Chapter 40 Tension
Aiyana's P.O.V
I woke to the sound of anger.
Not shouting, not yet, but the kind that pressed against walls and seeped under doors.
Jerome’s voice carried low and lethal, every word clipped as if restraint were the only thing keeping something far worse at bay, and Gerald’s voice answered back sharper than usual, stripped of its lazy humor, edged with defiance.
I jumped up in bed, with my heart racing as my brain registered that we were awake.
I shouldn’t listen, I knew that, but the house itself seemed to lean toward the noise, pulling me with it.
Carefully and quietly, I slipped out of bed, padded to the door, and pressed my ear to the wood.
“I told you to keep your distance.” Jerome said.
A pause. Then Gerald laughed, short, incredulous. “Distance? From what, exactly?”
“From her.”
Another beat. The air felt tight even through the door.
“I didn’t realize you’d claimed ownership.” Gerald replied lightly. Too lightly. “She’s not your property.”
The words made my stomach drop, hoping that it was not me even though deep down, I knew better.
Jerome didn’t raise his voice. That scared me more.
“She’s under my protection, and you know what that means.” He said.
“It means you’re afraid.” Gerald shot back. “Which is new. I’ll give you that.”
I inhaled sharply, knowing that he was definitely taunting Jerome whom I prayed should not fall for even though I was already getting agitated despite not being on the receiving end
“You don’t get to turn this into a competition.” Jerome said.
Gerald’s tone changed then. Lower. Slower. “Funny. Because it already is.”
I stepped back from the door, pulse pounding. My hands felt clammy, my thoughts a jumble of guilt and fear and something else, something I didn’t want to name.
I didn’t want to be the reason two men who had survived hell together were tearing at each other.
The voices dropped too low to hear.
I stood there a moment longer, then retreated, sitting on the edge of the bed and pressing my palms into my thighs.
Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe.
A knock came at the door minutes later.
“Come in.” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Jerome entered alone.
He looked… controlled.
Too controlled.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were dark, the storm still churning behind them.
He closed the door carefully, like he was afraid of what might slip through if he didn’t.
“I’m sorry.” He said immediately.
The words startled me. Jerome didn’t apologize lightly.
“You didn’t do anything.” I replied.
“That’s not what I’m apologizing for.” He said.
He crossed the room and stopped a respectful distance away, hands clasped behind his back like he was disciplining himself.
“You shouldn’t have heard that,” he continued. “And you shouldn’t feel like you’re the cause of it.”
I swallowed. “Am I?”
“No.” The answer was instant. Absolute. “This was coming whether you were here or not.”
I searched his face. “Then why does it feel like everything changed when I arrived?”
Jerome’s jaw tightened. “Because it did.”
I waited with an expression that spoke for me. I was having none of those vague answers today
He sighed. Quiet, and controlled as usual.
“Gerald and I… we’ve always understood each other. No explanations. No lines drawn, but lately, he’s been testing them.”
“Because of me.” I said softly.
“Because he thinks I’m losing control, and honestly, he’s not entirely wrong.” Jerome corrected.
The honesty made my chest ache.
“I don’t want to be something you fight over.” I said. “I don’t want to come between you.”
“You’re not between us.” he said. “You’re the mirror.”
I frowned. “The mirror?”
“You showed us what we avoid looking at.” He said. “What we want. What we’re willing to risk.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
Jerome took a step closer, then stopped himself, hands curling into fists at his sides.
“I won’t let this become unsafe for you.” He said. “If that means changing schedules, rotating personnel, limiting access…”
“Jerome…” I interrupted gently, “I don’t want to live in a cage.”
His eyes lifted to mine.
“I know, and I won’t build one.” He said.
Another knock sounded at the door before either of us could speak again.
Jerome’s shoulders stiffened. He turned, opened it.
Gerald stood there.
Up close, I could see the tension etched into his features. From his tight jaw, eyes too bright. He looked between us, something unreadable flickering across his face.
“Am I interrupting?” He asked.
“Yes.” Jerome said flatly.
Gerald’s lips twitched. “Figured.”
He turned to me then, a smile sliding into place like armor. “Just came to check if you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.” I said, standing. “Thank you.” I said again with a smile
His gaze lingered a moment too long. Then he nodded.
“Good.” he said. “Training in twenty.” He again, and left without another word. Too serious a Gerald for me
The silence he left behind felt heavier than before.
“I’ll handle this.” Jerome said quietly.
“How?” I asked.
His mouth thinned. “Carefully.”
~=•=~
Training that day was worse.
Gerald didn’t touch me, not once, but his presence felt closer than ever. His instructions were precise, relentless. He corrected without contact, but his eyes never left me.
Every movement I made felt measured, watched, weighed.
When I missed a block, he shook his head slowly.
“You’re distracted.” He said, squaring up again with more determination to train me than usual.
“I’m tired.” I replied as my heart felt like it was about to fall out of my chest with how fast it was beating.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t have to be.”
Jerome watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, face unreadable.
I finished training shaking.
Later, in the corridor outside the kitchen, Gerald fell into step beside me.
“You okay?” He asked softly.
“Yes.” I said, a little too quickly, walking away from him like he smelt.
I knew very well that if he was suspecting my weird behaviour before, this just confirmed it.
Before I could even make my way out of the kitchen, he held my hands to stop me, which I removed from his grasp. Fast.
“I don't like you running away from me.”