Page 2 of Rev

“You ready for this, mate?” he asks, his voice steady despite the tension.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, my voice betraying the unease I feel. “Seems like a lifetime ago.”

“It does,” he agrees, looking at the empty building. “A lot has changed since then.”

We step inside, and the creak of the door echoes through the empty space. The air is thick with the scent of oil and dust. It’s a familiar yet unsettling aroma that brings back a flood of memories—the meetings with Harley’s father, Shaun, who took us in and gave us work, the whispered plans, and the reading out of the names of men Hades and I had to talk to when they didn’t pay up. There was always a constant sense of danger here.

This place was our life once. A life we both chose to leave behind.

Hades stops by a stack of old crates, his fingers tracing the worn wood.

“Ya know, sometimes I think about those days when we used to do shite for Hunt. It was one of the best times of our lives and far better than livin’ with Da. But then again, when I recall the people we were and the things we did, it’s like looking back at two completely different men.”

I nod, understanding exactly what he means.

“We made the right choice, walking away. But it wasn’t an easy one.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he says, his voice heavy with the weight of the past. “But we’re here now, and that’s what matters. We need to find out what the feck is happening to the shipments coming in.”

“This place is filled with crates, but they’re all empty,” Racer remarks as we move through the warehouse.

He’s right. The space is almost half full, but there’s nothing in the crates. It looks like they’ve been emptied, and the contents shipped off somewhere else. Unless this place is now used as a decoy.

We continue walking through the building, the memories of my past life hanging in the air like ghosts. As we continue to search though the crates, a comfortable silence falls between the three of us—the kind only brothers share.

Finally, Hades turns to me, his expression serious. “You said you were nervous about seeing Harley again.”

I swallow hard, the mention of her name sending a jolt through my heart. “Aye,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s been a long time. I don’t know what to expect if I do bump into her.”

“Who’s Harley?” Racer asks, stopping suddenly, his focus pinned on me, which I hate. Even though I’ve spent most of my adult life being asked for advice, I always hate talking about myself.

“She’s a lass I used to know,” I tell him. “Her father was the one we worked for, and there were… it was complicated. I broke her heart.”

“Hadrian, you can’t keep beating yourself up over the past,” Hades says, his tone gentle but firm. “Harley was strong. She’ll have moved on.”

“I know,” I say, though the words feel hollow. The idea of her moving on to someone else, married with perhaps a bairn on the way, doesn’t calm me down or relieve my anxiety. “But that doesn’t make it any easier. I can’t help but wonder if she’s still in South Shields living with her Da, or if she’s moved somewhere else in England, or if she’s thought about me at all.”

Hades places a hand on my shoulder, his grip reassuring.

“You did what you had to do. We both did. You can’t let the what ifs eat you alive.”

Racer steps forwards and says, “Mate, if she has moved on, then we’re here for you. It’s shite, no doubt, but you’ve seen how love works with Monster, Sully, Rebel, and even Tye. If it’s meant to be, then it will be. You can’t know for sure until you come face-to-face with the lass again. Worryin’ about it isn’t going to make it any better.”

“Aye, you’re right.” I nod in agreement. I know he’s right, but the thought of having to face her when she’s moved on with her life still stings.

“Racer is right,” Hades agrees. “Harley’s a strong, stubborn lass, and she’ll have healed from the past, just as you have.”

I look at the two of them, grateful for their support. “Thanks, lads. It’s just… I can’t shake this feeling. What if she’s still waiting for me? What if she hasn’t moved on?”

“Then you’ll find out,” Hades says simply. “And you’ll deal with it. But until then, stop torturing yourself. You’re a good man, Hadrian. You deserve to be happy.”

His words give me a measure of comfort, but the anxiety still gnaws at me. As we continue our walk through the warehouse, I try to focus on the present and the task at hand. But Harley’s face keeps creeping into my thoughts. A constant reminder of the unresolved feelings I still harbour for her.

We make our way to the back of the building where the shadows are darker, and the air feels heavier. This is the place where we made our final decision to leave. Standing here now, I feel a sense of closure, but I also can’t help feeling a sense of longing for the life I left behind.

Hades leans against the wall, his eyes scanning the room.

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