Chapter 51
“T he group of mercenaries known as Los Calaveras was apprehended on the Strait of Gibraltar by the French army, in possession of a combat drone from Mercier’s enterprise, who has today faced questioning on the case. One of, if not the most wanted mercenary group in the world was finally stopped, thanks to a silent hacker named Checkmate who collaborated with the French army. Defense Minister Frederic Archambault will provide further details about this covert operation,” the female news presenter announced.
As the images flickered across the screen of my phone, the knot in my heart tightened. My father’s confession unfurled on the news, revealing the faces of the murderers, finally unmasked and exposed to the world. I could put a face to the shadows that had haunted my life. They were no longer monsters lurking in the dark. They were just men.
“Mom, it’s over,” I murmured, crouching beside the plaque bearing her name in front of the opera house. My fingers traced the engraved letters on the cold stone. “They’ll never hurt anyone again.”
The wind stirred, tousling my ribbons. My grip tightened on the hard stone, my arm trembling and my knuckles turning white as if I could crush the plaque or more likely my bones.
“Los Calaveras,” I breathed out their name for the first time in ten years, the syllables heavy with the weight of years of fear. “They’re just a memory now.” I shut my eyes, the horde of skull masks watching me play morphing in the darkness behind my eyelids. “A memory I’ll have to face if I want to accomplish our dream, Mom. I’ll be strong too, you’ll see. I—”
“Dalia?” Sylas’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I slammed my eyes back open. “Are you okay?”
I wiped away my tears, straightening my posture as I rose to my feet. Chin lifted and shoulders squared, I asked the question we both knew the answer to. “Checkmate… it’s him, right?”
I knew in my heart Levi was the one catching them.
It could only be him.
He’d avenged my mother’s death. I had healed him from the ghost of his mother, and in return, he had vanquished the monsters of my nightmares. How could my heart not beat for him after that?
“I couldn’t tell you,” he said, his blue eyes landing on me with pity. “Your security depended on it.”
I swore to myself I wouldn’t be the sad little girl anymore. I’d be as strong as he , Checkmate, was. “So you’re like what, friends, now?”
“No way.” He grimaced, taking a hesitant step closer. “I’m sorry about your father. He risks some serious jail time for what he did, but we’re here for you. Whatever you need.”
The legal process would take a couple of months, maybe years. In the meantime, since we had a good lawyer, he was placed under home detention. My heart contracted even more. I still wasn’t ready to face him.
“He got what he deserved.” I gulped. “How are things with your father?”
“Better, surprisingly. Turns out being useful to him has its perks. He even forgot I was gay for a solid hour and actually congratulated me.” He chortled and passed a hand over his golden hair. “He offered Levi a job as a cybersecurity engineer. Needless to say, Levi turned him down.”
I offered him a smile, though my mind was preoccupied with my phone buzzing in my pocket. I took it out; Grandma had messaged me.
Grandma: I am okay, dear. I’m stronger than any scandals thrown at me. I’m so mad at your father for keeping the truth from us. Did you know he and Levi collaborated? But you didn’t hear that from me. Since he’s at home, I promised I’ll cook him meals worse than the ones in jail, but he’s moping right now. How is your heart, my flower?
Still broken, Grandma.
“Tara is organizing a rugby game on the field,” Sylas continued. That would explain why he was wearing a long polo shirt. “You know, Pioneer tradition and all. It’d be great if you could come?”
“I’ll be right back,” I said, clutching the phone to my chest.
He pulled me into a hug before heading off to the Pioneers’ sport fields while I replied to Grandma.
Me: I don’t know what to do.
Grandma: You love that troubled boy, you always have. And he loves you back. I won’t tell you what to do… I made your grandpa grovel a few months once he decided to leave for the army without telling me, but I’ll tell you what not to do. Don’t be sad. You’re finally free, my flower. You’re free to fly with your own wings now. We’ll probably end up broke, anyway, so it’s good that you’re not a materialistic brat.
Me: You take care of yourself, okay? If you need anything, I’m here. I’ll talk to Dad when I’m ready, but I can’t right now.
I sent the message and slipped my phone into my pocket. My eyes returned to Mom’s plaque, and I readjusted Levi’s silver-gray ribbon in my hair—the one I’d salvaged from the trash the moment I tossed it away.
A surge of determination fueled my steps as I briskly crossed the quad. Starting tomorrow, I’d work even harder than before on the audition. It was my turn to face my own ghosts now.
It was my turn to go to war.
Footsteps echoed behind me. I sensed his presence drawing closer. Glancing at one of the window’s reflections, I knew it was his face hidden behind his black hoodie. I attempted to brush off Levi’s presence and continued walking, but our steps synchronized, and soon enough, he was right beside me.
