8. Who are You?
8
Who are You?
T HE candle cast a soft light, creating shadows on Ryu’s face. They sat in a private corner of the restaurant, the place way too fancy for how she was dressed. A steak lay before him as Roselin ate her duck. She didn’t want to guess the prices of the dishes… or the expensive wine, but damn, it tasted heavenly.
“You shouldn’t hum that much at your food. It makes me want to do things with you I can’t do here,” Ryu said with a smirk.
“God, not again. Do you ever take a break?” She grinned back.
“I blame you for it.”
He glanced past her, and something in Ryu’s posture changed. Even though it was a small one, she noticed. His jaw tensed. “I guess it’s good I didn’t kill him.”
Roselin spun around in her seat. Gale strode through the restaurant with an older man she met once before — his dad — both in suits and slick hair. He had bruises on his face and a swollen nose from their last encounter. Her hands became sweaty. Roselin hadn’t seen him since the exhibition affair, and she hated how nervous Gale made her. Gale’s father’s eyes found her, glancing over to Ryu as he walked towards them.
Please no.
She quickly turned back in her seat. “Do you know him?” she said in a hushed tone.
“Justice attorney,” he rushed out.
“Ryu, pleasure to see you,” Gale’s father said.
“Please, call me Mister Botan.” Ryu put on the perfect white smile that almost made the insult sound polite.
Gale’s father gritted his teeth as his eyes fell on her again. “Rosa, was it not?”
“Roselin,” Ryu said before she was able to answer.
“You should be careful who you’re spending your time with.” On that note, the justice attorney and Gale walked away and into a backroom.
Ryu laughed and focused back on his dinner like nothing happened, but she couldn’t shake the interaction. An uneasy feeling crept up on her. “What kind of work do you do?” Besides being a vigilante, she wanted to add, but she swallowed her words.
“I offer protection.”
“I mean, besides—”
“The answer stays the same, darling. I own Hogo Security.”
She worked her lips between her teeth. “Did you grow up in the city?” Somehow, she couldn’t imagine a little Ryu without tattoos and his brooding face walking around. “Did you always have your Mageía powers?”
“Does it matter?” He took a sip of his wine.
“It’s just… I know nothing about you. Not even your age.”
“My Rose, we don’t need to get acquainted with each other for the relationship we have.”
His words cut, and she dug back into her duck. “Fine. Keep your secrets.” She’d keep hers too.
He granted her a chuckle, but no answers.
The back room door opened again. A man who looked awfully familiar walked out, two heavy men following him on each side. “Ryu,” the familiar man exclaimed. “Great to meet you here.” The other men nodded in recognition of Ryu as well.
Are those his security guys?
Ryu stood up and took his hand in a firm shake. “Mister Visser, how nice to see you here.”
Visser! Roselin quickly rose to her feet too, crossing her arms, only to uncross them again, her mouth dry. The Visser family were from the founder’s bloodline of the city, builder of the island, and an entrepreneur of the safety of the citizens. Criminality has never been lower in any city… yet he knew Ryu?
“And who’s this young lady?” Mister Visser asked, but all she could do was blink at him.
“This is Miss Roselin Bessette. An up-and-coming artist from the Elysian university.”
The founder’s hand was warm in hers, and she met his kind eyes. Why was she nervous? Oh yeah, right, he was a God to this city.
Mister Visser rested his palm on Ryu’s shoulder, squeezing it and shaking his hand one more time before he said goodbye. As they sat back down, a sigh pushed past Roselin’s lips. Good job, Rose. Great way to embarrass herself in front of the founder.
Ryu opened a small piece of paper, reading it with care. Mister Visser must have given it to him during the handshake. His feet tapped the floor, and his lips formed a thin line as he clenched his jaw. When he was done reading, he held the note in the candle fire, burning it whole. Concern reflected in his eyes. She had never seen him like this. To be fair, she hadn’t seen him in many ways.
His eyes locked onto hers, his lips twitching into a small smile. “What’s the problem, my darling Rose?”
She tilted her head. “Who are you?”
“A lot of things,” he said and gestured to her empty plate. “Are you done?” Stunned, Roselin nodded. “Good. We’ll get dessert at my place.”
