Chapter Text
Rafayel
“Rafayel, just fuck me already! Please!”
I hummed and twisted my fingers inside Davina’s soaked pussy while pushing down on her clit with my thumb. “Patience,” I muttered. “Or I will leave you here and won’t come back.”
If not for the fact that I really needed a good hard fuck I wouldn’t have come here at all. She was a good lay, but she was a whiny possessive woman who wanted more from me than I was willing to give, and today she was pushing my limits.
She gasped and squirmed beneath me, her body trembling slightly with every movement as I pressed up with my fingers, dragging them along her slick walls.
She was close, so close, and I knew it, and I couldn't help but relish her desperation.
It fueled me. Made being here worth it, even though she wasn’t the woman I really wanted underneath me.
"You wouldn’t," she whimpered, gripping the sheets. "You need me."
I paused my movements and glanced up at her, my eyes narrowing slightly. "You really want to test me, don't you?" I said softly, shifting my weight slightly as I leaned over her, my free hand moving to her throat and gripping lightly. "I'd be careful. You know I can leave at any time."
She whimpered, the grip on her throat adding the slightest bit of panic to her already flushed cheeks. "Please, Rafayel-" Her voice was breathy, pleading. "Don't tease me. I just want you."
A sigh escaped my lips, the sound a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. Her pleas and whimpers did not move me, rather the opposite, they made me want to commit acts of violence.
Her possessiveness and neediness were not what I was looking for when I came here, but she looked so much like the woman I truly wanted that I tolerated her whininess and erratic behavior. Tolerated fucking her every few days when I needed to scratch an itch.
Although I was starting to think I wouldn’t be able to tolerate her much longer.
I leaned down, my lips close to her ear, as I continued moving my fingers inside her. "You seem to overestimate your importance," I murmured in a cold, calculated tone. "I don't need you. I could find another to satisfy my needs in a heartbeat."
She gasped, her body shuddering as my words registered, the realization, the understanding that I was not as attached to her as she had believed.
"You're disposable," I added, my voice low and even. "Just a means to an end."
I could see her face fall, the look of desperation giving way to hurt and vulnerability. She had believed that I cared about her, that my visits were more than mere convenience.
"No, no, no," she protested. "No, you can't mean that. You wouldn't do that to me."
"Can't I?" I asked softly. "I have no obligations to you, Davina. I made it clear from the beginning that this was purely physical. You're the one who developed feelings."
This had never been about feelings for me, and it never would. She was nothing more than a substitute for the woman I wanted but could never have.
Because the woman I loved was falling in love with someone else.
That realization had broken something in me, and I had come here, to Davina, with the intentions of fucking my frustrations away but that had clearly been a mistake. I was losing my patience with her, with this conversation, being harsh, perhaps even cruel, but I didn't care. I wasn't here to cater to her emotional needs, nor was I here to coddle her like some fragile flower.
She was a grown woman who had entered this knowing exactly what it was, yet she still expected more from me. It was infuriating. And I was over it.
"But I love you," she whispered, her voice quivering with unshed tears.
I rolled my eyes, her words causing irritation to flare within me. "Love?" I echoed, the single word dripping with sarcasm.
Love was not something I believed in, not anymore, not after what life had put me through, not after I had allowed myself to feel that pointless emotion only to be denied what I wanted most. Love only brought pain and vulnerability. I was better off on my own, in control and free from the constraints of emotional attachment.
Davina, with her love and fragility, was everything I didn't want or need.
I pulled my hand away from her and sat up, my eyes taking in her disheveled form. "Love is for fools. I don't do love."
She sat up, tears welling in her eyes as she reached for the sheets and clutched them to her chest. "But what about me?" she pleaded. "What about what I feel for you?"
I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair in frustration as I pushed myself off the bed and adjusted my pants. "What you feel for me is nothing more than infatuation, a passing fancy," I said bluntly. "I never promised you my heart. I made that clear from the start."
Her expression fell, the truth of my words hitting her hard. She had hoped, foolishly, that I would change my mind, that I would return her feelings, but I never would. I had no interest in being tied down by something as pointless as love.
She sat silently, her shoulders hunched, tears streaming down her face.
I felt no guilt. I had always been honest with her, had never led her on with false hopes. She had been the one to develop feelings, to fool herself into believing this was anything more than a physical release for both of us, and now she was paying the price for her misplaced affection.
"You're heartless," she whispered, her voice shaking. "You use people like me; you make us feel something only to toss us aside when you're done. You're a selfish bastard, you know that?"
I didn't deny her words. She was right; I was heartless, selfish, and a bastard. It was who I was, and I had never pretended otherwise. "I am what I am," I replied brusquely as I reached for my T-shirt and pulled it on. "I never lied to you. You're the one who read more into it."
