“That was easy,” he breathes out, his shoulders relaxing. “I guess Peter was right, Zayden is truly your Achilles’ heel.”
My brows knit together, nose flaring. “What the fuck does that mean?”
A grin spreads across his face as he says, “You have something to lose.”
The realization is a cold one.
I played a good game, but he had the better hand, and now they know exactly how to get me to fall in line. My jaw clenches, and my stomach churns, but I hold his stare—not allowing him to see defeat. Not even as he downs his drink and claps his hands after setting the glass down.
“Everyone falls in line, T. Everyone.” Ezra leaves, and the silence he leaves behind feels heavier than the fight.
The room tilts, the walls closing in like they’re trying to crush me back into obedience. I stand here, breathing through the ache, realizing he’s right about one thing—I do have something to lose.
And that’s exactly why I can’t fall in line.
I practically run out of there, Ezra’s words still clinging to the back of my skull as I push through the crowd, making my way down from the VIP area. I take the stairs two at a time, needing a drink… maybe air. Anything but the suffocating weight that’s lodged between my ribs, making it impossible to breathe. I couldn’t see Zayden like this. My hands tremble, and I can’t seem to get a grip.
The urge to scream has me walking outside to the man-made balconies. The night air hits hard, cool and crisp. The city stretches out below, skyscrapers cutting through the dark. And if you only focus on what’s on top, you will never notice the poverty that lies below. For almost a second, I feel human again, until footsteps sound beside me. From the corner of my eye, I see Sledge, who makes his way towards me, a glass dangling from his fingers. “You look like you’ve been chewed up,” he says.
“Feels about right.”
He takes a slow drink; eyes fixed on the skyline. “What happened tonight? Wasn’t it supposed to be Zayden? So what happened?”
I lean against the black metal railing, unsure what to respond to him with. It’s not like I had any idea about it either. I shrug,opting for the truth; maybe it would lessen the burden. “Ezra changed it.”
Sledge’s gaze flicks toward me. “You had no idea?”
“None.”
He studies me for a long moment, the silence stretching thin. “I don’t like that… Changes like that are dangerous.”
I laugh under my breath. “Welcome to my world.”
Sledge only nods before finishing his drink and setting the glass on the railing. “Get some rest,” he says as he straightens. “You look like you’re about to break something.”
With that, he walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The wind cuts through my shirt, sharp enough that it stings. I look down and, for a second, I envision myself falling… That’s when I spot him… my moon… near the side exit, slipping through the alley, trying to outrun me.
“What a bad boy you are,” I muse, tracking his movements through the parking lot, trying to sneak out of here and away from me. Unluckily for him, I enjoy the hunt—it’s my favorite part. I push myself off the railing and head for the fire escape, my feet hitting each metal step in a rhythm that matches my pulse. I move fast and quietly, keeping to the shadows until I’m close enough to see him glance over his shoulder.
He doesn’t see me.
And that’s his fatal mistake…
When he turns the corner, I catch him—one hand over his mouth, the other pulling him back against me. His body goes rigid, muscles coiled, breath hot against my palm. The way his body recognizes me—it’s perfect.
“Easy, Ruas,” I whisper, voice rough and close to his ear. “You really think you can run from me? And I wouldn’t chase?” I chuckle at that.
He twists, elbow driving into my gut hard enough to knock the air out of me. I grunt, but don’t let go. The fight in him is pure fire, and I want to be the gasoline that causes it to explode.
“Let go,” he snarls, voice muffled against my hand.
Blood rushes to my cock, as I hold him tight while he squirms. Only stopping when he feels my erection.
“Look how beautiful you respond to me,” I whisper into his ear, letting my breath fan against his skin, forming tiny goosebumps against his flesh.
“Safra,” he warns… and this time, I do let him go. Slowly, I step back just enough to meet his glare.
“I told you to wait for me,” I say, nodding towards the warehouse. “You’re hurt. And you’re not going anywhere without me.”
