I met his gaze, my jaw clenched. "Other than the fucking fact that I work for him? I have questions... And you're going to answer them."
War's smirk widened. "I think you'll find, my friend, that things don't work that way around here. Foley takes the lead; we merely follow."
"Then I'll talk to Foley myself." I stepped forward, intent on passing him.
He blocked my path, his stance unyielding. "I wouldn't advise that. You're out of your fucking depth, Hitch. You don't want to get involved in this. Stay the fuck away from Fallon. She's better off without you."
His words hit me like a physical blow to the gut. The fucking audacity of it, coming from him, a man I knew to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"That's not your damn decision to make," I growled, my hand instinctively clenching into a fist. "You don't know shit about me and you damn sure don't know shit about Fallon."
War chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. "Maybe not. But I'm the one standing in your way of Fallon and Foley." He gestured toward the mansion. "Foley doesn't like surprises. Especially when they involve a certain someone."
I knew then, with a sickening certainty, that this was going to be a battle, and one I might not win. But I couldn't back down. Not now. Fallon's safety, her happiness, were all that mattered.
"Get out of my fucking way, War." My voice was a low threat, barely a whisper that carried on the wind.
He stared at me for a moment, his eyes searching. Then, a ghost of a smile touched his lips. He moved aside, his body language now that of a silent predator, ready to strike.
"Be my guest." He smirked devilishly.
I walked past him, each step heavy with the weight of the coming confrontation. The heavy oak door swung shut behind me, plunging me into the opulent, yet suffocating, world of Evander Foley. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and the undercurrent of danger that clung to everything and everyone within these walls. The game had begun, and I was ready to fucking play.
I sat in Foley's office while War watched over me, as if I wasn't someone who worked there. He did it on purpose to try andintimidate me, but it didn't work. I knew people like him. I knew how they operated. Instead of letting him remain in control, I decided to play the one card I had that I knew he couldn't resist.
"Why is Fallon so afraid of this man?" I asked War, watching his face quickly go from normal to shocked in seconds before returning to normal.
"I don't know," he replied, curiosity getting the best of him. "My job is to watch her and report back. Foley never told me why or even who she was."
I smirked, pushing my luck. "But you're curious, aren't you? What is it about her that has Foley wrapped around her finger?"
I leaned back in the plush leather chair, feigning disinterest, but my eyes never left War's. He was a puzzle, and I was determined to solve it. War’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, invading my space.
"You're playing a dangerous game, asshole. Stay out of things you don't understand." He shoved his hands in his pants pockets as he pushed his face closer to mine.
"And you're playing a predictable one," I shot back, meeting his gaze head-on. "The strong, silent type with a hidden soft spot for the girl? Tell me, War, is she as innocent as she seems?"
I relished the flicker of anger that crossed his features, the barely contained fury that betrayed his carefully constructed façade. He took another step, and I didn't flinch.
"You're a fucking dead man if you don't shut your mouth." He glared at me, still threatening me in silence.
But it didn't scare me at all. Instead, I chuckled, a low, deep rumble that echoed in the silent room.
"Are you going to kill me, War? Is that what Foley wants? Or does he want me to play along? What are you waiting for, to find out her secret?" I leaned in as he tried to contain his anger. "Do you want to know if she's the one? Is she worth it?"
His eyes narrowed, and I could feel the tension building between us, thick and heavy like the storm outside.
"You think you know everything, don't you?" he spat. "You think you can just waltz in here and demand answers?"
"I know enough to know that you’re as obsessed with Fallon as I am," I said, a smile slowly forming on my lips. "And I know that you, like me, are willing to dowhateverit fucking takes to protect her."
His gaze searched mine, and I saw a battle raging within him, a struggle between his loyalty to Foley and his undeniable fascination with Fallon. He hesitated for a moment, then finally, he stepped back, a sigh escaping his lips.
"Fine," he conceded, his voice low. "But you better not tell anyone I did this."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied, the corners of my mouth curving up.
I had him. And finally, I had a chance to understand it all.