Give him a weapon, and at this point, he’ll be worse than the reaper, his shadow trailing me to take my soul.
Pressing on toward the Pioneers’ sports building, where Sylas orchestrated a team against Tara on the grassy field with Kay acting as the referee, I abruptly halted. “You’re following me.”
“Believe it or not, it’s a coincidence for once,” Levi claimed. “How have you been?”
“How have I been?” I snickered. “Are we really going to pretend nothing happened?” I locked my eyes on him, but he didn’t move an inch. “I know you’re that guy Checkmate. I know what you did.”
Silence lingered between us, broken only by the soft chuckles of passing students.
“Thank you,” I murmured. “I know you did it for me.”
I couldn’t bring myself to be cruel to him, just as I couldn’t force my heart to feel nothing for him. But rebuilding trust, like stitching back the fragments of a shattered heart, demanded patience and care to mend every rupture and stitch.
“I had to protect you.” He leaned in, and I instinctively retreated, not trusting myself to be so close to him. “I couldn’t tell you about my plan.”
“I know.” I swallowed hard to get rid of the lump in my throat. “But this can’t change anything. I have an audition to prepare for, and you…”
Levi’s lips stretched into a scowl, his eyes dimming. “Give us time.”
“This is my fight. If you take that away from me too, I’ll never forgive you.”
“So there’s still a chance for forgiveness, then?” He lowered himself to my eye level. “I’ll watch, my little thief. I’ll watch you set Pantheon’s opera on fire.”
Goose bumps erupted on my skin, and my heart played the most agonizing symphony. “I can’t get distracted.”
“I won’t distract you. I know you want to prove what you’re capable of on your own. Am I right?”
My breath caught, and I nodded, resenting how effortlessly he could read me. “So you won’t do anything?”
“Who am I to take your revenge away?” His eyes gleamed under the sun like pools of liquid silver as his finger twirled a strand of my hair. “I understand what it feels like.”
“Levi, I want you on my team!” Tara’s voice cut through the air.
I used that moment to step back, scanning the field for Yasmine amid the students gathered around the makeshift rugby field. No one wore their uniforms today since it was the weekend.
“Don’t bet on it. I don’t see what’s so fun about this sport.” Levi sighed.
His profile, cast in shadow, seemed carved from the very essence of darkness itself, sharp and unforgiving, capable of slicing through even the hardest of diamonds. Narrow nose. Sharp cheekbones. Deadly eyes. I blinked and tore my gaze away from him. He was always tormentingly gorgeous.
No, I had to get away from him. I can’t give in to him that easily. “I have to go.”
I backed away, but he didn’t try to follow me. His lips were still tilted into a thin line, his gaze fixed on me. I pushed past the crowd until I finally found Yasmine seated in the front row.
I reached her side, and she offered me her bag of brownies. “Oh, you made it! You’ll never guess what happened!”
She waited for me to take a seat before leaning closer.
“Tara came to my archery competition, and while I clearly sucked, she told me that she was proud of me.” Her jaw dropped, hands gesturing wildly. “Proud! She said proud! Like what the heck!”
I laughed. “That must have killed her to admit that.”
“Right?” She chortled. “Rugby is a sport for brutes. It will be fun to watch Tara crush half the boys.” She cheered, “Go, Tara!”
I smiled, relieved that Yasmine and her sister had reconciled and grateful that she was steering clear of the scandal, pretending that everything was normal.
“We need one more player!” Tara yelled, her legs spread apart, her feet planted firmly on the ground. “Preferably a pillar, a strong guy.” She pointed her finger at a man in the back. “Like you.” He shook his head, and she moved on to another victim. “Or you? Or maybe—”
“Me!” I raised my hand.
My father had never allowed me to play rugby or any of those kinds of sports, deeming them too dangerous and improper. But the new Dalia was determined to be fearless and adventurous, even if others needed some convincing—such as Tara grimacing, Sylas’s mouth gaping open, and Yasmine nearly choking on her snack.
“No offense, Dalia, but I want to win.”
“Then choose me,” I insisted.
“Um, Dalia, are you sure?” Yasmine whispered. “Look, there are mostly Pioneers here. No Tacticians and barely any Unifiers—”
I rose on my feet.
“And you’re already gone,” Yasmine said. “Good luck!”
Striding over to Tara, I extended my hand to receive the red armband of her team.
She offered me a sly grin. “Let’s see what you’ve got, but if we lose because of you, I’ll—”
“Kill me, I know.” I interrupted with a raised brow.
Just then, Levi barged in, pushing aside another student from Tara’s team and snatching his armband.
“It’s too late. My team is made, Levi.”
“I thought you wanted to win, Tara,” he countered, his all-too-perfect smile more menacing than friendly. “We both know how chaotic I can be.”
