Chapter 14 Leander #2
“You should already know that by now,” I say, leaning closer, letting my forehead brush his.
The elevator dings, and we step out onto Silas’ floor. Phoenix straightens, visibly trying to settle into a composed version of himself shirt tucked in just right, sleeves buttoned, hair tamed. He’s beautiful. Stunningly so. And I can feel the pull in my chest, a familiar mix of awe and desire.
The moment we knock and the door opens, the tension is immediate. Silas is standing there, arms crossed, eyebrows slightly raised. The wary look in his eyes is unmistakable. He’s sizing Phoenix up, maybe even suspecting the danger I always feel when Phoenix is near.
“Leander,” Silas says first, voice steady but guarded. “You’ve… brought the captain.”
“Yes,” I reply, trying to keep my voice neutral. “I wanted you to meet Phoenix again. This time as my boyfriend.”
Silas’ eyes flick to Phoenix, and I can see the judgment, the wariness, the faint trace of protective suspicion. Phoenix shifts slightly, a little defensive, but holds himself in a way that’s controlled—more than he usually manages.
“Good to see you again,” Phoenix says, offering a handshake. It’s firm, polite, but I can feel the tension under it, like he’s bracing himself for impact.
Silas accepts it slowly, eyes sharp, but Phoenix doesn’t flinch. He’s on his best behavior. Smiling when necessary, nodding at the right moments, keeping his hands mostly to himself. I can feel the hum of alertness beneath the calm exterior, like a coiled spring.
The night starts civil enough. We sit in Silas’ living room, awkward small talk filling the space between us.
Phoenix is careful with every word, every gesture, like he’s measuring the exact amount of charm and restraint needed.
I’m proud of him, secretly marveling at how he can control himself when he wants to.
Silas keeps a cautious distance, arms crossed for most of the evening, eyes flicking between me and Phoenix as if expecting a sudden move. Phoenix’s leg nudges mine under the coffee table; the contact is subtle, a reminder that he’s here for me, even if Silas doesn’t trust him yet.
I notice the small gestures—the way Phoenix leans in slightly when I speak, the protective way he angles his body towards me, the rare smile he gives when Silas glances away. It’s almost hypnotic, the way he can make himself seem both calm and magnetic, even under scrutiny.
I’m trying to keep my composure, but the tension in the apartment is a physical weight pressing down on my chest. Phoenix excuses himself to the bathroom, muttering something under his breath about needing a second.
I watch him go, noticing how his shoulders are tense, the tight line of his jaw.
I know him well enough by now to read the storm brewing just beneath his surface, and the thought makes my stomach tighten.
As soon as the door closes behind him, Silas turns toward me, voice low and sharp, like he’s trying to cut me down before I can defend myself. “You know, Lee,” he begins, pacing slightly, “I can’t believe you fell for him. You really think he’s good for you?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to snap. I feel a familiar swell of irritation, but I can’t act on it. Phoenix is in the bathroom; if he hears Silas calling him out, I know he won’t hold back. And that… that could get ugly.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say cautiously, trying to keep my voice even. “Phoenix is… he’s not—” I trail off, realizing Silas has started down his usual path, the one that twists everything I care about into a lecture.
Silas sneers slightly, shaking his head.
“No, Lee, listen. You think you’re so smart.
You think you can see past people’s flaws.
But he’s obsessive, controlling. You’re blind if you don’t see it.
And you’re not just blind—you’re falling for him.
He’s playing with your heart right in your face and you’re just letting him. ”
The words sting in a way I didn’t expect.
Part of me wants to argue, to shove back against every accusation.
Another part of me knows he’s wrong about Phoenix, knows that Phoenix isn’t like my dad, knows that what I feel is real.
But the tension in the room presses down like a physical weight, making it hard to think.
My chest tightens, a burning knot forming in my stomach.
There’s a flicker of fear, because I know Phoenix will hear that, and the look on his face when he’s triggered is…
it’s terrifying. I’ve seen him before—powerful, dangerous, coiled like a predator ready to strike.
And the thought of him snapping over words I can’t control sends a shiver down my spine.
“Lee, listen to me,” Silas continues, taking a step closer.
“He’s dangerous. Obsessive. He’s going to control you.
You think he cares about you, but he doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
You’re making a huge mistake. You’re letting yourself get burned, and you’ll be stupid enough to blame yourself for it later. ”
I flinch, trying to hold my ground, trying to push back against the panic that’s rising inside me. I want to yell, to defend Phoenix, to tell Silas to shut up, but my voice feels trapped in my throat.
“I… I know him,” I manage, voice quieter than I want it to be. “You don’t. You can’t—”
Silas snorts. “Lee, I’ve seen enough. Magazines, gossip, the internet.
He was a huge partier in college, caught with drugs.
I heard he’s still using but no one wants to bench him because he’s a fan favorite.
So, you saw dad using all those years and you thought ‘Hey why don’t I bring another useless druggie into my life?
’ You’re being a fucking idiot, Lee! I’m sure you can get your dick wet somewhere—anywhere else! ”
Phoenix steps out of the bathroom and immediately senses the tension, his gaze snapping to Silas before I even have a chance to warn him. Silas doesn’t wait either—he starts in before Phoenix can even take a step.
