Chapter 31 Power
Aiyana's P.O.V
Gerald opened his mouth and closed it like a fish out of water.
“I did not hit her. She missed a block.” He tried to explain as panic sat comfortably on his face.
Jerome’s eyes flicked to me, scanning for injuries with terrifying precision.
“I’m okay.” I said quickly. “It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.” I tried to reassure as although he was kinder to me, he was still the same person that everyone feared and I was still holding to the words ‘no smoke without fire’.
His gaze softened a fraction, but then hardened again, not at me, but at Gerald.
“You push her again when she’s distracted, and you won’t need Noah to bite you.” Jerome said quietly, taking some steps towards me and choosing my face as he came closer enough, still looking slightly worried even though it was a very mild hit as I knew Gerald never used even half of his strength when he trained me.
Gerald raised his hands in surrender. “Noted.”
Noah huffed, clearly pleased with himself, then leaned into my side like I was his safe place.
Almost immediately, my hands instinctively rested on his head, fingers trembling just slightly as I remembered just who he was and what that meant for my heart that was starting to melt.
My confusion hadn’t faded.
If anything, it had deepened, because whatever secrets Jerome was keeping…
I had all kinds of thought:
Was the cartel like I watched in movies where they would have different factions but still belong to the same root
Was I just being manipulated by him to make me think he was on my side, protecting me just to win me over? Was I even worth that much?
Of what use was I to him?
All these ran through my head but didn't have the guts to ask as I knew I had no right to ask what his thought process was.
I was just a prisoner he took pity on and maybe liked, like he said.
~=•=~
By nightfall, exhaustion pressed heavy against my bones, but my mind refused rest. The room glowed dimly with soft amber light, shadows stretching and shrinking with the slow movement of the curtains. Everything felt familiar and yet foreign.
Jerome moved around the room quietly, efficiently, like always did. Even his presence carried a kind of control, like the air bent to accommodate him.
When he finally lay down, turning his back slightly to give me space, my chest tightened.
I stared at the ceiling long after the light was turned off.
The bed felt too close. Too intimate.
Not because of desire, this was something else entirely.
Something heavier.
Something tangled with doubt and fear and the realization that maybe my life had never been as accidental as I believed.
So I waited.
I waited until his breathing slowed, counted the seconds between inhales.
Counted again.
When I was sure,absolutely sure he was asleep, I carefully rolled to the edge of the bed.
The floor was cold against my palms as I eased myself down, moving slowly so the mattress wouldn’t shift. I grabbed the spare blanket from the chair, folding it under me with practiced quiet.
I curled on my side, knees drawn in, heart pounding far too loudly for someone trying to disappear.
I had just closed my eyes when his voice cut through the dark.
“Aiyana.”
I froze.
“…What are you doing on the floor?”
My breath caught. Slowly, I turned my head.
Jerome was propped up on one elbow, eyes open, sharp even in the dark. Awake. Of course he was. I should’ve known better than to think he slept deeply.
“I…” My voice faltered. “I thought you were asleep.”
“I was resting.” He corrected. “That’s not the same thing.”
I swallowed. Heat crept up my neck, embarrassment mixing with guilt. “I just… I didn’t want to disturb you.”
He sat up fully now, the bed creaking softly beneath his weight. “You don’t disturb me.”
I hugged the blanket tighter. “I’m fine down here.”
“No, you’re not.” His tone wasn’t harsh. It was matter-of-fact. Observant. “You’ve been off since yesterday.”
I hesitated.
He hadn’t said anything earlier. Hadn’t confronted me during training, or when I barely touched my food, or when I avoided his gaze all evening, but he noticed.
He always noticed.
“I didn’t say anything.” He continued quietly “Because you didn’t look ready to talk.”
I closed my eyes briefly, gathering courage. “And now?”
“Now you’re sleeping on the floor.”
That did it.
I pushed myself up into a seated position, back against the bed. The words spilled out before I could overthink them.
“The boy.” I said softly. “Noah.”
Jerome stilled.
“He’s your nephew.” I continued, voice trembling just slightly. “The night I was beaten… I was protecting him. That’s how I crossed paths with Cortez. With his men.”
“Yes.”
The confirmation landed heavy.
“I didn’t know.” I whispered. “I thought it was random. I thought I just got unlucky.”
“It wasn’t random but it wasn’t a setup either.” Jerome said calmly.
I looked up at him. “Then what was it?”
He exhaled slowly, like he was choosing each word with care. “Every other gang in this city is my enemy, Aiyana. Not because I want
it that way, but because I’m in their way.”
“In their way of what?” I asked, tilting my head in confusion.
“Power.”