"Why do you even bother coming here if you feel that way?" Davina demanded. "Why waste time with me?"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Because I had a need, and you were here to satisfy it," I replied bluntly as I pulled on my jacket.
She winced at my words, hurt flashing in her eyes. "So that's all I am, just a mindless body to service you?"
“Yes.”
The silence in the room was deafening after my blunt reply, the only sound the soft hitching of Davina's sobs. She was a mess, her mascara running down her cheeks, her hair in disarray. She looked like a lost puppy, desperate for my comfort and affection.
Just as I was about to say something further, to end things with her for good, I heard the alarm signaling someone was at my house going off on my phone.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Of course, something had to disrupt this already unbearable evening. I had half a mind to ignore it, but I also had a gut feeling who it was, and in my line of work, instincts were everything.
With a resigned sigh, I fished my phone out of my pocket and pulled up the cameras on my phone. The screen showed footage my front porch, and the silver haired man standing there.
Sylus. Of course, it was Sylus. The last damned person I wanted to see.
I had been avoiding him, as well as my best friend for several days now, trying to distance myself from them both. Because the one woman that I loved more than anything? The woman who had no clue how I felt? Who would never return my feelings because she loved someone else?
None other than my best friend, Danger Vorn, who was in love with the silver-haired, red-eyed bastard currently standing at my front door in the middle of the night.
"This is bullshit," I muttered under my breath, glancing between my phone and Davina.
He was literally the last person I wanted to see right now, but his presence on my doorstep could mean only two things. Something was wrong. Or he was looking for my elusive best friend who tended to avoid her feelings and had probably fucked things up like I knew she was going to.
I let out an exasperated sigh, shoving my phone back into my pocket and turning my attention back to Davina. "I have to go," I grumbled, my voice betraying no hint of care.
She looked up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes. "You're just going to leave me like this?"
I nodded without a hint of hesitation. "Yes."
She winced at my cold response, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
I turned to leave, not even sparing her a second glance as I opened the door and stepped out of her house, into the dark, rainy night.
The cold air stung against my skin, but it was nothing compared to the heaviness in my chest. My footsteps echoed softly on the pavement, the dampness of the night air clinging to my clothes as I walked and the image of Davina's tear-streaked face kept replaying in my mind.
What a mess I had made. Starting things with her had been a mistake, but she looked so much like Danger that I hadn’t been able to stop myself. I had been thinking with my cock, not my head, and now I had really fucked things up.
And leaving like that… dismissing her emotions and then walking away into the darkness of the night, knowing I couldn't give her what she wanted, what she needed, it was cruel, but it was for the best. For both of us.
She would move on, find someone who could give her the love and commitment I couldn't, and I would... well, I'd continue living my life like I always had. Pining after a woman who only saw me as her best friend.
Danger, with her stubborn personality, and unwavering loyalty, who had no idea how deeply I felt for her.
She was in love with Sylus. She hadn’t admitted it yet, but I saw it. Had seen it the night she came to me and told me everything, from the moment she had met him to the moment she had killed her father.
I clenched my jaw, the memory of that night replaying in my mind like a bad movie reel. Danger, sitting on the counter in my kitchen while I made dinner, her face weary and fearful, blurting out everything in a rush of words. Every damn moment she had spent with Sylus in excruciating detail… the way her heart raced when he touched her, the way his smile made her legs weaken, the way she felt about him without saying it out loud.
That bastard had it all—he had everything I wanted. And he didn't appreciate it.
He wasn't loyal or caring, not like me. But he had Danger's heart, even though he didn't deserve it. And it was killing me.
My fists clenched at my sides, frustration and anger mixed with the guilt, and I wanted to punch something… to take out all these emotions that were tearing me apart on anything I could.
I let out another frustrated sigh, pushing my hand through my damp hair as I tried to focus on the task at hand. Dealing with my best friend’s lover.
The rain increased in its intensity as if mirroring my tumultuous thoughts, pelting down on me like icy daggers and I welcomed the cold, hoping it would cool my burning anger and emotions, but it didn't… all it did was prolong my misery.
I had almost reached my house when my phone rang. I groaned internally, irritated by the interruption, but still, I pulled it out of my pocket, my eyes narrowing as I saw the name flashing on the screen.
Danger.
My heart gave a painful lurch at the sight of her name. Of course, it was her.
I hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to pick up or ignore it, but, as always, my heart betrayed me, and I found myself swiping my thumb to accept the call. "Yeah?" I grunted.
"Took you long enough," a familiar, slightly irritated voice chimed from the other end of the line. "Were you too busy with your little plaything or what?"
