Marked

Chapter Three

Hardin makes sure the dorm is locked, before we head to his car. He puts our bags into the trunk of the car, and opens my door for me. He hops in the car and places his hand on my thigh and give it a reassuring squeeze, telling me everything will be okay. My thoughts are a jumbled mess. I can't believe that she found me. I wonder if that unknown number was her calling me. The only people who have my number are Darcy and Jack. I haven't even given it to Hardin yet. Oh my god! I didn't give my number to Hardin.

"Hardin?" I ask.

"Yes babe," he says.

"Can I have your phone?"

"Why?"

"So I can add my number into it, in case.." I trail off.

"Babe, nothing is going to happen to you but here, if it will give you peace of mind, go ahead and enter it in," He says, pulling his phone out of his pocket and handing it to me. I quickly enter my number into his phone and send a text to my phone. I hand him back his phone, and then I save his number in mine.

"Thank you," I say, giving him a small smile.

"No problem baby, but I swear nothing is going to happen to you. My dad's place is like a fortress, gates and all. You will be safe here, I promise," Hardin squeezes my thigh again.

After a few more minutes, we pull up the house. Hardin wasn't kidding. There's a gate, and you have to enter a code in order to gain access to the driveway. Hardin pulls up to the garage and it begins to open. He pulls inside and parks the car. He hops out of the car, and opens my door, before going to the trunk to retrieve our bags. Hardin leads us the door, that leads us inside the house. The house is huge! It's like a freaking mansion. But then again his dad is the Chancellor after all. He leads us into the kitchen, where I see his dad, Elena, a woman who I'm guessing is Mia Hardin's step mother, and a boy about our age who I'm guessing is Landon Hardin's step brother.

"Hey Hardin, Hello again Tessa," Christian greets us. I still can't find my voice so I do a small smile and a wave.

"Dad, I'm going to show Tessa our room, when we get back, can we talk to you in private?" Hardin asks.

"Yes, I will wait for you in my office," Christian says.

"Okay, we will be there in five minutes," Hardin says leading us upstairs.

I follow him down the long hallway. Of course his room would be at the end of the hallway.  His room is how I would imagine it. I take a moment, and fully take in the sight of his room. He has a accent wall of black, which is the wall the bed is set against, and the rest are a slate gray. He has a king size bed, with a desk next to it with a desktop on top. On the wall in front of the bed, there's a flat screen TVs, I've never seen one that big before. Adjacent to the tv, is a tall dresser, but I have a feeling he may not have many clothes in it, since he stays at the dorms. There's a book shelf on the opposite side of the room. And a bay window with a window seat next to it. This feels more like a hotel suite, than Hardin's bedroom. Hardin places the bags in the center of the room. Then he turns to me and places both of his hands on my face.

"Are you okay?" He asks, worry in his voice and I nod. "Baby, I need words."

"Yes," I practically whisper.

"It will be okay, let's just go talk to my dad and see what he says on what our options are okay?" I nod. Hardin leans down, and places a small kiss on my lips. I wrap my arms around him and tighten my grip, like he will disappear any moment. "Baby, I know you're scared, I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

"I know, I'm sorry you got dragged into my family shit," I say with tears running down my face.

"Babe, your problems are my problems. I'm not going anywhere, I'm in this with you, okay?"