Chapter 112
Chapter 112
Chapter 112: Pretending Hurts More
The fire crackled in the corner of the bunker but the warmth didn’t reach Brielle She stood frozen staring at the man who claimed to be her father Her chest felt hollow like the truth had knocked all the air out of her
Damian kept a hand on her back grounding her reminding her she wasn’t alone even though it felt like her whole world was crumbling
The scar-faced woman stepped forward ending the silence
You’ve seen enough she said briskly It’s time to disappear before the others realize you’re still alive
Brielle didn’t argue She couldn’t
Her legs moved automatically as they followed the woman down another endless steel hallway out into the stormy night and into a different black car
No one spoke during the long ride back into the real world
Brielle pressed her forehead against the window trying to cool the fire raging inside her
She had been built not born
Lied to not loved
And now she had to live with that knowledge buried deep inside her where no one else could see
Including Damian
Especially Damian
When they finally reached the edge of the city everything changed fast
Fake IDs New phones A whole new set of clothes
And then instructions
Return to your life the scar-faced woman said Blend in Act normal We will find you again when the time is right
How do we know this isn’t another trap Damian asked his voice hard
You don’t she said with a cruel little smile
Then she was gone
And just like that the war faded back into the shadows
They rode the last few miles in silence
Brielle stared down at her trembling hands
We can’t do this anymore she said suddenly
Damian’s hands tightened on the wheel
Do what
This she said waving between them Whatever this is Whatever we are It’s too dangerous
Damian didn’t answer at first The muscle in his jaw ticked once twice
Maybe you’re right he said finally his voice low and flat
The words sliced her chest open but she nodded anyway
When they pulled up in front of campus it felt surreal like the past few days had been some fever dream they couldn’t admit ever happened
Students laughed in the distance Car horns honked Bright banners fluttered across the quad
Normal life
Except they weren’t normal anymore
They never had been
They walked side by side across the parking lot not touching not speaking not looking at each other
Damian peeled off toward the fraternity row without a word
Brielle headed toward her dorm feeling each step like a punch to the gut
By the time she reached her room she was shaking
She shut the door and leaned against it her heart screaming even though her lips stayed sealed
She slid down to the floor hugging her knees to her chest
Pretending nothing had happened was harder than surviving the ambushes
Harder than finding out she was a weapon
Harder than losing Zade and almost losing herself
Because pretending meant lying
And she was tired of lies
The next morning she showed up to class in ripped jeans and an oversized hoodie her face blank her heart guarded
Damian sat three rows behind her casual cool as ever talking to some random blonde like he hadn’t wrecked her world just days ago
Brielle forced herself to look forward to scribble notes she wasn’t even reading
Her chest ached her hands itched to reach for him but she didn’t move
He didn’t either
They didn’t exist to each other anymore
Except when their eyes met by accident
Except when the air between them sparked like a live wire
Except when she caught him clenching his fists under the table pretending not to stare at her
The professor droned on about politics and power and consequences
Brielle sat frozen inside her own war
After class she shoved her books into her bag and fled into the hallway desperate for fresh air for anything that didn’t smell like him
But he was there
Leaning against the wall arms crossed that cocky smirk barely hiding the darkness in his eyes
We need to talk he said quietly
No we don’t she snapped walking faster
He caught her wrist pulling her into an empty stairwell before she could fight
His hand pressed to the wall beside her head trapping her his body so close she could feel the heat rolling off him
You think you can ignore this he growled low and dangerous
You think you can pretend I’m just some guy in your class
You’re not supposed to touch me she whispered her throat tight
Too late for that he rasped
His forehead pressed against hers
Every nerve in her body screamed at her to push him away to slap him to run
Instead she grabbed the front of his shirt twisting it in her fists
I hate you she whispered
I know he whispered back
Then his mouth crashed against hers raw brutal perfect
She kissed him back with all the anger all the grief all the love she wasn’t allowed to feel
When they finally broke apart gasping his hand still tangled in her hair he whispered against her lips
This isn’t over
You said we can’t
I lied
He kissed her again softer this time slower
She shoved him back hard enough to make him stumble
Her heart cracked in two as she said coldly
Stay away from me Damian
And then she turned and ran
Leaving him standing alone in the stairwell fists clenched breathing like he had been punched in the ribs
Neither of them noticed the girl hiding around the corner phone in hand recording every second of the kiss
Neither of them heard the soft wicked laugh as the girl texted the video to a number saved under the name
Father
The message said
I have them Both of them Just say when
And just like that the game changed again
Bigger
Darker
And even more dangerous