I rolled my eyes, already feeling a headache starting to form. "Don't start."
"Oh, don't give me that," she replied, her tone annoyed. "I know you're avoiding me."
"I'm not avoiding you," I lied through my teeth.
"Bullshit."
"Alright, fine, I am avoiding you. So what?"
"So, what, he says," she mocked. "You've been ducking and dodging me for days."
"I've been busy," I replied defensively, trying to sound indifferent.
"Busy with what? Or should I say, with who?"
The question hit me like a punch to the gut. Of course, she would know about Davina. The woman had an uncanny ability to figure things out, especially when it came to me.
I didn't bother denying it. "What's it to you if I'm with someone else?" I shot back.
"What's it to me? Seriously, Raf?" Her voice rose a bit, the anger in it becoming evident. "Are you really asking me that? After everything we've been through, after all these years..." Her words trailed off, a hint of hurt seeping through her usual feisty demeanor.
I winced inwardly, feeling a pang of guilt.
She was right; I knew how important our bond was. How important I was to her mental health, but how was I supposed to tell her that my heart was tearing itself apart every time I thought about her with Sylus? How was I supposed to admit that every moment she spent with him felt like a knife to the chest? I didn't know how… I couldn't.
The silence between us stretched, filled only by the pounding rain and the sound of our breaths.
Damn it, this was exactly why I'd been avoiding her. Why I'd been trying to keep my distance, because one conversation with her, and I felt like I was slowly being torn apart.
Without wanting to, I found myself asking, "Why are you calling, anyway?"
She let out a frustrated sigh, the irritation still present in her voice, but there was an underlying hint of worry. "I need to talk to you. It's important."
Her words tugged at my curiosity, despite my reluctance. What could be so damn important that she was calling me this late?
"Can't it wait?" I grumbled, even as I knew I was already relenting.
"When have you ever known me to wait for anything, idiot? And trust me, this can't wait."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine," I grumbled, trying to sound annoyed but mostly just sounding weary. "Where are you? I'll be there soon."
"At my new place," she replied, the irritation in her voice softening into what I recognized as relief. "Come as soon as you can, okay? It's raining like a damn flood out there."
"Yeah, I know it is," I muttered, looking up at the sky as the rain pelting down on me intensified. "I'm already out in it."
She paused, and I could practically hear the concern in her silence. "You're outside?"
"Yeah."
"In this weather? Why the hell are you outside in a downpour?"
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, even as a small, suppressed part of me warmed at her concern. "I thought you called because you missed me, not to nag me."
She snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. I called because I needed to talk to you, not because I missed your grumpy ass."
Hearing her sassy response, a corner of my mouth twitched in a half-smile, despite myself. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
∞
The rain continued to hammer down on me as I jogged towards her house, cursing under my breath the entire way. I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was a bad idea, but still, my feet kept moving, each step bringing me closer to her house and my own brand of torment.
By the time I arrived at her doorstep, I was soaked to the skin, my hair plastered to my face, my clothes clinging to me like a second, cold skin.
The warehouse loomed in front of me, its windows flickering with a dim golden glow.
I took a moment to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as part of me thought about turning around and walking away, but the damn stubborn part, the part that could never say no to her, pushed me to open the door and step inside.
The familiar, slightly musty scent of the warehouse enveloped me, along with the more faint, but distinct, scent of her.
She was probably upstairs, waiting and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Of course she hadn't come down to greet me. She never did. She always made me come to her.
Taking a deep breath, I ran my hand through my wet hair and started to climb the stairs, each step echoing slightly in the quiet building. As I reached the top, I paused for a moment, taking in the sight in front of me.
The warehouse's upper floor was mostly one large room, except for a couple smaller side rooms, the area was open and spacious with moonlight from the windows streaming in and casting a soft, silvery light over everything. And there, in the middle of it all, sitting at a table sharpening her daggers, was Danger.
She looked as stunning as always, her long dark hair falling in waves down her back, her skin glowing in the soft moonlight. She was wearing a black tank top that showed off her toned arms and a pair of dark jeans that hugged her curves just right.
Myrkyssa, a giant black wolf that had saved Danger’s life a few years back, noticed me and hopped off the couch to approach me for some love.
"Hey, Myrks," I said gruffly, reaching out to give her a pat on the head.
The big wolf nuzzled against my hand, her tail wagging slightly in greeting.
Danger's head whipped up at the sound of my voice, her sharp eyes meeting mine. She took me in for a moment, her gaze flickering over my soaked form. "You look like a drowned rat."
I rolled my eyes, not in the mood for her sass. "Yeah, well, you try walking through that damn downpour."
