Ultraviolet

Chapter Forty-Six: The Last Detail

Another week passed and things were going smoothly. No close calls and Jess and Jack were completely oblivious.

And that was thanks to me, and me entirely.

Hadeon found some kind of sick joy in risking getting found out. Any moment Jess had her back to the two of us, he couldn't keep his hands or his mouth to himself.

As annoying as this was, I secretly loved it. Two weeks we had been... doing whatever this is, and I was becoming addicted to Hadeon. My eyes were glued to him constantly, and when I went to bed, thoughts of him and the feeling of his hands on my body ran through my mind incessantly.

It didn't help that he was just outside my door, sleeping on the couch. Despite our increasing intimacy over the last two weeks, I still hadn't found the confidence to ask him if he had a home, and why he didn't find his own place.

Instead, I asked Jess while we were working.

"Why does Hadeon sleep on the couch?" I questioned as she wiped down the tables. Everyone had been kicked out by now, and all the guards including Hadeon were speaking to Adrianna in her office.

"I told you before," She started. "He takes being my 'bodyguard' very seriously."

"Theres been a sign in the window of the building next door, advertising an apartment for rent, since the day I arrived." I reminded her. "Why not move in there?"

Jess seemed to contemplate something, her forehead wrinkling in thought. She sighed and met my eyes again.

"I don't want to scare you, or anything. I promise the apartment is safe."

"What?" I encouraged her.

"We only moved into that apartment recently, before then we lived in this shabby place across town. Hadeon and I always got along well, I think he prefers spending time with us girls more than the brutes that work here."

"Yeah, I noticed he doesn't spend much time with the guys."

"He was always protective. He let me sort out shitty customers for myself, but would stand close by to step in if I needed him."

Hadeon barely lets me "sort out" difficult patrons. He kicks out anyone that looks at me the wrong way. Then, I'd thought it was him thinking I was hopeless. Given our situation now, I think he was just protecting me.

"And then, my ex started to try contacting me." Jess explained. "I didn't say anything, and then it got worse. I changed my number constantly, but it didn't work. Then he started coming into work. I told Jack and Hadeon and they made sure he wouldn't pass front door, but he just sent in friends to pass along messages for him."

I could hear the slight tremor to her voice and somehow could feel her frustration and anxiety in that moment. I had felt that. Felt trapped. Helpless.

"Hadeon lived a couple blocks away. We thought with Jack in the house and Hadeon nearby that we would be safe. My ex... he had his friends attack Jack while he was taking out the trash and then he walked into the apartment. I didn't think anything of the door opening or his footsteps. I thought it was just Jack. He was in my home. He tried to attack me but..." Jess seemed to turn the slightest bit green. "I fought him off." She forced out.

"I'm so sorry you had to- that that happened." I stammered. I could imagine how I'd feel if Quinton walked into the apartment I felt safe in.

"Its fine. Really, it was a long time ago. And I swore never to let even memories of that asshole bother me." She assured me. "But Hadeon... he never forgave himself for "letting" it happen. We moved in here, Adrianna's old apartment, and Hadeon swore to never let it happen again. He goes out, following Adrianna's orders, but he has cameras and alarms set up in the entrances and watches them. We are completely safe here, and my ex is no longer a problem, but Hadeon is hard to convince."

"Yeah, I've noticed that." I chewed my lip.

The red door swung open and out walked all the guards, Hadeon front and centre.

"Hey, Jess." I called out. "Do you mind not telling Hadeon that I asked?"

"Oh, sure." She nodded.

Hadeon made his way to us told my sister that he'd walk me up to the apartment. Jess rolled her eyes, giving me a look like "See, so protective", but I knew he had an ulterior motive.