“Just a nightmare,” Cyril told him.That was all it had been.A nightmare.
“Are you sure?Because that sounded bad.”
“It was one of the most realistic nightmares I’ve ever had, but I’m fine.”Unlike how he’d been in the dream.He was pretty sure he wouldn’t have survived whatever had happened there, not if it had been real.
“You want to talk about it?”Vale asked.
Cyril shook his head.He didn’t want to talk about the nightmare, but there were things he did want to talk about.“I think it’s the stress.”
“Then you should relax.”
Cyril glared at Vale.He wasn’t sure that Vale could see him since it was dark in their bedroom, but he was sure that his boyfriend knew him well enough to know what he was doing.“How am I supposed to do that when a big, bad Organization is after you?”
Vale sighed.“Cyril, now isn’t the time.You should get more sleep.”
“Do you want me to have more nightmares?Because I can guarantee you I will.”
“So what, you’re not going to sleep ever again?”
“I’m sure I’d sleep better if I knew what the fuck is going on.Why won’t you tell me?John already gave me a few details, so I know these people are bad, but I don’t understand how you were involved with them.It doesn’t make sense.”
“You just had a nightmare.”
“So?I already know I’m not going to fall back asleep.Tell me.”
Cyril was sure he wouldn’t fall back asleep anytime soon.How could he when all he could do was worry about Vale?It wasn’t only that he needed to know more about the Organization.He also couldn’t help but wonder why Vale wasn’t telling him about this.It made it feel like he was hiding something, which wasn’t a good thought.Cyril couldn’t say he believed that he and Vale had told each other everything that had happened in their past, but still.Vale being involved with that organization clearly wasn’t good.Cyril needed to be prepared, but how could he be if Vale wouldn’t tell him anything?
What was Cyril’s boyfriend hiding?What had he done that was so terrible that he didn’t want Cyril to know about it?
Because that was the only reason for him to hide something like this, wasn’t it?The Organization killed anyone they were hired to kill, no matter who they were, something Vale had sworn he didn’t do.
What if he’d lied?
* * * *
VALE DIDN’T WANT TOtalk about this in the middle of the night, and he especially didn’t want to talk about it right after Cyril had a nightmare.Vale could see that his boyfriend was still frantic, and he didn’t know how to help him.He didn’t even know if hecouldhelp him.
There was nothing Vale could do against nightmares, unfortunately.Cyril’s mind was the one place where Vale couldn’t protect him.He could try to make things easier, but something told him that Cyril would fight him if he did.He wanted answers, and it looked like he was done waiting for Vale to give them.
Vale had known it wouldn’t last forever.He’d been stretching the little time he had as much as he could because he was afraid of losing Cyril, but there was no stretching it anymore.Cyril wouldn’t let him get away with hiding such a big part of his past any longer.
“We should go back to sleep,” Vale tried anyway.“We can talk in the morning.”
Cyril stared at him.Even though it was dark, Vale could feel it.He wanted to reach out, but he wasn’t sure Cyril would let him.
“What are you hiding from me?”Cyril asked, his voice so soft that it was almost a whisper.
There was pain there, and Vale hated that he’d been the one to make Cyril feel like that.He sighed.There was no getting out of it, no matter how much he wished there was.“Something I’m not proud of.”
“Something you think I wouldn’t approve of?”
“I know you wouldn’t.EvenIdon’t approve of it, and I did it.”
“Just tell me, Vale.”
Cyril sounded tired and wary, and Vale never wanted him to feel that way when it came to him and their relationship.He wanted to make Cyril smile, not to worry him.“I know the Organization John was talking about.I’ve worked for them in the past, at the beginning of my career.I don’t know how much he told you, but they’re not good people.They never were.They have a legit side that works with the government, and a not-so-legit side that acts like mercenaries for whoever’s willing to pay.They get paid to do things like killing people, but not only that.I’m pretty sure the government works with both sides, but of course, you’ll never find proof of that.”
“And you worked for them?”