She snorted, her usual smirk playing on her lips as she set aside her daggers and stood up, stretching her limbs with a small groan. The action only served to emphasize her curves, and I found myself having to force my gaze away from her to avoid a painful stab of desire in my chest.
"You could've just driven here, you know," she pointed out. "Might've been a bit drier."
"Yeah, and miss out on this lovely weather?"
She rolled her eyes. "Right, because walking in a downpour is a blast."
I walked further into the room, my clothes dripping water onto the floor. "You're the one who called me here, remember?"
She nodded, her expression growing serious. "Yeah, I did. I need your help."
The shift in her tone gave me a pang of unease. Something was clearly bothering her, and I could tell it was important. I stepped closer, my eyes searching her face for any hint of what was wrong. "What is it? What's going on?"
She let out a sigh, her eyes dropping from mine for a moment. “I want to find my sister.”
Her sister? The twin that was sold at the same time she was? That sister?
"What?" I breathed out, struggling to keep my composure.
"Yeah, I know it's a long shot, but I can't stop thinking about her. I need… answers."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing as a swirl of emotions churned inside me. On one hand, I wanted to be there for her, to support her, to help her. But on the other hand, the thought of her digging into the past, into her painful history more than she already had, scared the hell out of me.
"You're sure about this?" I asked, my voice unusually gentle.
She nodded and her eyes met mine again, determined and full of fire. "I've never been more sure of anything."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I tried to push down the fear in my chest. "You realize this isn't going to be easy, right? It could be dangerous."
She let out a scoff, her usual stubborn streak shining through. "Since when have I ever backed down because something was dangerous?"
"Never," I muttered. "But you have to think this through. You have no idea what you might find if you start poking around. It could be a lot darker than you think."
“No darker than what I’ve already discovered,” she said in a low voice.
I winced, knowing she was right. Sylus had uncovered some dark corners of her past, secrets she'd rather forget… all stuffed into a file that she had read before coming to me the night after the gala. But this... this was different. This was digging into the root of it all, going back to the very source of her trauma.
I wanted to stop her, to protect her, but I also knew I couldn't. She was too strong-willed, too determined, and now that she knew she had a twin there would be no stopping her. She needed my support, my help, not my attempts to shut her down.
"Alright, let's... let's do this. But there’s something I want."
"Anything," she responded without hesitation.
I grimaced, knowing I would be walking on thin ice with what I was about to say. "I do this alone. You will have no part in it."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Alone?"
"Yes, alone. You stay out of it. I handle this on my own."
She opened her mouth as if to protest, but I cut her off before she could even speak. "No negotiations. You want my help, this is how I'm helping. You stay out of it."
Her jaw set in a way that told me she wanted to argue, but eventually, she nodded reluctantly. The relief I felt was mixed with a pang of dread because I had no clue what I was going to uncover during my search, but I would deal with whatever I found, even if I discovered that the sister was dead.
"Alright," she said softly, looking away. "I trust you."
Damn it all, how could she say that? Her words, her trust… hit me like a punch to the chest. She had no idea what I was capable of, what I had done in the past. This whole thing was a mistake, a reckless, foolish mistake, but I nodded, my jaw clenched, determined to press on.
"Good. Do you have any information that might help?"
"No," she admitted, her irritation evident. "The file Sylus gave me only contained video footage of our father leaving the hospital with her. If there’s more, Sylus will have it."
Inwardly, I cursed in every language I knew. The thought of going to Sylus, asking him for the information, made my skin crawl, but he was my only lead, and for Danger's sake, I was willing to endure the pain of dealing with him if it got her what she wanted.
"I have to talk to Sylus, don't I?" I grumbled, more to myself than to her.
"Yeah, I have a feeling he started looking for her as soon as he figured out she existed."
"Great, just great," I muttered, raking my hand over my face in frustration.
Guess I was going to have to hunt him down after all. Not only to get the information I needed but to find out why the hell he had been at my house earlier. Although I had a feeling I already knew… and it had everything to do with the woman standing six feet away watching me expectantly.
I ran my hand through my hair again, trying to come up with a plan, but before I could even begin to organize my thoughts, Danger's voice cut through the air. "There's something else I need to tell you."
"What is it?" I grumbled, mentally preparing for another bombshell.
“I might…” she paused, dropping her eyes to the floor with a deep sigh, “… have told him he’s nothing more than a means to an end, so he might not be… cooperative.”
My mind struggled to process her words for a moment, the implications sinking in. She had told Sylus that he meant nothing to her? Just a tool to be used and then discarded?
"You... You what?"
She winced at the shock in my voice, but didn't look away, her eyes full of defiant determination. "I had to. It was the only way to keep my guard up, to make sure he didn't get too close, to not seem…weak."
