14. Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen

PAVAL

I stretch, searching for my phone to see that Tia hasn't answered any of my messages. She should be done with her class at this point but she's not back. Cairo is still at the kitchen island and I can't tell if he's ignoring me or giving me space. That's the least of my worries as I push the sandwich from earlier away and start searching for Tia's class schedule.

She should have finished an hour ago.

She's doing things that don't fit the pattern again.

I dial her number but it goes straight to voicemail. Is she ignoring me too? Agitated, I push to my feet, steadying myself on the arm of the couch before heading for the door. Cairo is suddenly in front of me, chuckling at my wobbly state. "Pav, where are you headed? I thought we agreed you'd take it easy for the day."

"No, you said that. I didn't really agree. Tia isn't answering her phone." I thrust my device at him, Cairo scrolling through my unanswered texts.

"Damn, that's a lot of messages. I'm sure she's fine, probably with the twins dealing with a problem."

I don't like the sound of that. There shouldn't be any problems. I also hate that Cairo said ‘she's fine' when I've already figured out that she's not. Whoever the twins are, they aren't enough to keep Tia safe. "Something's wrong. She didn't answer my call, Cairo." I don't know how to explain my algorithm to him or the sudden pain in my chest.

Cairo studies me for several seconds, his expression softening. "If I believed in soulmates, I would think you're hers. She always told me that you happened to be around the corner every time she needed you. Let's go. I'll check in with the twins to see what's going on." He pats my chest as he reaches over to grab his coat and his phone, furiously texting as I try and fail to take the stairs. "Pav, don't you fucking dare. Elevator, please."

"Stairs are faster."

"Not with your head injury. If you pass out on the stairs, we won't be able to find Tia. Get in the metal box." His voice suddenly turns gruff, his shoulders bulking up as he unconsciously flexes. A tendril of excitement runs through me at the possibilities before I obey and return my focus to Tia. She could be anywhere on campus.

Or maybe she left campus.

Or maybe her mother found her.

Two hands cup my cheeks and drag my gaze upward to meet Cairo's blue eyes. "Deep breaths, Paval. We will find her. She will be in one piece and then we will bring her back here and make sure she's okay." I open my mouth to refute that when Cairo presses his lips to mine, silencing my protests. Seconds later, the elevator doors open and I rip myself from him, refocusing my efforts.

My heart beats a little faster from feeling his soft lips against mine but I'll have to deal with the feelings later. And apologize. And then ask him to do it again so that I'm not rude when I pull away. I check my phone and pull up the app that I should absolutely not have but has come in handy more than once. Cairo leans over my shoulder.

"Pav, does she know you have a tracking app on her phone?"

"I promised to protect her." The app shows a small blue dot, telling me that her phone wasn't dead; she just declined my calls. I head toward the dot, Cairo shielding me from running into things. When I stop just before a side door to the science building, I frown. There's no reason for Tia to be inside here. And yet, I find her just past the door, her head between her knees, her body shaking from the sobs echoing through this hall.

I drop to my knees beside her, my heart breaking when I hear her whispered words.

" She's here. She's here. She's here."

Ada? I look around, seeing no one here before reaching forward to pull Tia into my arms. Inches before my fingers make contact with my woman, I stop. What strength I have left from walking over her isn't enough to carry her safely to the apartment. Staring at her bags laid out around her and my woman shaking in fear, I know that I need help. So, I glance at Cairo and the absolute happiness that radiates through his expression tells me I made the right decision.

He scoops her up in his arms, Tia clinging to him as I gather her bags and we make the trek back to the apartment. Cairo disappears into the bathroom with her when we get back and I dial my fathers, knowing that they'll have a better solution than I do.

My plan would be to stake Ada out and then drag her into the ring from last night.

"Didn't get enough of us yesterday, Pav?" Gianni jokes as he picks up the phone. There's a few moments of silence before he realizes I pressed the video call. In hindsight, that was a bad idea. "What happened to your face?"

"I fell. Not the point. Ada is here."

The phone is snatched from Gianni's hands, Rhys' face taking up most of the screen. Valentyn is standing behind him, my most serious father already forming ideas about my face and the fact that Tia's mother is hovering around us. "Paval are you safe? Where is Tia?"

"Cairo is running her a bath. That's not the point, either. Ada is somewhere on campus. Tia was saying she was here. She's not allowed to be here. You said there was a protection order." We all know that would never keep Ada away.

Once again, they're focused on the wrong thing as Dmitri calls out from the background. "Who's Cairo?" Gianni's eyebrows raise and then Rhys' as they catch onto my slip-up.

"Just… someone. That's not… Ada is here!" A growl of frustration leaves my lips, Valentyn taking the phone and stepping away from my other fathers. I don't understand how they're being so playful right now when the woman who's been threatening to take away my Tia for years is roaming around our campus. I don't even know how Tia knows but she was terrified. "Dad—"

"We're on it. I've already called a few people to keep tabs on Ada but she's a slippery bitch and always has been. The fact that you're calling me tells me that you both are safe. Do you trust this Cairo guy? Is he a friend?"

"Tia's boyfriend."

Valentyn chuckles. "You take after your fathers, I see. You can tell us all about Cairo when you visit next."

My face turns up in confusion. "I said he was Tia's."

"And you would never let Tia out of your sight in a situation like this. I get it. It's probably new. I need you two—three to stay safe. No trying to save the world. Don't leave campus unless one of us knows. Tia's grandparents know about the situation. If anything changes, you call me and the police immediately. Then you fucking hide. Do not confront her, Paval."

"I won't do anything stupid." I'm not agreeing to anything else and Valentyn knows I won't. Tia's safety is my top priority and then Cairo's. He's important now, too. "I have to go. They need my help." A knowing smirk plays on my father's lips and I'm not sure what gave it away but it's nice to know that they're just as accepting as Tia.

I blow out a deep breath and then step into the bathroom, Tia staring into space as Cairo helps her into the bath. He turns to me, waving me over. "Sit with her. I need to make some calls." He taps my shoulder, a much less intimate touch than before. I suspect it's because of the way I left the elevator and as stupid as it seems to correct now, I feel the need to.

"I'm sorry," I mumble before dragging him into another kiss, sucking on his bottom lip. He goes rigid and then relaxes, his fingers fisting into my shirt. "Didn't mean to run but Tia was hurting. I'll stand still so you can finish kissing me."

Cairo barks out a laugh, pecking my lips. "I don't know how many times I've said you're precious but I'll tell you every fucking day. Give Tia the same attention. I'll be back after I figure out if that woman is actually on campus."

Satisfied, I shed my clothes and slip into the tub with Tia, settling her back against my chest. Her body sags against me as I begin stroking up and down her arms, lulling her into the peace she so rightfully deserves. When Tia tries to explain, I just listen, hating Ada a little more than I already did if that were possible.

By the time Tia expels her anger, she's worn out, falling asleep against me as the warm water surrounds us in a little cocoon.