“Christian,” she tugs me back with a soft warning, but I ignore her until I see him. Seethem.Hidden in the shadows of the hall that leads down to the lower decks, like spectres.
Two men in crisp suits. Not yet adults. Not still boys.
I've seen the eyes of lecherous men before. In the alleys and backways of Portland. Christian wouldn't have hesitated to kill men with those eyes in those alleyways.
Suddenly, I am understanding better.
Lucia had been sticking close to Tobias the moment she boarded.
And now she's sticking close to me.
I don't take my eyes off the two men in the dark. “You are frightened,” I realize quietly.
“I’m not.” She's still trying to convince me with her false smile, and steps into my line of sight in an attempt to break my gaze. “Come, let's go for another dirty viper.”
“Why don't you tell anyone?” I ignore her words to hold her gaze with creased brows, “If you'd told Tobias, he would've—”
“He would've killed them,” she finishes for me with a piercing look. “You have no idea who they are. Their family is not to be messed with.”
“Reuben’sfamily isn't to be messed with,” I remind her sharply. “Are you really going to cower from them all night?” Before she can respond, I'm stepping away from her and towards them, pulled by a familiar simmering in my blood.
She blocks my way with a hiss, “Christian, stop.”
“I'm throwing them overboard right now.” My eyes lock with hers in silent promise, but there's only shock on her face.
“You—You can't—”
“I can.”
“Well, you shouldn't,” she snaps. “You haveno ideawhat you're getting into.”
I never have, honestly.
“Maybe your team is used to killing people,” her voice falls to a hissed whisper, “but just because it’s your job, doesn't make it normal. And it doesn't make it right.”
“Those aren'tpeople, Lucia. Eyes like theirs,” I look back at them, “they're monsters. And I may not know much,” my eyes meet hers, “but I at least know it takes monsters to kill monsters.”
Lucia’s mouth opens and closes soundlessly, her stare even more piercing than before, until she gives up with words and rests her drink down on one of the open tables with a firm sound that makes my brows furrow.
“I thought Reuben fell out of touch by reaching his hand out to you.” Disappointment dims her eyes and her nose wrinkles with new distaste, “But you're right. You’re just another monster.”
There's an immediate sting in my heart.
“You're no different from them. So do whatever you want. But leave me out of it,” she turns away.
“Lucia—” I step forward, but she’s already gone, weaving away from me and into the crowd.
There's a spark of self-loathing in my stomach, because I still don't understand. She wanted protection but not violence? But in the world I've seen up close, the world Christian and Reuben are a part of, violencedoessolve everything. You're only safe when you get rid of your enemies...
But even so, the warmth of another person is gone again...
And it feels like a glimpse of the past, and a vision of the future phasing into one.
A future where I remain constant and everyone disappears. Leaving me cold and alone at the side of a rainy road, tucked into my own wet fur.
“Christian.” Reuben’s voice is sharp in my ear, on the private line on the comms, and the sinking feeling in my chest can’t possibly sink any lower.
His command is sharp, but there’s an impatience in his voice that sets a new wave of exasperation across my spine as he speaks.
