Leading Her from the Darkness

CHAPTER 26

REMEMBER TO VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, & ADD TO LIST FOR UPDATES!

<<<>>>

I am greeted at the door of the shop by Graham, who wraps me into a hug that's so tight I can barely breathe, making me silently wince so I don't make him feel bad. But then my cynical personality takes over.

"I swear, I think I just felt my ribs re-break," I laugh at him when he backs away from me abruptly, horror plastered across his face. I snort at his reaction, while trying to bite back another round of laughter, "I'm only joking. Geez. Someone's touchy. What was the hug for?"

If he only knew that it actually hurt like hell.

He lets out a sigh of relief and relaxes, "That's not funny. But I just missed you. I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"It was a little funny. And I saw you Thursday numb-nuts. I would've Saturday if you had shown up," I swat his arm playfully and give him my most innocent smile that I can muster up. He waves off my teasing, his face more serious now.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I'll explain later. But I've needed to talk to you about something important. I just didn't want to tell you while you were with Thor, 'Protector of all things Austyn,'" he says, deepening his voice for the last part in a mocking tone.

"What are you talking about?" I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest defensively.

"Look... don't shoot the messenger, but I heard that the guy is dangerous," he breathes out. My eyebrows knit together, now truly confused by what he just said.

"Dangerous?" I ask skeptically. "I'm going to need you to elaborate on that for me, please."

He huffs, shuffling his feet nervously, "Okay. So, I have a friend whose older brother works with Dawson, and apparently, they're into some shady shit. His brother was telling him how they're basically a part of some illegal, underground organization."

"If it's illegal, then why is your friend's brother talking about it?" I retort. "And more importantly, why is your friend telling you about it?"

He looks away from me and shrugs, "I don't know, but I was telling him about how you were dating our professor's little brother and then he brought it up."

I don't know what's more concerning. The fact that Graham is talking to his friends about me and who I'm dating, or that he's telling me Dawson is involved in illegal activity. I mean, it's undeniably the latter, but I just can't imagine that Dawson would be a part of something like that. Yeah, sure, he has a bit of a short temper and some jealousy issues - but a criminal? I don't believe it.

"Why were you talking to your friend about me?" I question.

"That's beside the point, Austyn. Is that really all you heard from everything I just told you?" he looks at me like I'm crazy.

I take a few deep breaths, debating on if I should take his word for it. Graham has no reason to lie to me, and as far as I know, he never has before. If he is telling the truth, what am I going to do about it? It's not like I can just go up to Dawson and ask him if he's involved with some underground crime ring, now can I?

"Let's say you're right about this. What the hell am I supposed to do with this information? I can't exactly confront him about it, because if he's not then I will look fucking mental." I run my fingers over my braids, shifting my weight to my other leg and close my eyes as I try to process all of this recent information.

He shrugs again, "Just be careful. I don't know all the details, but there's no telling what he's capable of if he's really tangled up in all of that. I don't want to see you get hurt. That's all I'm saying. I just thought you deserved to know."