I stared at her, too stunned to speak. She was lying. I knew she was. There was no way she'd been playing games with Sylus, using him to get what she wanted. Not after the conversation we had had the night after the gala. Not after she had all but confessed to being in love with him.
I should have been thrilled. Happy even… but the only emotion coursing through me at that moment was disbelief. "You... You're kidding, right?"
"No, I had to do what I could to protect myself from getting hurt."
She had pushed him away—shut him out—even though she loved him, because it all came down to one thing… she was afraid, and I got that but godsdamnit, she didn't understand what she was doing. She didn't understand what she was going to be missing out on by being so stupid. She didn't get that... that he was the one thing that had brought out a side of her I’d never seen in the years I had known her.
I took a deep breath, trying to reign in my anger, but my voice was harsh when I finally answered her, "You're an idiot," I bit out.
She stiffened at my words, her eyes flashing. "Excuse me?"
"You're an idiot," I repeated. "You're throwing away something worth having out of fear."
She bristled at my words. "I am not."
"Yes, you are. You're running away from your feelings because you're scared."
"I am not scared," she shot back, her tone defiant, but there was vulnerability in her eyes.
"You are," I responded as I took a step closer to her. "You're scared of getting hurt. You’re scared because you have feelings for him."
She flinched at my tone, her resolve faltering for a split second, but then her chin lifted in a defiant gesture. "That's not the point. What I feel doesn't matter. What matters is finding my sister. Anything beyond that is irrelevant."
I clenched my jaw, frustration and anger warring inside me. She was acting like an idiot. Like a stubborn, self-sacrificing fool. The desire to shake some sense into her was nearly overpowering, but I forced myself to take a deep breath, to push down the anger, and speak in a calm, even tone, "Bullshit. It matters."
She faltered, her tough facade cracking for a moment, and I could see the pain in her eyes, the fear, the doubt, the hurt, all hidden behind the stubborn, stoic expression on her face. She was trying so godsdamn hard to hold it together. To act like she didn't care, but the truth was clear, and I was not going to let her hide from it anymore.
"You're lying to yourself," I said, my voice firm but softer now.
There was a moment of silence, of tension, as our eyes locked, hers defiant, mine unwavering and intense then, she broke, "I… love him, but…”
Her confession hit me harder than I'd expected even already having known how she felt, but there was a 'but' there, hovering in the air like a shadow.
She took a shaky breath, her expression turning pleading. "But I can't... I can't be with him. I can't risk it. I can't risk getting hurt. I can't..."
My heart clenched at the pain in her voice, at the desperation in her eyes. I felt for her… I understood her pain, her fear, her past, but I also knew that she was being a fool.
"You can't keep living your life like this, running away from your feelings, scared of getting hurt," I said, my voice softer now. “You're strong, damn it. You've been through hell and back. You've faced all sorts of danger, all sorts of pain. But the moment you fall in love, you're scared."
"This is different," she retorted, her words laced with both anger and fear. "Loving him changes everything. It makes me... weak."
I couldn't help but laugh at her words. "Weak? You think love makes you weak?"
She squared her jaw, her eyes blazing. "It does," she snapped. "Don't pretend like it doesn't. Love is a weakness. Love is messy. Love is painful. Love is… complicated. I can't handle that. I can't handle... losing him."
There it was. The root of the issue. The real reason she was pushing him away. She was afraid. Not just of getting hurt. But of losing him.
"That's life. Loving someone means opening yourself up to pain. It means risking getting hurt. But that's not weakness, dammit. That's strength."
"You don't understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've never loved someone the way I love him."
The words stabbed at my chest, but I pushed the pain aside and kept going. "Maybe not. But I know more about love than you think. I know that love is never easy. And I sure as hell know that running away isn't the answer."
The irony of my words weren’t lost on me even as I uttered them, but this wasn’t about me, this was about her.
"I can't," she whispered, the words thick with pain as she looked away. "I just… can't."
"Can't or won't?"
Her eyes snapped back to mine at the question, surprise and anger flashing across her face. I had hit a nerve.
"You're being a coward, and you know it," I said bluntly, my voice hard again. “One day you’re going to wake up and realize he’s the best thing that ever happened to you and you’re going to regret everything you did to push him away.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and thick, the silence that followed deafening, but I didn’t wait for a response. Instead, I turned around and left, because there was nothing more left for me to say.
∞
An hour later I found myself standing outside a warehouse wondering if I really should follow Sylus inside, because this wasn’t a good idea. Sylus was unpredictable. Arrogant. And he despised me because I was close to Danger.
I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the potential shitstorm that was probably waiting for me inside, and pushed open the door.
