Chapter 4

She had gone to high school with him.

The thought hit her hard. She thought she had known everyone in her graduating class but as she continued thinking about it, she realized he had been a year behind her. Austin had always acted more mature than anyone in her grade.

Yeah, he had been the class clown but that was because when he was young he was classified as a genius. She remembered he had been taking dual-credit courses all through his junior and senior years. Technically he could be done with college by now.

As memories flooded back, she remembered that he had been the driving force behind all his friends getting involved in sports in high school. He had played soccer and basketball with Tyler while Aiden had played soccer until she had been driven out of school. All of them, even Keldin, had taken martial arts. They were all athletic and it shows how they still fit together.

If she remembered correctly, Austin's temper was legendary. He would take the slightest offense for his friends if they didn't. He had always kept people away from Aiden when they were young. All of them had kept to themselves, garnering the attention of everyone. They had occupied a table all their own in the cafeteria.

The only social butterfly that had come from that group had been Mikey, Aiden's twin. Even though he had been more social than the others, he was the first to step up with Austin to defend them.

"How could I have forgotten him?" she asked aloud as she got back to the office.

"Forget whom?" Amelia asked as she set a sandwich down on the desk and sank into the chair.

"Austin."

"Austin?" Her friend leaned forward suddenly. "You mean you know Mr. Somme?" Bryony nodded as she bit her fingernail. "How? Come on, girl. You can't leave me hanging!"

"I went to high school with him. I think I graduated a year before him though." She realized she had been mumbling and stared at her. "What?"

Amelia's mouth was agape. Bryony didn't think her revelation would be that surprising. The other woman finally stood up and crowded her.

"You mean to tell me that you've been hiding that hunk o' man and haven't told anyone?" She smacked her hard. "What's wrong with you?"

"First off, oww! Second, we never hung out or anything. He was a year younger than me and I rarely talked to him even when we were around each other."

"The fact that you know him is astonishing. If I'd known a hunk like that I wouldn't have let him go."

"He had a girlfriend in high school and when he didn't, he was too busy taking care of his friends. Besides, he was gone most of the time and no one knew where he was going. Well, his parents did but that's because they're his parents. And when he was out, so were his friends. I couldn't ask where he was."

Amelia made a face at her. "I still say you're stupid."

"I really don't care."

With that out of the way, they sat down to lunch and mentally went their separate ways. Amelia went back to work, but Bryony started thinking of the proposition Austin had given her.

He wanted her to be head of this department but why? She was an archivist who helped bring old books back into print so the younger generations could read them. Why would the big boss want her to be the boss of these people?

Well, people did ask her opinion all the time. Whether it was about the type or if it was about the cover of the book, this department had always come to her for confirmation instead of Brad. The former boss had only been out for what was best for him, not what was best for their department. Bryony had always been the one to write out his propositions and everything else that had been his job. She, in a sense, had enabled him.

She went back down to her office in archives and spent the rest of the day hiding. This was a big step for her. Never in her life had she thought she'd be a managing editor on anything other than the archives. Now she was getting the opportunity to show her mettle in something other than having an eye for books.

When the big clock out in the lobby began to chime, she knew it was time to go home. She had lost most of her afternoon daydreaming instead of getting any work done. She would just have to make up for it at home. Grabbing a couple of files, she stuffed them in her bag.

She walked out the glass doors at the front of the building and hooked a left. As was her daily routine, she ran by the used bookstore before heading home. There was nothing new that she didn't already have or want so she made another left then two more before she headed up the steps to her crummy apartment on the fifth floor.

Unlocking her door, Bryony sighed as she dropped her bag to the floor by

the door and kicked off her shoes. Dinner was waiting to be heated in the fridge so she went to her kitchen. Pulling out the leftover spaghetti, she dumped it in a bowl and stuck it in the microwave to heat up while she went to change.

