Chapter 23.
Reuben it’s an inconvenience at most that it clashes with Evie’s out-of-town convention. The real issue is Xavier. He’s becoming more and more agitated; it’s been keeping everyone on edge.
The Harvester should’ve made his move by now.
He’s stalling on the second victim and we don’t know why.
Which is why I need to be there—to make sure Xavier doesn’t lose his shit and to make sure Evie’s well-protected. For Christian’s sake.
There’s a tiredness in my bones from all the jumping around—from trying to be everyone’s support.
Christian sees it in me, but I can’t afford to rest in a season like this, not if I want to keep the promises I’ve made to him.
So it’s the easiest thing to pretend it’s not there—to keep pressing forward like I know I can. Like I always have.
That’s why I meet with Baal early, so I can join up with the team at the convention, hopefully by noon.
“You look like shit, Rubenito,” Baal drawls as he sits down at the table in front of me and I huff.
“Fuck off.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you work so hard,” Baal raises a brow.
“Well, thank me then,” I snort. “This is the only time you’ll see it.”
He hums as he settles into his chair, watching me strangely. “He really means a lot to you.”
An observation. Not an accusation. My nose flares. I dislike the knowing look in his eyes as the waitress comes to put water between us.
“It’s all over your face,” Baal grins. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this far gone.”
I open my mouth to protest but there isn’t a single defence I can come up with.
Me neither.
Ever.
My mouth snaps shut as I drag a hand through my hair.
Christian and I haven’t talked properly… about what we are, or if we’re anything at all. But we’re getting there slowly. He’s letting me unravel the pieces of himself, slowly.
And I’ll wait no matter how long it takes.
“It’s too soon,” I confess. My thoughts are far away as I gaze out of the window. “He’s not ready. He doesn’t want anything serious.”
Yet.
But we are inevitable, baby.
The universe already knows you’re mine.
And I’ve been yours from the start.
“Do you?” Baal’s question breaks me out of my thoughts and I blink.
“Do you want something serious?” He asks again.
I’m momentarily stunned as I stare at Baal. It’s like an epiphany casually detonating behind my eyes.
I think it’s the first time someone’s put actual—sensible—words to how I feel about Christian.
Serious means… forever, doesn’t it?
I dislike sharing. The very idea of it makes me want to put a bullet between someone’s eyes… So, if we’re serious then… I’d be the only one monopolizing him.
As in just us.
As in marriage.
As in husbands—
A vision of him calling me hubby flashes before my eyes for the barest of moments.
And suddenly, I’m pinning him to the floor and spreading his legs apart so I can fuck him deeper—
“Back to earth now, back to earth.” Baal snaps his fingers before my eyes a few times and it barely pulls me out of the daydream.
I have to drag a hand across my face, because my hard-on is suddenly excruciating.
“Just tell me what we’re doing here,” focus, Reuben, focus, “so I can figure out my love life later,” I mutter, but Baal only watches me blankly.
“You called me here.”
There’s only silence between us when a strange uneasiness creeps in.
“No,” I correct him slowly. “I didn’t.”
Neither of us has time to react when the shop detonates with sound and light. An explosion in my ears that makes me stumble out of my seat by instinct.
For a few moments, all I can see is white. There’s a loud ringing in my ears that’s tearing through my skull, creating an instant ache behind my eyes.
I think I scream Baal’s name—try to feel for him along the floor, but he’s too far—or too close, I wouldn’t know the fucking difference.
I try to blink the white spots away—try to shake the ringing out of my ears, but all I feel is someone’s hands on me, pulling me up by the back of my shirt to slam me onto the coffee table.
There you are.
My fingers grasp the fork on the table and I slam it into my assailant’s wrist.
They release me with a scream and I twist my body to plant my foot into their chest, sending them flying back.
Finally the world is coming into focus.
Was it always this fucking bright?
The attackers are dressed as though they themselves had planned to come in for coffee but decided to attack us on a whim. I figure it was to blend in with the civilians and not draw attention, but at the same time, it irritates me.
I just don't have time for this kind of shit.
The man I’d stabbed in the wrist raises his pistol towards me, only for Baal to smack him in the face with a coffee mug and I pull my gun from my waist to clip him between the eyes.
“Didn't think I'd have to deal with this shit so early in the New Year,” Baal mutters as he gets to his feet beside me, still a bit shaky and blinking furiously.
I tilt my head as more men enter the small shop, cutting Baal a deadpan stare as civilians brush past us in a panic to get out, “I could've sworn we were in our own territory.”
He raises his hand in a gesture that says, ‘I'm just as fucked as you are’, “Shit probably got shuffled when we weren't paying attention?”
Unlikely. Aster loves this fucking shop…
At least I think he does.
There's an ominous feeling settling beneath my skin as Baal and I jump into the fray, guns and blades at the ready. An ill sense of dread that poisons my insides.
For the first time, I'm hoping this attack is exactly what it appears to be—a thoughtless scuffle with uneducated wannabes. I'm hoping there isn't anything deeper to it—no demons lurking in the dark or some grand scheme against my family…
But they called me out here.
They separated me from my team on purpose.
They chose the exact moment the Harvester invited Evie out of the city.
And all my instincts are driving one of Baachan’s teachings to the forefront of my mind; I can see her piercing gaze clearly beneath my eyelids and the warning in her voice is like a tolling bell of foreboding.
‘If it’s a gamble between coincidence and enemy strategy…’
‘Always bet on the enemy.’
‘Christian’
The ride to the convention is about an hour’s drive. Xavier and I are following Philip’s car, while Tobias and Gabriel are keeping pace some ways behind.
Usually, Xavier would be the liveliest part of the trip… but that Xavier disappeared weeks ago, at the start of this operation. I don’t know what this new version of Xavier is thinking.
So imagine my surprise when he breaks the already terse silence in the jeep.
“You and Reuben need to remain focused.”
So he did notice.
Stars, it’s looking like everyone did. The thought makes me cringe inwardly.