Chapter 91 IRRATIONAL
“I don’t think Desmond was lying. He doesn’t have Eli.”
Anton’s voice was calm, but it carried weight. The car sat in the middle of nowhere, engine off, surrounded by darkness that stretched too far in every direction. The same dead end they had reached hours ago. The same place the tracker in Eli’s ring had gone silent.
Julian didn’t respond.
He sat in the passenger seat, elbow resting on the door, fingers tapping against the metal in a sharp, uneven rhythm. Tap. Tap. Tap. His cigarette pack was empty, crushed in his hand.
Anton glanced at him and sighed. “You’re going to break the door at this rate.”
Julian didn’t look at him. “Then I’ll fix it later.”
Anton reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small stainless steel flask. He unscrewed the cap and held it out. “Drink.”
Julian didn’t move.
Anton nudged it closer. “Take it. You’re out of smokes and you’re getting worse.”
Julian finally turned his head, eyes dark and restless. He took the flask without a word and drank. The burn hit his throat hard, but he didn’t flinch. He handed it back.
Anton took a sip too, then leaned back in his seat. “We’ve checked every lead. My men are still working on the van. We’ll get something.”
Julian’s jaw tightened. “Not fast enough.”
Silence fell again.
The night grew heavier. The air inside the car felt thick. Time dragged.
Anton’s phone rang.
He answered immediately. “Talk.”
A pause.
“Nothing?” His tone dropped. “Then find something.”
He ended the call and exhaled. “They got a clearer image of the van. That’s it.”
Julian laughed under his breath. It wasn’t humor. It was sharp and cold. “A picture. That’s what we have.”
Anton looked at him. “We’ll find him.”
Julian’s hand curled into a fist. “I should have never let him out of my sight.”
Anton didn’t argue.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
The clock on the dashboard ticked past 1:00 AM.
Julian’s patience snapped in silence. His fingers stopped tapping. His whole body went still.
Anton noticed. “Julian—”
Headlights cut through the darkness.
Both men looked up at the same time.
A van.
Julian leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. “Anton.”
Anton’s grip tightened on the wheel. “Yeah… I see it.”
The van drove past them slowly, engine rumbling.
Anton whispered, “That’s the van.”
Julian’s voice dropped. “Don’t move yet.”
They watched.
The van stopped a short distance ahead.
Two men stepped out, loud and careless, their laughter echoing in the quiet night.
“—I swear she nearly pissed herself—”
“Man, you should’ve seen her face—”
Julian opened the car door.
Anton followed without a word.
They moved in sync. Guns already in hand.
Their footsteps were soft against the dirt as they followed the men from a distance.
The men didn’t notice.
They walked into a compound that looked like an old farmhouse. The lights were dim. The place looked dead from the outside.
But Julian’s eyes were sharp.
The men entered a building.
Julian moved closer to the window and watched from the window as they opened a hidden door inside and walked down
Julian watched as they disappeared down a set of stairs.
Julian stepped back and turned to Anton. “There’s a building underground.”
Anton nodded once, already calculating. “Then this isn’t a simple grab-and-go operation.”
Julian’s grip tightened on his gun. “Eli is in there.”
Anton stepped closer, voice firm. “And walking in blindly will get you killed.”
Julian’s eyes flashed. “I don’t care.”
“I do.”
Julian stilled.
Anton held his gaze. “We don’t know how many are inside. We don’t know their firepower. If you die in there, you’re not saving him. You’re just joining him.”
Julian’s chest rose and fell slowly.
Anton turned and started walking away. “We retreat. Call the men. Then we hit them properly.”
Julian stood still for a second.
Then he followed.
The walk back to the car was tense. Heavy.
The moment they reached it, Julian snapped.
He grabbed Anton by the collar and slammed him against the car.
The impact echoed.
Anton didn’t flinch. He just stared at him. “If you punch me, I’m going to shoot your brain out.”
Julian’s grip tightened.
Their faces were inches apart.
Julian’s voice came out low but his anger was evident in it. “Why did you chicken out?”
Anton’s expression didn’t change. “Because I’m thinking.”
Julian shoved him harder against the car. “He’s in there.”
“I know.”
“Then why are we standing here?!”
“Because I don’t plan to die before I get to him!”
Silence hit them again.
Julian’s breath was heavy.
Anton’s voice softened just a little. “For once, don’t make me be the only sane one.”
Julian stared at him.
Then slowly… his grip loosened.
He let go.
Julian stepped back, running a hand through his hair, pacing once before leaning against the car.
“…why does it feel like you’re always the one stopping me?” he muttered.
Anton smirked faintly. “Because you’re always one step away from burning the whole world down.”
Julian let out a dry laugh. “And you like that.”
Anton shrugged. “I do. Your insanity keeps me useful.”
Julian glanced at him. “You think I'm insane?”
“Yes. You are, but I like it. If you were sane, you’d have gotten rid of me a long time ago.”
Julian shook his head. “Most of the time, I’m very sane.”
Anton raised a brow. “You’re not convincing anyone.”
Julian exhaled slowly. “Did you call them?”
Anton nodded. “Already sent the location. They’re on their way.”
Julian pushed off the car. “Good. We can go in first.”
Anton stepped closer. “Then I need you calm.”
“I am calm.”
Anton shook his head. “No.”
He closed the distance between them, his gaze locking onto Julian’s.
“I don’t want this angry and restless version of you,” Anton said quietly. “I want the calm devil.”
Julian didn’t move.
Anton reached up, gripping the back of Julian’s neck, pulling him closer into a kiss without warning.
The kiss was sudden but not rushed, nor messy. It was firm and grounding.
Julian stilled for a split second… then responded, just as steady, just as sharp.
When Anton pulled away, their foreheads almost touched.
Julian let out a quiet breath. “You poisonous bastard.”
Anton smirked. “You love it.”
Julian’s eyes darkened, but this time… they were steady. Exactly what Anton wanted.
Anton stepped back, picking up his gun. “Now we can go.”
Julian adjusted his sleeve, voice calm again. “Let’s go get Eli.”