The microwave went off as she was pulling on a pair of shorts. She walked into the kitchen and pulled her dinner from the white box. Sitting down at the table, she pulled her book to her and began to read while she ate.

The thought of Austin offering the job to her just blew her mind. There were people better suited for the job but he said he wanted her to take it. If she did, it meant a higher pay raise and she could do some things she always wanted to do, like buy first edition books by some of her favorite authors.

As she was doing the dishes from that morning and dinner, there was a knock at her door. Frowning at who could be coming to her apartment uninvited, she went to look through the peephole. Brad stood outside and he was looking around suspiciously.

Cautiously she backed away from the door. If Brad was at her house, something else was going on. She quietly went back to her bedroom and pulled on a pair of tennis shoes and a sweatshirt. Jogging pants followed because there was a slight nip in the air. She shoved her wallet and cell phone in her pocket.

"Bryony, I know you're in there. It'll be easier on you if you just open the door," Brad called from the hallway.

Terrified, she didn't say anything. She grabbed a bag and stuffed some clothes in it. She would escape through the window and down the fire escape. She'd have to find some hotel to hole up in until the police could deal with this.

Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder, and she nearly yelped until another hand clamped around her mouth. Turning, she looked into Austin's blue eyes as he held his finger up to his mouth. She nodded and he straightened, making hand motions to nothing.

Two men formed from the shadows. Both were armed to the teeth but silent. If she hadn't seen them come from the darkest corner of her bedroom, she would never have seen or heard them move.

"What do you want, boss?" the lone redhead asked.

Austin shifted until he stood at his full height then he looked down at her. "I need you to open the door. We won't let anything happen to you but I need him in this apartment.'

Bryony's mouth worked but no sound came out. Finally she found her voice. "You want me to let him into my home?"

"I won't let anything hurt you. He can't get past us, but I need him inside to do what I was sent to do."

She never got to answer as the door to her apartment was thrown open. Austin's instinct kicked in and he wrapped his body around hers just in case of an attack. There were some muffled sounds then the bedroom door flew open.

"Bry, are you okay?"

Bryony lifted her head out of Austin's grip and looked over his shoulder. "Dex?"

Dex Arrya walked into the room and sighed when he saw she was standing there with three other men. "Austin Somme? The new owner of the publishing firm?"

Austin shifted once again, this time falling back with his men. "Dex Arrya? Where have I heard that name?"

"It's the name of the Elven conduit. His father is a regent to Aiden," the dark haired man replied. "The Elves must have sent him to watch over Bryony as Aiden sent you."

The auburn haired man turned his attention to the blond in front of them. He looked too good to be a normal man. He was over six foot tall with a clear complexion. His green eyes held something akin to knowing in them. When he tilted his head, he seemed to be analyzing the best way to kill someone. It wouldn't be surprising. Elves were known for their intelligence on and off the battlefield.

Austin crossed his arms over his chest. "What are you doing here, Dex?"

The Elf smiled but shook his head. "As you know, I was sent to watch over Bryony. Right now, we have to get her out of here. You can't go to your safe house. It's been compromised."

The red head lifted his chin. "You want us to come with you?"

"It would be easier."

Bryony shook her head, her hands going to her face. "Wait a minute. What's going on here?"

Austin and Dex looked at each other, the latter finally nodding. "I can't tell you right now, but once we get you to safety I'll tell you everything. You have to trust me."

She looked up at him and saw a spark in his eyes. He was telling the truth but she wasn't sure. Dex shifted into view again. His head was once again tilted in question. She had known both these men for years and now they were asking her to trust them.

Then again, they had just pulled her from her home where Brad Crestford was breaking in to do god knows what to her. They could have easily left her behind, but here she was looking between them.

Finally she nodded. "I will trust you."

Dex smiled and turned away. "Then come with me."

Austin took Bryony's arm and led her out of the apartment. The men with him followed them. No one's feet made a sound, and the silence of it all made Bryony's hair stand up on end.