GRAY. 

I’m taking Lennox home to get some of his things so he can come and live with me at my place. How crazy is that? I don’t dwell on it too much, actually. I don’t even want to think about the craziness of this situation. My plan is to do my job which starts with getting this blabbermouth safe. It irks me that means allowing him into my home where he is going to bother me, but it is the best solution that I can come up with for now. So long as he is safe then I won’t have to worry about being thrown into a cell.

He's lucky if you ask me.

Mom would be proud of me… I didn’t try to kill him yet.

“You know, my mom would freak out if she knew I’m moving in with a man I just met a few days ago.” He decides to comment, making me groan, “especially if she knew who you were.”

“You’re moving in with me for security purposes.” I clarify, hoping he doesn’t get the wrong idea, “I’m sure your mom would understand. Besides, I haven’t killed you yet.”

I expect him to say something else, but he doesn’t. He just stares up ahead. Good, some peace and quiet. We get to the house quicker than I thought we would. I plan on staying in my car while he goes in to get his stuff, but I quickly change my mind. I have a feeling that if I do that, I won’t be able to leave here until midnight. Lennox goes in first and I follow him. He sighs like this is the worst thing in the world. You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve got a moody Lennox on my hands; like a talkative Lennox wasn’t enough for today. He wanted me to help him and I’m doing this, but I’m not going to play the games like that. He sighs again and I snap. I really don’t have the time or patience for this bullshit.

“You do realize that you’d be back here soon, right?” I growl, seriously wondering why he has to get so fucking emotional when there is no need, “you’d be back even before you know it.”

“You think so?” He asks me in a small voice that touches a part of me, “this has been my home.”

Shit, don’t do that to me.

I’m not into comforting someone.

A part of me wants to hit him for it but a better part of me wants to comfort him. I take in a deep breath, walking closer to him, and I meet his eyes. I just nod, hoping that maybe I can comfort him the best that I can. I won’t touch him, that would be a bad idea.

“You’re right.” He murmurs with a nod, relaxing just a little bit to the point that I know he is going to be okay “there’s no need to get emotional. I’ll go pack now.”

Finally!

I watch him walk into the hallway. I’ve been in here once before, who would have thought that I would be here again. Definitely not me. I sit on the couch and wait for Lennox. Admiring the surroundings, wondering why I hadn’t noticed before what kind of person Lennox is. I know that he was just a hit, but he is really not like anyone that I had been tasked to kill before. I suppose I don’t know what kind of person he is and I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to figure that out. He is just elegant and different.

A few minutes later, Lennox comes back with a large suitcase. I expected nothing less from him. I’ve known him for a few days, but I already know so much about him, and also what to expect when it comes to him. He is that readable. When I see how he looks around, still sad, I wonder what to do about it. I hate that it has come to this, feeling a bit weird about the entire situation. When I see him, I don’t know what to think. Why does he make me feel so odd? Why do I feel like I can’t get enough of him? This is a dangerous feeling.

“I’m done.” He mumbles, looking away from me, “I didn’t want to bring too much but I also wasn’t sure how long I would need to stay with you. Better to be safe than sorry.”

I nod as I stand up, thankful that he isn’t going to whine too much about it. We head for the door, but Lennox stops again. What’s he doing now? If he needs another pep talk, I’m just going to leave him here. If he gets killed then well, I’ll travel to Russia with my family. It might be hard convincing my mother to come along but I’ll figure it out. I’m getting tired of playing these damn games when I have enough to deal with right now.

“Goodbye, home. Don’t miss me too much.” He speaks to the house like it understands, “Silas will take care of me.”

“It’s Gray.” I remind him and he ignores me… Again.

“I’ll be back soon.” Lennox grumbles again to the house.

We finally walk out after what feels like forever, and Lennox locks the door. I really don’t know what is going on in his head right now for him to be playing these stupid games. As we arrive at the car, he isn’t saying too much. The ride home is actually silent which I am thankful for because I’m about ready to rip his head off one of these days. 

Arriving home, he gets out of my car and doesn’t even wait for me. He takes his suitcase, rolling it inside and not thinking about much. His expression is actually blank, making me feel really weird because I don’t know what is about to happen next. I keep thinking that maybe I will figure it out, but I don’t know. I just let him take in my home, seeing everything. I need to get me a drink and I decide that maybe pizza would be good for tonight, so I don’t have to cook.

“I’m going to order pizza.” I announce to Lennox, wondering why I am even being considerate to him, “do you want any specific toppings?”

“No!” He replies, not caring if I’m quite honest.

I place the order before I walk out with my glass of water in hand. Lennox is still standing right where I left him. He is looking around but I’m not sure what to make about it. I don’t know why it is bothering me that I even care what he thinks. He means nothing to me either way.

“Your house is so bland.” He grumbles, and I just ignore him, “it needs some life in it.”

I don’t care what he thinks about my house.

“You’ll be taking my car anywhere from now on.” I tell him, throwing him the key which he quickly catches, surprising me by his agility, “it is bullet proof.”

