DAMIEN: Book 2 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

18:

"This is Owen, be nice," Gufo says slowly as if he's talking to a child. He indicated the tall, buff man with dirty blonde hair, slight stubble and intense blue eyes; he looks to be in his early twenties, however when I ask I find out that he's 27. Damn, his genetics must be graceful. Owen wears a striped casual polo shirt, a pair of casual jeans, casual converse and a rucksack filled with books and a gun. You know, casual. He's to be by my side at all times (but not in the toilet obviously) and will be my personal bodyguard throughout. Honestly I don't mind, he's very quiet and mysterious however I'm sure I'll get him talking by tomorrow.

"Be safe, don't be stupid, if you're in pain call me, also if you're genuinely upset. I get that your hormones will be shooting all over the place and you'll probably get really sensitive so just call me," Gufo rambles. "Don't forget to drink water, eat food- not muffins- and don't take food from anyone else, especially if their name begins with 'R' and ends with 'ita'. Learn, pay attention, don't forget to enjoy yourself and most importantly: don't be a bitch. We good?"

"Yes dad," I mutter and he chuckles lightly. Grabbing my chin, he tilts my head up and meets me in the eye, staring at me with... something.

"Take care," he mumbles, pecking my on the cheek.

I flush and nod, his grip loosening as I slip away, "When don't I?"

With that, Owen and I exit the mansion, me dressed in a simple grey tee, ripped blue jeans and a pair of ballet flats with a hoodie I've stolen from Damien. Owen drives the car to college, we both hop out and head towards my first lecture, "So, Owen, you in a relationship?"

"No," he replies stoically.

My brows raise, "Okay dokay. Got any pets?"

"Yes."

"Really? What pet? Name?"

"Cat called Percy."

"Ew, I'm more of a dog person myself," I nudge his shoulder but he doesn't even glance down at me. "Do you have a photo? What breed is it?"

"No."

"I didn't realise 'no' was a breed," I comment smartly and I can see the muscle in his jaw tick. "Bizarre, guessing it's a cross-breed then."

He doesn't respond, rather opens the door to my classroom for me and waits there patiently without looking me in the eye. I mock curtesy before walking towards my seat. He takes one behind me and I grin about how fun this is going to be. However once the lecturer walks in, my mind zeros in on the subject, providing my outmost attention to what she was saying. The class finishes, I collect the work I didn't do last week before exiting to the library.

"This is where I study, to get my brain bigger and better so I can get good grades," I comment as I wave my hand around the beautiful books and the few tables here and there. "You got anything to do?"

"Read."

"Brilliant." We settle down at a table and I begin to catch-up on my work. Only when I realise that I didn't have the slightest clue on what I had to do next, did I stand up and mock salute Owen as I stride towards the aisle required. I notice he's reading a popular romance novel and I bite my lip, loving the fact that he's so absorbed in the story. Can't blame him, it's certainly a good piece of work with an even better plot.

I walk down the aisles until I find the shelf I need. As I reach up towards the book, I can't help but feel my skin prickling from being under someone's watchful gaze. Trying not to react, I calmly slip the book into my arms and turn to retreat back to Owen, trying to contain the anxiety developing in my chest and the implicit fear I feel for Rita. She hurt me once, she can very well do it again.

Too late, I realise that I made the wrong turn in this labyrinth of shelves, my heart picks up and panic swells in my chest. Cursing myself, my hairs on the back of my neck raise and I can't help but feel like Spider-Man in Infinity War. I take a step back to turn, only to bump into someone.

I scream and jump away from the figure, dropping my book in the process; I launch a blind kick to my opposition, only to be met with a limb. My eyes flash as I notice the familiar blonde boy in front of me, wincing and muttering profanities beneath his breath.

"Fucking hell Chloe," he groans. "No need to be so worrisome."

Oh, he has no idea. "Don't sneak up on people! It's unkind and horrible for some of us who are both pregnant and dating a gang member," I alternate between whispering and talking, using my hands for emphasis.

He cracks a pained smile, "Yeah, should have thought of that."

"Really?" I hiss. "You could be Einstein with your conclusions, I swear your brain is evolved in such a way that it on creates intelligent and exquisite ideas to solve dilemmas."

"One: ouch on the leg," he says after a pause. "Two: ouch on the pride. Seriously, you can be a real bitch when you want to be."

"Is this boy bothering you?"

I blink as I notice Owen's form materialise behind Nathanial, gun discretely raised at the side of his leg. My eyes widen in shock as Nathanial spins around to confront my bodyguard, only to freeze at the sight of the weapon, "I-I'm a f-friend. Please, for the holy Lord Jesus, do not shoot me."

"It's fine, he's an acquaintance," I reassure.

Nathanial turns and frowns at me, "Acquaintance? Wow, not only do you physically and emotionally wound me, but now you can't even admit that we're getting close. I see how it is, you go run along with your boyfriend who is not an acquaintance and I'll sit here. Alone."

"Owen's not my boyfriend," I chuckle.

His eyes narrow, "Then who the hell is he?"

"My bodyguard," I shrug. "Gufo's protective."

"Oh, since the Rita incident? Morgan told me about that, told me how scary it was. You're feeling better now? The baby doing well?"

"All good here," I lie. "I just have a free period currently, so I'm catching up on work, which I should probably get back to."

He nods, "Of course, say hi to Z—"

"Topo," I interrupt, glancing at Owen. "I will."

"Yeah," he frowns. "I forget he's got that weird animal name. So bizarre. Anyway, I best be off. Just wanted to say hello before you pull another disappearing act."

"Dickhead," I mutter as he walks away.

I notice the corner of Owen's lip tug upwards from the corner of my eye and I narrow my eyes at him, "Don't grin at my despair. Now show me the way fellow bodyguard! For I am lost and oh so confused."

He rolls his eyes before walking off in one direction, expecting me to follow which I do, not before peering around at the shelves with eyes again. What nerves me is the fact that I know Nathanial isn't my hidden stalker, how? Well I felt someone watching me when we were talking.