Chapter 22

*IRIS*

I ran as fast as I could until I ran out of breath, stopping, and wiping the few tears coming from my eyes. I had left Ohio and all that it entailed behind. I couldn't let this man bring danger and hurt into my life. I had to focus on my schooling, get a badass attorney position, and move away from Long Beach. I don't understand what is happening, no, I didn't give him time to explain. "Hand in many cookie jars" and "They want to destroy me" gave me all the answers I needed. I don't want to be a part of whatever cookies he shouldn't have been reaching for. I started to walk instead of run, somewhat shocked that Deacon wasn't chasing after me. After a week though, I'm sure Ryker won't even notice my absence. I closed my eyes tightly forcing out the remaining tears, and promised myself no more would fall. The tunnel was only about a 15-minute walk from the university. I don't know how he found that place, I would have to go out there and take some photos for my club. I think we have a meeting tomorrow. I will be sure to mention it. The security light blinded me as I walked by like it was spotlighting me. I squinted and threw my hand up like a vampire in the sunlight. I went in through the back door, and straight to my room. I didn't need intercepted by a nosey neighbor. When I walked in I collapsed on my bed. I felt nauseous. I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply and out slowly. Why would someone come for me days after I decided to involve myself with this man? We didn't even advertise it. Did they see us at the restaurant? What could he be into that would cause that kind of traction? I don't know, and I don't want to. This is the end of the story for me. I decided to take a hot shower to wash off the night. I only had a few hours until I had to start the new day. I will wake up and pretend like none of the past week happened. Maybe I will ask Mage how to get out of my Philosophy class, and away from my assistant obligations. Would that make me look like a quitter? I am sure it would be lovely to add to my resume. Iris, had the best prosecutor in Long Beach offer her a chance to learn from him, and she quit. I can't do that.

I went to the shower room and turned the water as hot as my skin would handle. I walked inside and felt the redness instantly appear. I washed off more roughly than usual and got out quickly after. When I walked back to my room, I went directly to the mirror. The marks left on my neck shined at me like beacons telling me I can't just forget. I shook off the sinking feeling inside and grabbed some foundation to cover them. I can't believe I let him do that anyway. The foundation barely worked, but it made them less visible. I didn't expect that to bother me, but found myself wanting to wash it off so I could see it. I didn't. I was determined to move on. I walked over to my computer to check for emails before I tried to go to sleep. He had emailed me already. Subject Line: Please read this. I didn't want to open it, so I moved my cursor to the little trash can. Something pulled me to open it, to try to understand some piece of the puzzle. I was happily learning a lifestyle I didn't know I needed. Now I do. I could learn more from Stephen, right? Deacon didnt sound to impressed by him though. The way he introduced his dominance to me. I just wanted to be with this man. Then suddenly I was a target of some past crime he had committed, some wrong that someone felt they needed to right. The cursor hovered above the trash can as the internal battle raged in my head. The trash can inevitably lost the battle and I opened the email, taking a deep breath in before reading his words.

Dear Iris,

Please accept my apologies for what you had to endure today because of my past mistakes. I know it must have been frightening for you to receive that letter where you live and sleep. I promise you that no one will ever come near you. I won't be in class for a while, so I will send a vacation request in the morning. You will not be required to come to the classes I assigned you as my assistant. I will be your mentor no longer if you don't want me to be. I will take full responsibility for that too. I really wish things hadn't gone this way for us. I think you are a very special woman, and you made me feel things I haven't felt in a long time. I will miss seeing you, but will not have hard feelings. I understand your concerns. I wish you the best and always offer my help at any time you might need it. You are talented, beautiful, and smart. You will be swept off your feet again in no time, and that man will be lucky. I won't bother you again. I won't contact you. If you need me, you know how to get ahold of me. Please take care of yourself, sweet Iris. Good Luck.

Ryker Lorcane.

p.s. Skinnle will be looking out for you. You will always be safe. Deacon is a phone call away, no strings.

I felt the wetness on my face while the tears streamed down my cheeks. damnit, I promised myself I wouldn't do that again. I wiped them roughly away. I know he didn't mean for this to happen. I ran from trauma, but I can't tell him that. Skinnle will be watching me, huh, and Deacon is on call. That made me feel better. I felt sadness again knowing that he was leaving the university. It was harder to know I wouldn't see him than it was to think of facing him again. When I was finally laying in my bed, I turned my music on loudly making sure to drown out the sounds around me and inside my head. Well, I was trying to. I closed my eyes tightly willing myself to fall asleep. I didn't want to feel that way anymore. I finally got lost in the music, the beat of the drums, and the sting of the guitars when my phone started to ring startling me. Its Deacon. "Iris?" He said softly into the phone. "Yes?" when I replied I tried to sound unaffected, but I am not sure I did. He told me that he was just calling to check on me and to let me know that he would be hanging around for a few days, but wouldn't bother me. I felt guilt, instantly, Deacon was a nice guy. "You don't bother me, Deacon, I appreciate you watching out for me," I said trying to ease the burning in the pit of my stomach. "Is Ryker okay?" I don't know why I asked. I was sure he was probably fine. I didn't mean a whole lot to someone like that. Especially in such a short time. Just another baby girl to add to his roster, I'm sure. He didn't answer right away, coughing nervously, or tell me he couldn't answer right then. "I figure he is fine," I said softly. To be honest I was still not sure why I was so hurt after only a few days. "He will be Iris." Deacon surprisingly didn't t to. Deacon didn't say much more, So I told him I needed to get some rest to end the awkward silence. He told me to rest well before hanging up.

After I got off of the phone I decided to try to go to sleep or try my best to relax enough to. I closed my eyes and watched the flashes of the last few hours in my mind. He tried to talk to me, and I didn't give him a chance. Some things he said frightened me. Something about him has always scared me a little, well not scared me, but made me nervous. I knew something about him felt mysterious and dangerous. Why would a man as successful as I know he was in his law firm just leave? Pack up one day and not look back. Part of me did want to run to him, if he was hurting. I couldn't, wouldnt, but damn did I want to. I knew better. He was just so mysterious, I didnt know him, not really. He came to a small university to teach law a few hours away from the office he held back then. I started to think it was his father, but now I think he was hiding from something. Something dark. I wasn't willing to be caught in the crosshairs of someone else's mistakes. I had enough of that with my mother and her love life. Why would I put myself in such an uncomfortable spot when I don't have to this time? I am not bound to him, other than by an agreement I signed. He said there was an out clause. I probably need to ask him more about that to cover myself legally. I felt myself finally getting sleepy allowing myself some freedom from the tension I had been feeling. Slowly the music in my ears sounded like the unchained melody, even though it's more like Black sabbath than Elvis, but it cleared my mind relaxing me enough to doze off.

I don't know how long I was sleeping before I heard the yells down the hallway, "Fire!" It was Mage screaming. She was right, I could smell something burning.