Page 21 of Villainous Rise

Always Cipher.

“Goddamn it,” I hissed, attacking an invisible spot with such violence the cloth tore slightly at the edge. I wasn’t sure who I was cursing anymore. Him for existing or myself for still caring.

My hand trembled as I rinsed the cloth, water running hot over my fingers. I twisted it as if it were his neck.

The sob that tore from my throat surprised me with its violence. I slammed my palm against the counter, welcoming the sting that shot up my arm. Physical pain was easier than this hollow, gnawing ache that threatened to consume me from the inside out.

I snatched my phone up, scrolling through my contacts until I reached “Tech Support.” My thumb hovered over the name. After everything, I still hadn’t deleted his number.

The screen blurred as tears filled my eyes. I blinked them back furiously, hating myself for this weakness.

I started typing: You’re such an ass⁠—

I deleted it immediately, my fingers shaking so badly I nearly dropped the phone. What was I doing? This was exactly the kind of emotional reaction he’d love to provoke.

I jumped when Hunter appeared in the kitchen doorway, his shadow stretching across my freshly scrubbed countertop.

“Dawn finally fell asleep,” he said quietly.

I didn’t respond, just fixed him with a glare. He had the decency to look ashamed.

“Annie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know Dawn would recognize Cipher as Havoc’s Nemesis. I definitely didn’t expect her to just—“ he gestured helplessly, “—walk up and start talking to him.”

I gave a harsh laugh. “And that makes it better? I was there to support you, Hunter. To help you through telling Dawn the truth, and you set me up.”

“He wasn’t there to upset you,” Hunter insisted, taking a step forward.

“Why the hell was he even there?” I snapped. “A Miscreant-level match? Please. He was there to antagonize me.”

Hunter leaned against the doorframe, his expression pained. “It’s not my place to⁠—“

“Not your place?” My voice rose sharply, cracking at the edges. “But it was your place to tell him I’d be at the match? To set up this whole ambush?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right. That was wrong of me.”

“So why was he there if not to antagonize me? Give me one good reason.”

“Maybe...” Hunter hesitated, eyes darting to the hallway in the direction of Dawn’s bedroom. “Maybe he wanted to see you.”

“Right. He’s had three months to ‘see me,’ Hunter. To call, text, send a carrier pigeon. Hell, he could’ve hacked my toaster if he wanted to communicate. But nothing. Radio silence. Your friend is just an asshole, plain and simple.” I grabbed the edge of the counter to steady myself. “He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”

Hunter’s expression shifted, something like frustration flickering across his face. “If he didn’t care, why would he keep sending you food? Coffee?”

“What did you just say?” My voice came out barely above a whisper.

Hunter froze, his eyes widening. “Shit.” He dragged a hand down his face. “He’s going to kill me. Probably literally.”

“That’s not—“ I shook my head. “That’s impossible. Cipher wouldn’t⁠—“

But even as the denial formed on my lips, the pieces clicked into place. The perfectly timed deliveries. The meals from restaurants I’d once mentioned loving. The coffee that always arrived precisely when I needed it most.

“How would you even know about those deliveries unless...” The world tilted as reality reorganized itself around this impossible revelation. He’d been watching me. All this time, he’d known exactly when I skipped meals, when I was working late.

Hunter looked genuinely worried now. “Annie, I shouldn’t have⁠—“

I backed away, my hands raised as if to physically push away this new reality. “I can’t do this right now.”

I turned and fled to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. My legs gave out and I slid down, pulling my knees to my chest.