Tara let out an exasperated groan, gesturing between us like I had something to do with his behavior. “You two better not screw this up!”
I shot him a glare, my fists clenching at my sides. “Don’t try to protect me!”
All he could muster in response was a casual shrug before he pushed past my shoulder and positioned himself on the field. I sighed. Levi didn’t do teamwork. He despised physical contact, hated being messy, and hated people, yet there he was, the lone Tactician in this game.
“She’s the daughter of the guy who sold weapons to Los Calaveras. She must be monstrous,” one Pioneer joked, his eyes on me.
I tensed.
Levi cracked his neck, but before he could take a step forward, Tara faced her teammate. “She’s not her father, you idiot. Focus on the game instead.”
I exchanged glances with her, and I smiled to thank her.
“Go, Dalia!” Yasmine cheered from the sidelines.
That was my cue to turn around and join the group. They each towered over me by at least two heads and were twice as broad. I felt like a white rabbit in the middle of bears. The moment Kay’s whistle pierced the air, the teams surged toward the ball in a rugby melee while I ended up sprawled in the mud in the middle of this chaos.
Others lunged for the ball. Levi, seemingly unconcerned by the pandemonium, hunkered down beside me. My face was already streaked with dirt, and I hastily wiped it clean with the pink sleeve of my sweatshirt.
“You can do better than that,” Levi snarled, like this all was amusing to him.
“And you could actually play instead of standing around like an idiot!” I shot back.
“I’m not standing around. I’m waiting for the right opportunity.”
The ball was flung into the air, landing perfectly in Levi’s waiting hand. With a smirk, he dashed toward the opposing team’s goal.
For the first time in days, I didn’t feel the crushing weight of heartbreak and agony because hatred can also become as powerful as love and as devastating. It was an easier feeling than loving someone.
And to hate Levi right now—it felt good; it felt healing.
“Dalia, wake up!” Tara’s voice thundered as I sprinted to intercept the ball midair.
Dirt clung to me from head to toe, and the initial notion of fun now seemed like a distant memory. Grasping the ball, I charged toward the opposing team’s territory, a bulky opponent bearing down on me.
But Levi, that insufferable jerk, swooped in and tackled him before he could reach me. I lunged to the ground and squeezed my eyes shut while landing on the grass to score my first point and offer my team a tie.
As I rose, mud-splattered and breathless, Sylas grinned at me, his polo shirt and pulled-back hair still miraculously neat. “Well done, Dalia. Continue like that, and you’ll soon be as tough as—”
“Dalia!” Tara marched toward me, her eyebrows furrowed while Sylas seized that opportunity to eclipse himself with a laugh. “You weren’t terrible for once. Unlike you!” She jabbed a finger at another teammate, listing his mistakes.
I smiled. A “not terrible” from Tara was worth more than a thousand compliments.
“You’re dirtying one of my ribbons.”
That gravelly voice. I met his gaze head-on, tilting my chin. Levi, as dirty as me from all the tackles he took on my behalf, was still looking unfairly and effortlessly gorgeous in the most sadistic way, with his hands casually tucked in his pockets.
My heart pounded against my rib cage. He’d never failed to send me one ribbon each day, but then, Levi had never been one to give up easily.
“Well.” I offered him the coldest smile I could imagine, trying to imitate him. “It was an upgrade from the trash. Have you ever considered that I might never want you back?”
I crossed my fingers behind my back.
“I have, but I’ll fight for you no matter what.” His smirk made my skin crawl. He leaned closer, his voice a dark promise, “You can’t get rid of me.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “You’re never going to change, and—”
I blinked, not because of the sunlight, but because Levi had shed his sweater, standing before me in just a tight shirt that accentuated every sculpted, lean muscle. Levi, who always hid the scars on his forearms. As my eyes traced the lines of his veins, another wave of goose bumps rippled across my skin. I felt the reminders of his grip on my throat, his mouth on my nape, his hard body making me feel things I never—
“Are you staring at me?”
“No!” I screamed, tearing my gaze away and hurrying back to the group huddled in a circle. Don’t get distracted by his beauty. Everything about him is a scheme.
Even his lips. His oh-so-kissable lips that had only ever kissed me .
“This is going to be our last action,” Tara warned. “Be killers!”
A swift slap on her hand set the team into motion. We surged back into a melee, and Kay blew the final whistle, signaling the last two minutes of the game. Levi obviously stood steadfast by my side, his glare serving as a deterrent to anyone who dared to approach too closely.
“You know I’m seeing my old therapist; we booked a weekly session.” His voice reached me from within the fray.
“Push!” the team roared, grappling for control of the ball.
“Really?” I shot back at him, struggling to be heard above the din.
