’d touched my hand, even though I was irritated that he was trying to stop me. I shouldn’t have said anything. “Cassidy, what’s going on?”
I looked into his eyes, and for some reason, I felt like I could trust him. I had no idea why. I dropped onto the bed with a sigh and inspected him closely before I said, “You have to promise me you won’t say anything to anyone—at all. Or else I won’t tell you.”
He dropped down on the bed next to me, right next to me, his forehead creased in concern. “Okay….”
“Promise, Brandon.” I made my voice as stern as possible. Cadence stern. Liz Findley on a bad day stern.
“I promise,” he said. “Now, what are you doing?”
I couldn’t look at him while I said it. I did believe he wouldn’t tell on me, though I don’t know why. “I’m going to the train station,” I explained. I looked back at him for a second and said, “I’m going to Philadelphia.”
“What? Are you crazy?” Brandon jumped up off the bed. “You can’t do that.”
My eyes were wide. After what he’d said in the gym the day before, I had hoped he would understand. “I can. And I am. And you can’t tell my sister. I have to get up there. I have to be a part of this. I’m sick of sitting by while everyone else is ridding the world of evil. I’m ready, Brandon. I can’t wait anymore! Like you said, it’s time to take fate into my own hands.” I knew it was when I’d heard those words come out of his mouth that I’d realized what I needed to do. This whole time, I’d been letting everyone else decide what I could or couldn’t do. I refused to be a pawn anymore.
“All right, all right, calm down,” he said sitting down next to me again.
“I am calm!” I wasn’t calm. Clearly, I was the opposite of calm, but I, like most women, hate it when people say that.
“Sorry—I was talking to myself.” I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, knowing that was a lie. “Let’s say you do go…”
“I am going!” I started to jump back up, to grab my bag, to check on the Uber, but he grabbed my wrist.
“Fine, so when you get there, what are you going to do? Cadence and Aaron will be furious.”
I knew he was right, and I’d thought about that. “I’m sure they will be, but by then it will be too late, and they’ll have to let me stay.” I needed to get going. The Uber would be there soon, and then I’d need to book it to the train station. I jumped up and double-checked the room again, making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything
“And then what? You hang out in a hotel room while everyone else is out hunting down Giovani? How is that any different than hanging out here?”
I stopped and stared at him. “Look, my friends and I have already been helpful. We found him in the first place, remember? She’ll have to let me help. Maybe she’ll leave me at the Philly headquarters, or whatever, but she’ll let me do something. I’m going, Brandon, and there’s nothing you can say to stop me.” I didn’t want to listen to his reasoning. I didn’t want to listen to anything at all. I was going, and I’d figure everything else out when I got there. I crossed my arms and stared at him, hoping he’d realize he wasn’t going to be able to prevent me from getting on that train.
Letting out a deep breath, Brandon said, “Fine. But I’m coming with you. There’s no way I’d let you do this on your own.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I never, ever would’ve considered asking him to go with me. “You’d come with me? But, Brandon, I can’t let you do that. When my sister finds out, she’ll kick you off the team.” I couldn’t let him get in trouble because of me.
“Maybe,” he agreed, putting his hands on his hips. “But if I let you go by yourself, and something happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. Besides, I can protect you. I am a Guardian now.”
I couldn’t help but smile at him. He was being so sweet, offering to help me, to make sure I got there safely. “But what about the team?”
“Hey, if you can talk your way out of this, so can I. Besides, they can’t get rid of me completely—nothing can kill me, remember?”
I almost laughed. “My sister can,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, well, she won’t do that. I may end up in Siberia with that Eliza chick, but at least I’ll know you’re safe.”
Something told me I had about as good of a chance at changing his mind as he had of changing mine. “Okay—well, thanks.” I let out a deep breath. It would definitely be better with him alongside me. “I guess I can cancel my Uber then if you want to drive to the train station.”
“I guess I need to buy a ticket to Philly.” He grabbed my bag off the bed.
“Oh, one more thing.” I grabbed him by the arm, and he turned to look at me. “Give me your phone.”
“What? Why?” he asked, looking from my hand to my face.
“Just in case. I want to make sure you don’t call my sister,” I explained. I could trust him to a degree, but not completely.
“But I just got it back from Aaron a few hours ago,” he complained. I assumed the phone was in his room when he got back if that was the case, since I hadn’t actually seen Aaron give it to him, but I stuck my hand out and waited.
Brandon exhaled and pulled it out of his pocket, dropping it into my hand. “Thank you,” I said, shoving it into my jeans.
“All right,” he said. “Let’s go grab my stuff, and then let’s go cause some trouble.”
“Let’s go hunt a Vampire, you mean.” Part of me still couldn’t believe I was doing this, but it was more exciting the way I put it.
“No, I’m pretty sure what we’re doing is definitely causing trouble,” he muttered. “But as long as you’re safe, that’s the most important thing to me.”
“I’ll be just fine.” I stepped out into the hallway, making sure the door was locked behind me and followed him to the elevator. Before I got in, I cancelled the Uber, and then gave him a confident smile, certain that this plan would work. It had to. I couldn’t be left out again.