The warehouse was dark and eerily silent, illuminated only by the dim moonlight filtering in through the windows. I walked further in, my steps echoing faintly off the concrete floors and walls as I made my way through the maze of crates and boxes Danger used to create confusion in anyone who invaded her space.
There was a flicker of movement on the other side of the wall, a shadow shifting between the cracks. I tensed instinctively, my senses on high alert as I paused and listened. I knew it was Sylus. Had seen him enter the warehouse minutes ago but years of habit made me stop to see if he was alone like I thought.
Silence settled over the warehouse again as I let out a soft sigh then pushed forward, making my way around the maze as silently as possible until I could see him. He was on the far-right side of the room, smoking a cigarette with a wicked looking knife clutched in his other hand.
"Looking for Danger?"
He looked up, his red eyes narrowing as he took a drag of his cigarette and tucked the knife into his jacket. "What the fuck do you want, Rafeyel?" he grumbled, smoke curling out of his mouth as he spoke.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," I replied as I started towards him. “You showed up at my house while I was gone.”
His eyebrow twitched in irritation as he took another drag of the cigarette, blowing out a plume of smoke before answering, "Yea, looking for Danger. I need to talk to her."
I let out a laugh, the sound loud in the quiet space as I stopped a few feet away from him. "Well, if you are looking for Danger, you're shit out of luck," I finally said, my tone causal. "If she doesn’t want to be found then you won’t find her."
He took another drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke out in a slow exhale before dropping it on the ground and subbing it out with the heel of his boot. "So, I've noticed," he said dryly, a hint of irritation in his voice. "Do you know where she went?"
"No idea."
He raised an eyebrow at the lie, clearly not believing me. That was to be expected. He wasn't stupid, and he knew I was lying through my teeth. "Bullshit,” he muttered. “You're her friend. You have to have some idea where she might have gone."
I shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "She doesn't exactly leave a forwarding address."
"I get it. You're loyal to her," he bit out. "But I need to talk to her. It's important."
A tense silence fell between us as he waited for my response, and I knew he was still trying to gauge the truth in my words. "Is that right?" I said lazily.
He let out a low, frustrated hiss under his breath. "Yes,” he snapped. “It is."
He was clearly losing his patience, and I took a perverse pleasure in that. The fact that he was standing here, asking about her whereabouts and so damn desperate to talk to her, was more satisfying than it should be. The urge to antagonize him further, to see how far I could go before he reached his breaking point was nearly overwhelming.
I took a step closer, a small, provoking smile playing on my lips. "Important, huh?"
His eyes narrowed, the anger in his voice building when he answered, "Yes."
"What do you need to talk to her about?"
"That's between Danger and me," he growled, voice hard and unyielding. "It's none of your godsdamn business."
I laughed, the sound low and mocking. It was none of my business, but I was feeling particularly mischievous tonight. "Always so pleasant," I muttered with a smirk.
"Look, I have no time for your games," he snapped.
"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist. I'm just trying to make conversation." The sarcasm was thick in my voice, and I could see the anger in his eyes intensify with every word I spoke.
He took a deep breath, a low growl leaving his throat as he muttered, "No, you’re annoying the fuck out of me. I'm not in the mood for it."
The anger was practically crackling in the air around him now, his body tensing as I invaded his personal space, but I could see the flicker of curiosity in his eyes too. He was too smart not to pick up on my attempts at baiting him. He knew exactly what I was doing, and he was intrigued, but then, unexpectedly, something shifted in his expression, the anger shifting to… realization, maybe. A hint of understanding.
I didn’t want that, so I changed the subject. “She’s afraid.”
The words had the effect I was hoping for. His eyes flickered, the change in topic catching him off guard and he paused, the anger that had been building inside him momentarily pushed aside as he focused on my unexpected comment. "Afraid of what?"
I watched him carefully, studying his reaction. "Of the way she feels.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and meaningful.
He was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable as he digested my words, the anger in his eyes now replaced with a mix of understanding and... something else I couldn't quite place. "The way she feels?" he asked quietly.
I nodded.
"What do you mean?"
I let out a breath, the atmosphere between us shifting. "She's afraid of her feelings, her emotions, of being vulnerable," I said in a low voice. "She's scared that letting someone in, letting you in, by letting herself care about you that you will become her weakness."
"She told you this?"
I could see the raw emotions swirling in his eyes, the realization of just how deeply her fear ran, and how it was holding her back from letting someone in.
I shook my head, my eyes narrowing slightly. "Of course not. She'd cut off her own tongue before she'd talk about her feelings. I just know her. I've known her since we were kids. I've seen her at her lowest. I've seen her at her best. And I know she's scared as hell."