“Yes, he probably needs a challenge, so here I come,” Levi replied with a snarl as one of our teammates raced with the ball.
Cheers echoed in the crowd, and eventually, Tara took possession of the ball, swiftly passing it to Levi. He darted across the field but was stopped by three brutes tackling him to the ground. I winced. While he was as tall as them, he was leaner and not built for this sport.
“The ball! Give it to red!” Tara bellowed, singling out Rodrigue, the burliest player.
Yet Levi’s gaze fixed on mine, and I nodded.
It was the final point, and he tossed the ball my way.
“Twenty seconds!” Kay shouted.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” I sprinted, attempting to catch it midair in a silent prayer.
Evading Sylas by using a fencing-like lunge, I zigzagged across the field, letting out a few unsafe screams—which probably made me look like a pink version of Jack Sparrow on a run.
I leaped into the air, throwing myself forward onto the ground just as Kay’s final call echoed, “End of the game!”
I scrambled to my feet and noticed the ball was behind the line. I jumped in place. “I did it!”
“In your face, we won!” Tara taunted, her victory cry directed at Sylas, who responded with an eye roll.
Levi emerged from underneath the pile of players, cracking his neck to the side. He stalked in my direction with his usual feline grace, navigating through the collapsed students sprawled on the grass, their celebrations blending with the sound of Tara, Kay, and Sylas showing no signs of exhaustion and engaging in another battle.
Levi arrived by my side, and a knot formed in my stomach, unsure of what he’d do next. Before I could utter a word, he beat me to it.
“If a part of you still loves me, maybe there’s still hope,” he said, icy and unyielding, while his gaze, like smoldering ashes, held me captive without a trace of a smile.
“What you feel for me isn’t love,” I whispered. “It’s challenge, obsession, possession.”
“I have to disagree.” He took a step forward. “But you’re right, it’s more than the vast concept of love—”
“Don’t do this.” I cut him off, raising my hand in front of my chest as if to ward him off, as if my heart were already betraying me by being drawn to him like a magnet. “I told you I can’t do this right now.”
“I have to,” he rasped, a nerve clenching his jaw. “What I feel is consuming me, Dalia. You’re always in my head. I’ll do anything for you. If you want me dead, I’ll be dead.” He closed the few remaining centimeters between us. “Begging, I’ll beg on my knees for you.” His forehead grazed mine, our hot breaths mingling. “I don’t control anything about how you make me feel, and I loathe that. While you’re the first person who ever truly loved me, I intend to be your last.” His hand hovered, then curled into a fist as if restrained from touching me by an invisible force. “If you don’t want me, I’ll be your shadow, your protector, whatever you need me to be. You can hurt me, take everything that I am or what I am. I don’t care as long as I have you.”
This time, he cupped my jaw, his thumb poised to trace a path to my lips.
“Levi, stop this,” I pleaded, crumbling under the weight of his touch and words.
“Do you know why I called you a thief?”
“Because I stole everything from you—your mother, your life, or I don’t know, I—”
“Because from the first glance we shared, I belonged to you. My damn soul. My heart. My revenge. My future. My feelings.” He took my hand, pressing it firmly against his chest. “It all belonged to you, and the little boy that I was hated you because you made him feel something. He saw feelings as weakness. You were the sole proof that the world wasn’t ugly. My only hope. I’ve always been yours, Dalia.”
His heart thudded beneath my palm, erratic and turbulent, like all his pain had awakened, thrashing against its confines. He was always mine. My knees were about to give in, but I clenched my fists and tore myself away from him.
“I need to go. I—”
“One last thing,” he said. “Please.”
I nodded and faced him again at a safe distance.
“I know what kind of man you deserve.”
I shook my head, folding my arms. “Let me guess, you?”
“Yes, eventually.” His lips curved into a ghost of a smile. “Someone who will give you freedom but will always have your back and protect you. Not because you’re weak and need protection, but because it’d mean you’re his everything. He’ll never let anyone hurt you and would prefer to take the pain of the whole goddamn world instead of you. Someone who would revel in your music and understand you, even if he could stalk you easily. Because let’s face it, I bet you still haven’t changed those ridiculous passwords—”
I lifted a brow.
“Right. Someone who will ask you things instead of finding the answer on his own, which would take him only three clicks anyway. He wants to respect your privacy… even if old habits die hard.” He shifted on his feet, his eyes darting around the field. It was the first time I saw Levi’s confidence wavering. “And finally, someone who will sacrifice everything for you, and love you the only way he knows how, but it’s real and stronger than death or the common definition of love.”
My tears welled up in my eyes, my chin shaking. I need to leave. I turned away from him, and before I could walk away, he promised,
“I’ll wait for you. I’ll become the man you deserve, Dalia.”