Chapter 245
When Eliana descended the stairs, looking fresh and determined, Rafael’s eyes softened. “Ready? I’ll ride with you. Jax—er—James will drive.” (He corrected himself mentally; old habits from misremembering names in his web of operatives p>
She nodded, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “You don’t have to escort me like I’m a child, Rafael p>
“Not escorting,” he said, opening the front door for her with a gentlemanly flourish. “Protecting. And besides, I like the company p>
James was waiting outside, leaning against the sleek black SUV, his frame wiry and alert. He flashed a quick smile—professional yet warm—as he opened the back door. “Morning, Mrs. Vexley. Hop in p>
The drive to the university was quiet at first, the city streets buzzing with morning traffic. Rafael sat beside her, his hand occasionally brushing hers “accidentally,” sending sparks up her arm. “You know,” he said casually, breaking the silence, “I arranged for a few friends to join you in classes today. Just to keep things interesting p>
Eliana turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “Friends? What do you mean p>
He smirked. “You’ll see. Trust me—it’s for your safety p>
At the university, Eliana waved goodbye as James parked, and Rafael squeezed her hand before letting her go. “Text me if you need anything. And… have a good day p>
She rolled her eyes playfully. “I will. Now go conquer the world or whatever it is you do p>
As she entered her first lecture hall—a cavernous room filled with rows of seats and the murmur of students—Eliana spotted them immediately. Jax, Will, and Liam, seated in the row behind her usual spot, looking every bit like normal students in casual attire: hoodies, jeans, backpacks slung over chairs. Jax was thin and hawk-eyed, blending in with a notebook in hand; Will, the muscle with a tinker’s mind, fiddled with a pen that probably hid a gadget; Liam, the people-reader, scanned the room with casual ease.
Eliana slid into her seat, whispering to Jax as she passed. “What are you doing here? How did you even get in p>
Jax leaned forward, his voice a conspiratorial murmur. “Boss’s orders. We’re your new classmates. Enrolled last minute—don’t ask how. Rafael pulls strings like a puppet master. Now, shh, class is starting p>
Throughout the lecture on nursing ethics, the men were attentive, but their focus was on her. When she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, Will passed her a cushion from his bag. “For your back, ma’am. Pregnancy’s no joke p>
Eliana flushed, whispering back, “Thanks, but you don’t have to p>
“Nonsense,” Liam interjected softly, his eyes warm. “You’re the princess here. We treat you as such p>
They even came prepared, quietly producing snacks like some kind of elite survival unit—granola bars, fresh fruit, bottled water—offered with the smooth discretion of men who looked like they could wrestle danger for a living. Around them, whispers rippled through the lecture hall.
“Who are those guys p>
“Ass kisses p>
“Bodyguards p>
“Are we in a movie p>
Eliana bit back a laugh. The attention was a little ridiculous… and, if she was honest, slightly flattering.
Her phone buzzed again. And again.
It was from Rafael.
“Saw a flower shop on my way to a meeting. Reminded me of your smile. p>
A beat later:
“Weather’s turning chilly. Bundle up after class p>
Then, her favorite:
“Thinking of you stuck in that boring lecture. Imagine me there, passing notes like kids p>
She shook her head, smiling despite herself, her heart doing that annoying little flutter she was trying very hard to ignore. His messages slipped effortlessly between the dull slides and monotonous droning, turning the lecture into background noise. These classes had always felt endless—pages of notes, polite smiles, no real companionship. Henry had been the one constant, the person she’d shared quiet jokes with and late lunches between lectures. But his medicine major meant he wasn’t always around. And now… after everything—after she’d unintentionally shattered his heart—he was gone.
The ache lingered, sharp and unwelcome.
Still, the men seated nearby, their steady presence and quiet humor, softened the emptiness. Time moved faster. The room felt less lonely. And somewhere between Rafael’s messages and the soft rustle of snack wrappers, Eliana realized she was smiling again—caught in that delicate space where guilt, comfort, and something dangerously close to anticipation all tangled together.
At lunch break, in the bustling cafeteria filled with the clatter of trays and chatter of students, Viktor and Oliver joined them. Viktor, the unflappable driver, slid into a seat with a nod; Oliver, the smoke-like shadow, appeared almost magically beside her.
“So, Eliana,” Jax started, passing her a salad he’d grabbed from the line, “tell us about nursing. What’s the craziest thing you’ve learned p>
She laughed, relaxing into the conversation. “Well, last week we dissected a pig’s heart—virtually, thank goodness. But it’s all about empathy, really. Helping people when they’re at their lowest p>
Will nodded, munching on a sandwich. “Sounds like you. Boss says you’re the kindest person he knows p>
Oliver chimed in, his voice quiet but engaging. “Yeah, and tough. Surviving what you’ve been through? Respect p>
They chatted like old friends—swapping stories, laughing at Viktor’s tale of a wild car chase (edited for civilian ears), Liam reading her mood and steering topics to lighter ones. It was surreal, this band of protectors treating her like family.
But as they talked, Eliana’s eyes wandered the cafeteria, searching for a familiar face. There—Henry Jackson, tall and handsome with his sharp features and warm eyes, sitting alone at a corner table, buried in a textbook. Her heart clenched. She waved tentatively, but he glanced up, met her gaze for a split second, then looked away, ignoring her completely. The rejection stung, tears pricking her eyes. It was her fault—the betrayal, the heartbreak—but it hurt all the same.
“You okay?” Liam asked softly, noticing her shift.
She forced a smile. “Yeah. Just… old friends p>
After classes, Viktor drove them home in the SUV, the ride filled with easy banter and half-serious complaints about lectures that felt longer than they should’ve been.
“Next time,” Will said, stretching in his seat, “we bring board games to class. If we’re going to suffer, we might as well suffer competitively p>
Eliana laughed. “You’d get us all escorted out before the first round finished p>
“Worth it,” he replied without hesitation.
By the time they pulled into the driveway, the day felt lighter somehow. The front door swung open—and there was Rafael, leaning casually against the frame like he’d been waiting for this exact moment. His grey eyes lit up when he saw her, a grin playing on his lips, the kind that made her instantly suspicious and inexplicably warm all at once.
“Welcome home, love,” he said smoothly, pushing himself upright. “I have a present for you p>
The words alone were enough to make her heart trip over itself.