Disobey

Chapter 20 - Danger

*Leo*

Paige helped me to the couch in the center of her flat.

I finally asked the question that'd been weighing on my chest for the whole ride home. "Did I do okay?"

She met my eyes and gave me the one thing I didn't want to see - a soft smile. She didn't have to say anything. If she was giving gentle reassurances then something was very very wrong. 

"You did fine," she said. 

Not a lie, but something was still weird.

"I did fine, but..."

"But... I don't think your judges liked you to begin with. We'll have to wait and see what they decide. Want food?"

I nodded. 

"What do you feel like? I'll order something."

"Am I ever gonna get to try Ice Queen's cooking?"

She glared at me. 

I smiled. "Sorry, sorry. What about Asian?"

"That works for me."

---

*Paige*

After we finished eating, I made sure Leo was asleep before pulling out my phone.

It rang once before Tori picked up.

"So, how'd the magician do?"

"He did exactly what he was supposed to. It's me they have a problem with. They think I'm attached to him, think I can't do my job."

"Well, I mean... You are... kinda..."

"Don't say it. I know. Do you have perimeter?"

"Yeah. Kyan has the lobby and I have the back. No one suspicious gets in or out."

I patter the guns tied to my waist. Tonight would be a rough night. "Good. Front door's locked. The windows were bullet and magic proof to begin with, but the blinds are closed and the lights are off. If anyone tries to break in, they'll be surprised at least."

"Not like anyone could take you in a fight anyways."

The slight sting of my arm said otherwise, but not tonight. Tonight I wasn't worried about magic, I was worried about bullets. 

"Good luck. Keep me updated. I'll be watching the front door."

"Stay safe."

I hung up and slid the phone into my pocket.

It wasn't just Leo that I was worried about. It was the magician girl Wynnie. Hecate, that ass, had clearly sent that message for me. Somehow she knew everything was going to hell. But that damn girl was anything but careful. She'd eluded to my knowing of Hecate's escape. 

From the kitchen, I dragged a chair to the side of the front door, where seeing my figure would be hard. The safety of my gun clicked as I leaned my chin on the back of the door and prepared for a long night.

---

1:00 a.m.

My phone buzzed. I spared a glance to see a text from Tori and Kyan separately. They both read "All clear."

I slid the phone back into my lap. My hand played with the safety of the gun. Exhaustion was the last thing on my mind. I listened carefully for doors and windows, cautious of everything that made a sound.

The light dripping of the faucet was a constant. I planned on getting it fixed one say, but I'd have to survive the next few days. However, right now, it was the only thin-