“I have school tomorrow.”
“Skip.”
She laughed. “I can’t just skip school.”
“Oh, right, Miss Ethics.”
“It’s not ethics,” she snapped. “I can’t afford to lose my scholarship. Are you aware how high tuition is?” Even though the founders offered free degrees to everyone in the city, she didn’t come from here, and the ElyU could easily take the Talenté Future program scholarship away from her.
“I’ll pay for it.”
She rolled her eyes and looked down at her hands. What would happen when Ryu got bored with her? Besides, she worked for this. “I rather not risk it.”
“Fine. I’ll bring you home.” He stood up.
Her stomach twisted at the cold distance, but she followed him. A guy wasn’t worth risking her degree, no matter how good the sex was. If Ryu couldn’t handle that, then that was his problem. At least, that’s what she tried to convince herself, but it didn’t mean she liked it.
He opened the car door for her; the silence grew between them. At least she didn’t have to walk home in these heels and dress. Like frost before the warmth of the sun, his icy attitude changed when he shut his door. His hand went to the back of her neck as his finger traced up her leg. His lips were soft on hers, and she closed her eyes, letting the sensation of his kiss take her over. Ryu’s tongue fought for dominance, and she let him win. A moan escaped her as she leaned closer to him, her lips swelling red and her head becoming dizzy. It was the kind of kiss that left her panties wet and her skin crawling for more.
“Are you sure I can’t change your mind, my beautiful Rose,” he said when they had to break away for air.
“Yes, I know, I’m beautiful, and no, you can’t.” She reached for him, feeling his smile against her lips. He brought a hunger inside of her that she desperately needed to be filled.
His fingers traced dangerously higher under her dress. “You don’t seem certain I can’t change your mind.”
She groaned, throwing her head back. “You’re not playing fair.”
“Never did, darling.”
But she couldn’t, and she glanced at her hands before Ryu took them in his, kissing the top of both of them. “I’ll take you home.” Ryu smirked and turned on the car.
They drove into the Roman part of the city where the campus was. A siren wailed behind them, and she looked over her shoulder through the back window.
“Fuck,” Ryu breathed, rubbing his forehead. He pulled over and took a deep breath before turning down the window. “Evening, officer.”
The officer narrowed his eyes. “Papers, please.”
It surprised her that Ryu wasn’t objecting. He didn’t speed, miss a stop sign, or swerve with the two glasses of wine he had drank. He gave the justice attorney more crap for not addressing him by his surname.
The officer glanced over the paper, not even reading it properly or confirming the information. “And the other papers?” The officer held out his hand. Roselin took her purse, but Ryu stopped her. Her eyebrows pulled together until she realised the officer wasn’t talking to her.
Ryu’s lips pressed into a thin line. A small shadow played around his fingers behind his legs. “Of course, you must have a good reason.” From his pocket, Ryu grabbed a passport. On it was a symbol she had never seen before. Ryu’s finger tapped against the steering wheel as the officer took his sweet time to inspect the little paper.
“Only shadow magic.”
“It isn’t magic, sir,” Ryu said through his teeth.
What the… no, this was enough. Roselin leaned forward, opening her mouth to scold the officer, but Ryu placed his hand on her leg. His finger rubbed her skin, and she reclined, her arms folded across her chest. This was ridiculous.
The officer gave back the passport. “Everything seems fine. You can go.”
Before he left, Ryu turned to him. “What is your name, officer? I would like to use my right to see your badge number.”
The officer blinked as doubt crossed his face and maybe a hint of… fear? “Pepper Chester.” He fumbled with his badge and showed it to Ryu.
“Good to know.” Ryu put the window back up and drove away.
Roselin chewed on the inside of her cheek. “How often does this happen? How did the officer even know to ask you for your Mageía documents?” It’s not like it was written on his face. Did he need to register his powers when he bought the car?
“It doesn’t matter.” The muscle in his jaw flexed as he squeezed her leg. His shoulders were tense, as if he wanted to roll them.
It didn’t matter; she didn’t need to get acquainted—things that seemed like it should make a relationship easier. After all, wasn’t ignorance bliss? Yet, everything seemed complicated, and the question kept lingering in her mind: who are you?