“You think he’s good for you?” Silas sneers, stepping closer, voice low and dangerous. “You think you’re safe with him? He’s just like dad!” His voice drops, venom lacing every word.
Before I can even breathe, Phoenix closes the space between me and Silas, his voice low, controlled, but carrying an unmistakable warning. “Step back,” he says. His hand moves, a deliberate, firm shove that puts distance between Silas and me.
Silas recoils for a fraction of a second, eyes widening, but then his face hardens.
That’s when I see it—the flash of recognition, the trigger, the rage.
He thinks it’s our father pushing him back instead of Phoenix.
Silas doesn’t realize that he’s no longer in the past. All he knows is that someone is standing between him and his baby brother.
His hand lashes out almost instinctively, landing a punch square on Phoenix’s jaw.
The sound of the impact makes my stomach drop.
Phoenix stumbles slightly, shock crossing his face for just a heartbeat before fury replaces it.
I’ve never seen him like this before: every muscle coiled, his jaw set, eyes dark with barely contained rage.
He could destroy Silas in a heartbeat, and I know it.
“Silas, what the fuck?!” I shout, grabbing Phoenix’s arm, trying to pull him back before he loses control completely. My heart is hammering. “Look at me. Stop.”
Phoenix freezes for a split second, just long enough to glance at me, and in that instant, I see the storm behind his eyes—the raw need to protect me, the surge of violence he’s barely holding back. His hands twitch, ready to strike again, but he listens to me, even in that moment.
I take a deep breath, my hands gripping his shoulders. “Please,” I whisper, voice trembling. “Go wait in the car. Just… wait. I’ll deal with this. I’ll handle him. Just… go.”
Phoenix’s gaze flicks between me and Silas, his chest rising and falling rapidly. The tension radiating off him is palpable, like a predator straining against its leash. I can feel the power behind him, the danger, the heat and yet, he’s listening.
“Twenty minutes,” he growls softly, his voice low and dangerous. “If you’re not down there in twenty minutes, I’m coming back inside, Lee. And you won’t like it.”
I nod frantically, knowing it’s the only thing that will hold him back. “I’ll be quick,” I promise, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Just… go.”
Phoenix hesitates, eyes softening on me for a fraction of a second, a tiny flicker of something unspoken passing between us.
Then he turns, back straightening, and strides toward the door.
I watch him go, every step deliberate, controlled, but I can feel the hum of his anger from where I’m standing, the quiet rage he carries like a second skin.
Silas takes a cautious step back, looking between us, uncertainty creeping into his posture. I can see him re-evaluating, finally realizing that Phoenix was the one he hit and not our dad.
“Lee, I thought...”
I exhale shakily, heart still hammering. I’ve never been more aware of how much power Phoenix has over me, how much I need him—even when he’s not touching me, not saying a word. And as I take a step forward to face Silas, I know that everything has changed.
I take a shaky breath, trying to steady my hands as Silas steps closer, eyes hard, jaw tight. “Lee, please,” he says, voice low but urgent. “You need to see reason. Phoenix isn’t—he’s not someone you should be wrapping yourself up in. You’re too… too young to get pulled into someone like him.”
His words hit me like ice. I feel my chest tighten, heartbeat spiking. “Too young? Or too stupid to admit he’s dangerous?” I snap back, heat curling in my stomach.
Silas flinches but keeps going. “He’s fucking reckless—he doesn’t care about consequences, Lee. And you’re—” His voice drops to a whisper, but the weight behind it makes my skin crawl, “…you’re too trusting, too soft. You’re letting him—”
I cut him off, feeling fire surge through me. “I’m dangerous! Didn’t you see my game last week? I can defend myself! I don’t need your approval or your warnings. I can handle Phoenix.”
Silas stiffens, his lips thinning, and his eyes narrow dangerously. “Lee—”
“You are not my dad!” I shout, the words tearing out of me before I can stop them. My chest feels raw, my voice louder than I intended. “I love Phoenix, and I’m going to be with him. No matter what you think.”
For a long moment, silence hangs heavy between us. Silas stares at me, chest heaving, like he’s trying to process the force behind my words. His face hardens, then crumples just slightly, like he knows he’s lost some control.
I can feel the tension lingering in the room, electric and raw. Phoenix’s presence lingers in my mind—how he stood between me and Silas just moments ago, controlled, lethal, and yet listening to me. I can feel that calm storm echoing through me now, making me bolder than I’ve ever been.
Silas doesn’t speak for a long moment. I don’t back down, don’t flinch, because this is the first time I’ve said it out loud: I’m choosing Phoenix. I want him. I need him. And I’ll fight to defend that, no matter what anyone says.
Finally, Silas exhales sharply, turning away slightly, like he’s giving me a chance to breathe. I tear out of his apartment and down the stairs too antsy to take the elevator. Phoenix already has the car pulled up. I go around to the driver’s side and open the door.
He stares off into the distance, holding the wheel like a lifeline.
“Hey, why don’t you let me drive us home?” I say cautiously
A tear drips down his cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“What? Babe, no, I’m sorry for bringing you into that.”
Phoenix doesn’t look me in the eye as he pulls himself from the driver’s seat. I kiss his cheek quickly taking his place.
And as I drive us home, I can feel Phoenix’s power echoing inside me. Like for once I finally know what it’s like to be brave.