He was quiet, a myriad of emotions flashing in his eyes as the information sank in. There was understanding, confusion, sorrow, frustration, anger, and... damn it all... I hated to admit it, but there was pain there too. The realization that the woman he clearly cared about was keeping him at arm's length, terrified of letting herself feel anything for him, was hitting him hard.
And godsdamn it, I felt sorry for him, guilty at the pain my revelation had caused. I knew he was hurting, that hearing the truth was hard for him to process, but a larger part of me couldn't allow myself to care. I had to remember why I was doing this, why I was pushing him like this.
This was for her, dammit. Not for him.
After a long moment, he inhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly as he seemed to collect himself. "And what am I supposed to do with this information?"
I shrugged, the nonchalant gesture making him scoff at my unhelpful response, but I wasn't interested in making this easier for him. This conversation was about ripping the band aid off, not offering solutions. "Figure it out."
He let out an annoyed huff at my response, clearly not the one he was hoping for, but I didn't care. "That's it? You're just going to drop that on me and then tell me to 'figure it out?' That's not helpful.”
I snorted, a mocking smirk playing on my lips. "Do you expect me to hold your hand and give you a step-by-step plan?"
He let out a frustrated sigh. "No, but some godsdamn help would be nice. And why the hell are you telling me all this anyway? Shouldn't you be warning me away from her? Trying to protect her from my 'evil clutches' or whatever bullshit like that?"
I laughed at his question, finding the irony in it. "Why? Worried I might do just that?"
I should be doing everything in my power to keep him away from her, to protect her from the pain and heartbreak that would come, but instead, I was standing here, telling him her fears, her struggles.
He suddenly took a step back and I realized somewhere during our conversation I had moved so close we were almost pressed together.
I smirked at his reaction, at the slight flush on his cheeks as he put space between us.
"Why do you care so damn much anyway?" he asked as he ran a hand through his silver hair. "She's not your godsdamn girlfriend."
I had no damn claim on her. I was just a friend, just a friend she'd known since we were kids, but damn it all... I loved her more than he could probably fathom, but it would never amount to anything because I wasn’t the man she loved.
"No, she's not. But she's my best friend. I've been there for her through everything. I'm not going to just stand by and let her get hurt. I'm not going to let you hurt her."
His eyes narrowed at my words, his expression hardening. "I would never hurt her. She's not some damn damsel in distress. She can take care of herself."
And that more than anything told me that I had made the right decision in telling him how she was feeling. “That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.”
There was a long moment of silence as he stared at me, clearly not sure how to respond. He seemed torn between anger and confusion, clearly not expecting the turn this conversation had taken. "What?"
"You said the magic words, idiot. That's better than I expected from you."
His expression eventually twisted from surprise into a mix of annoyance and confusion followed by anger. "What the hell did you want me to say? That I'm a heartless bastard who wants to take advantage of her?"
I chuckled at his response. "I expected something along those lines, honestly."
His jaw clenched as if the comment caused him physical pain. "I would rather cut off my own damn arm than hurt her. I care about her, damn it. I care about her more than I have ever cared about anyone else."
I knew he wasn't bullshitting me. I could see the truth in his eyes, the genuine care and concern he felt for her. It was clear he didn't just have some casual, surface-level affection for her. He cared about her deeply, genuinely and that was... hells, it made my heart ache in a way I didn't expect. "But do you love her?"
The question hit him hard, causing the anger and irritation in his eyes to suddenly be overshadowed by something softer, a mixture of shock, confusion, and... something else.
He opened his mouth to respond, his gaze locking onto mine as a dozen thoughts and emotions passed through his eyes, but after a long, painful moment, he finally let out a deep exhale, his shoulders slumping slightly as he lowered his gaze.
My eyes narrowed as I took in his reaction. His silence, that slight sagging of his shoulders, spoke volumes. He was struggling with the question, with the truth of what he felt, to voice the answer, but the truth was too clear in his body language, in his eyes. He was trying to hide it, to keep up his usual aloof exterior, but it was clear that the question had hit a chord. "You don't have to answer," I said. "I already know the answer."
"You're a cocky bastard, you know that?" he muttered.
I chuckled at his response, my smirk growing as his irritation grew. I studied him for a long moment, chewing on my bottom lip as I thought about the whole reason I had hunted him down. The information on the sister. But first… “Is it true? The things her father told her?”
His expression darkened at that, his mouth twisting into a tight frown. "What things?"
I held his gaze, knowing we were stepping into potentially dangerous territory here, but I had come too far to stop now. “The experiments? The twin?”
"Yes," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "It’s true."
I nodded slowly.
