“One day, our social worker got so fed up with us constantly trying to kill each other that he dragged us into the car.Said if we wanted to fight, we needed to learn how to do it properly.”A nostalgic gleam lit up his eyes as he looked into the distance.
“What happened?”I pressed, fascinated by the story.By this part of Henry he’d yet to share with me.It made me want to learn everything about him.The goodandthe bad.
But I had a feeling even his bad parts were shadowed in good.
“He drove us to a local community center run by Mr.Cooper, a retired Marine who taught martial arts to troubled kids like us.Angry.Lost.Impossible to control.Coop taught us how to channel our anger into something productive.”
“If it hadn’t been for him, we’d probably both be in prison,” Henry commented.
“Or worse,” Gideon added.
They shared a look that said more than words could.It showed the quiet bond between two men who’d walked through the same fire and survived.
“When do we get to the part where you kicked his ass?”
Gideon’s lips curved into a mischievous grin.“Ah.My favorite part.”He leaned closer.“Want to know what Henry’s biggest weakness is?”
“What’s that?”
“He’s one cocky bastard.Thinks he’s invincible, even though he’s just as human as the rest of us.”He gave Henry a long, knowing look that felt like it carried more meaning than just a teenage memory.“I used that weakness against him.”
“You got lucky,” Henry replied flatly.
“Coop told us no more fighting outside the gym,” Gideon continued, ignoring Henry’s remark.“But one day, he could tell we were both irritated with each other.So he called us to the mat.Back then, Henry was all brawn.No brain.”He laughed under his breath.“I guess he’s still that way.”
“I’m sorry.Wereyouoffered a job by the NSA because of your computer skills?”Henry snipped back.
“You mean hacking skills?”Gideon jabbed.
“Same difference.”Henry winked at me before allowing Gideon to continue his story.
“Anyway, he wasn’t as…methodical as he is now.He was very much of the mindset to shoot first and ask questions later.I’ve always been more of a thinker.Always strategizing before making my first move.That’s what I did here, too.Henry may have been bigger and faster, but I’d been studying him.I knew exactly what to do to take him out.He was expecting me to block his jab.Instead, I stepped into him.Knocked him off his feet and pinned him in three seconds.”
“Three-and-a-half,” Henry corrected.“And Iletyou pin me.Madison Winthrop was watching, and I knew you had a thing for her.I was just trying to help you out with the ladies.”
“Sure you were.”
“We can settle it right here and now,” Henry challenged.
“I wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of Ariana.”
“Or maybe you’re afraid I’ll embarrassyouin front of Imogene,” Henry retorted.
“Trust me.”Gideon shifted his attention to his wife, taking her hand in his.“She’s seen me at my absolute worst.”
Something in his tone changed, a subtle shift from teasing to tender.
“And yet she still chose me.”
“It wasn’t even a choice,” Imogene whispered.
Her words echoed in the air, hitting me in a way I hadn’t expected.
I’d spent so long believing love was weakness, a weapon someone could turn against you.Victor had taught me that.He’d made me think trust was just another way to hand someone the knife they’d use to cut you open.
But as I watched Gideon brush his thumb along Imogene’s hand, I realized how wrong I’d been.There was nothing weak about what I saw between them.No games.No masks.
It wasreal.