“Uh, thanks.” He still doesn’t look too sure, “why?”

“My room is off limits.” I remind him, hating when anyone invades my private space, ignoring his dumb question altogether, “everything else is not.”

He nods, being a good puppy, “got it.”

Lennox drops his suitcase before he sits across from me. I guess we’re going to wait for the pizza to arrive. Why he can’t go off and do his own thing, I don’t know, but if he remains quiet, then I don’t care. I should have known he wouldn’t be so keen to do that either.

“Do you mind if I redecorate?” Lennox asks out of nowhere, and I just glower at him then.

“I do mind!” I snap, already irritated with him. 

Is he kidding me? He’s hopefully going to be out of here very soon. I don’t need him redecorating my house. Who even asks questions like that? It’s kind of offensive because I like my home the way it is, and I don’t want him touching my things. He’s going to be lucky if I don’t break his fingers.

“I just think that this place could use some… What should I call it?” He contemplates on the answer, tilting his head to the side as he taps his finger on his chin, “life? I have this really great interior designer who- “

“DON’T!” I cut him off, feeling more pissed, “just leave my house alone.”

It’s just his first day here and he’s already thinking about how to change everything. I know he is going to test my nerves and I hate it. Why did I agree to this? I could have chosen a different route…

“Oh, okay.” He sighs, looking disappointed as he looks around again, “I guess minimalism isn’t that bad. Besides, it is so you. I get why you wouldn’t want to change it.”

Now it is my turn to look around. I guess he could say that.

When I moved in here, Holly suggested that we go shopping but I didn’t see the point in it. All I need are the essentials. Anything else are just add-ons that I can do without. I remember when I first moved in with my adoptive parents. I had nothing with me, but they gave me everything. Mom always offered to decorate my room back then, but I always turned her down. They have already done so much. I don’t need anything else. Maybe I’m just so used to everything, I don’t know.

Just like I don’t need it right now.

“So, tell me…” He pipes up again, making me internally groan, “what’s with you and Holly?”

I frown, confused, because why this topic, “Holly?”

He nods, looking a bit eager now, “yes, Holly. What is your relationship?”

“I told you; she is my assistant.” I grumble, wondering why he wants to know this, “What else is there to say?”

“Yeah, but you two seem closer than that.” He explains, making me realize that he isn’t as inattentive as I thought he was, “did you two date or something? That would make sense if you did.”

I choke on my water. What the Hell? Dating Holly, just the thought makes me want to puke. She’s like a little sister to me and I wouldn’t ever date her. Nasty. I know she would be offended but she would ultimately agree.

“Sorry about that.” He apologizes, but the slight smirk he gives me makes me realize he is fighting back a laugh, “I was just a little curious. I think that Eugene has a crush on her, so I don’t want to disappoint him. He would be devastated.”

“Can you not talk?” I growl, wishing he would just be afraid of me and be done with it, “we can just sit in silence while the pizza gets here, you know.”

He shrugs, obviously not giving a damn, “I love to talk. I don’t do well with silence.”

Obviously. I really shouldn’t have comforted him back then at his house. If he was still that sad, I’m sure he would be quiet right now. One of my many regrets… Why do I have to make the wrong decisions sometimes? I don’t even know right now. The doorbell rings, making Lennox jump up abruptly. Don’t tell me he is going to do it…

“I’ll get it!” He says excitedly before running to the door.

I’m going to kill him.

“Don’t!” I snap at him which he ignores.

How am I going to stop myself from murdering him because I know he is just going to keep annoying me. I’m going to have to summon every ounce of my self-control. My other options are limited, unfortunately. I need him alive and well even if he annoys me. I’ve done more challenging things in my life.

Protecting Lennox Cambridge is a piece of cake.

Marching to the front door, I can practically see Lennox brimming with excitement. I guess the pizza delivery guy must have noticed what I do see in Lennox because he is looking at Lennox with red cheeks. I don’t know what to make of it, a strange feeling arising on the inside because I don’t know what would come from it. Why is it making me feel weird? I don’t like how he is looking at Lennox one bit.

“Um, do you have a boyfriend?” The delivery driver asks softly to Lennox, not noticing me in the shadows.

Lennox looks up with confusion, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, “huh? Oh, no, I don’t.”

Knowing that he must be oblivious, I move from where I am hiding. He sees me, his entire body going incredibly still, and I know he is afraid. He immediately backs up, having already given Lennox the food. Right, he’s nothing more than a coward. Why would Lennox be interested either way? Run.

Lennox closes the door and turns to me, looking a little startled. I glare at him, folding my arms across my chest because I can’t believe that he just can’t ever listen to me. Is he trying to get himself killed?

“What the hell were you thinking?” I yell at him, seeing how he looks more confused than frightened, “did you not realize that the hitman could have showed up and killed you the minute that you opened the door? Have more awareness!”

I snatch one of the boxes from him, walking away before I might do something that I would regret. I don’t know why he makes me feel this way but I’m not doing this anymore. Let himself get killed, I’ll figure it out…

He is lucky he is in my home…