I'd known the gist of it, the trauma and pain she'd had to face, the sacrifices she had made searching for her family, but hearing it confirmed was a whole other thing. It made my heart ache, knowing the burden she carried, the weight she'd shouldered, the knowledge that she had been through so much and had carried the burden alone for so long… Gods, it was almost overwhelming.
But I forced myself to stay focused, to remember that I had a goal in mind, and I couldn't let myself get distracted now. "I see."
He watched me, likely noticing the shift in my expression, the way my features had softened for a moment, but I quickly hardened them again, shoving down the emotions that threatened to surface. "The twin….” I asked, “Do you know where she is?”
"No," he bit out, his voice tight and rough.
I felt a pang of disappointment at the realization that she was still out there, lost somewhere. I had been hoping he'd have some sort of lead, some piece of information that could point me in the right direction, but his answer told me otherwise.
"But you're looking for her, right?" I asked, watching him carefully.
"Yea, I'm looking for her. But it's not an easy task.”
I could sense the despair and pain behind his words. Finding a single person in this godsforsaken world was like searching for a damn needle in a haystack. There were so many places she could be, so many places she could have gone. "You've gotten nowhere."
He sighed but didn’t respond… which meant I was right. He had gotten nowhere after finding the footage.
I was going to have my work cut out for me, but just because it wasn’t going to be easy didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try my hardest to find her and reunite her with her sister. Even if it killed me.
I let out a bitter laugh at the thought, running a hand through my hair as I met his red gaze. "I’ll look for her," I said with a sigh. “Give me the information you do have, and I’ll find her.”
His eyes narrowed, the disbelief clear in his expression. "You?" he asked.
I let out a huff of amusement.
I couldn't blame him for his skepticism. I wasn't exactly a 'hero' or the kind of person who went around saving people. I was a cynical, snarky bastard who was more likely to punch someone in the face than help them, but damn it, I had my moments of softness… times when my conscience won over my own selfish desires, and this was one of those moments.
I was determined. I would find her. For Danger.
"Yes, me," I said. "I can find her, I'm sure of it."
"And why are you so eager to find her?"
I froze at the question, the unexpected words catching me off guard. Why was I so eager to find her? Why was I so determined to go through the trouble of finding her?
There were a dozen different answers running through my head, a dozen different feelings and reasons swirling through my chest, all clamoring for attention, but I wasn’t going to share any of them with him.
"Let's just say I have my reasons," I replied nonchalantly.
"Reasons," he mocked, the disbelief clear in his voice. "That's vague."
I raised an eyebrow, amused at his tone. He didn't believe me, which was fine. I didn't expect him to. "I have my secrets," I said simply. "Just as I'm sure you have yours."
He scowled, clearly not pleased with my evasiveness. He was smart enough to know when someone wasn't giving him a straight answer, and that only seemed to make his irritation worse.
"Fair enough," he grumbled then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Give me your number. I'm going to send you what I have so far."
I raised a brow at the request, a mix of surprise and skepticism crossing my face. He was giving me the information? Just like that? I hadn't expected him to be so forthcoming.
I eyed him cautiously for a moment, searching for any sign that this was some kind of joke or trap, but I found none. He was serious.
After a moment, I let out a sigh and pulled out my phone, my fingers moving over the screen as I gave him my number.
He punched the number into his phone, sending me the information without another word. Afterwards he shifted on his feet, stuffing his phone into his pocket as he fixed his gaze on me for a moment. He looked as if he wanted to say something else, but he held back, torn between speaking his mind and keeping his distance.
“As soon as I find out something I’ll contact you,” I said.
He clenched his jaw at that, and I knew that he hated being dependent on me, hated the fact that he was relying on me to find her. His pride was wounded, his ego bruised, but I didn’t give a shit. "Fine. Just…. keep me updated, okay?"
I didn’t bother with a response, just nodded, then turned and left, a small smile on my lips.
As I walked away, I could feel his gaze searing into the back of my head. I could feel the weight of his stare, the heat of his frustration and annoyance practically a physical thing, but I didn't look back. I kept walking, keeping my head held high as I made my way towards the exit.
Once outside, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Danger’s number. It took a few rings before she picked up, her voice coming through the phone a little breathless.
"Yeah? Everything alright?"
I started walking towards home, my gaze scanning the area as I spoke. "Yeah. Look… Sylus is looking for you."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line then, her sigh came through the speaker, low and resigned, "I knew he would be."
"He's been looking for you everywhere," I said, my gaze darting around as I kept an eye out for any potential threats or danger. “Go talk to him, D. He deserves to know the truth.”
Then I hung up and turned my phone off. The ball was in her court now and as much as the thought of her telling him how she felt stung? It was something that needed to be done.