Page 28 of Rev

I glance at her, my heart aching with the possibilities of a different life.

“All the time,” I admit. “But this is the life we have chosen, and we have to make the best of it. We can’t dwell on what-ifs.”

She nods, her gaze returning to the horizon. “You’re right. It’s just… hard, sometimes.”

“I know,” I say softly. “But you’re not alone.” I remind her, knowing this life isn’t exactly filled with loyal friends. “We’ll get through this together.”

As the sun dips below the horizon, casting the world in twilight, I feel an overwhelming urge to bridge the gap between us. Harley turns to me, her eyes reflecting the fading light, and I see the same longing mirrored in her gaze.

“Hadrian…” she begins, but I don’t let her finish.

Leaning in, I close the distance between us, and my lips meet hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. It’s a moment of pure connection— a way to convey all the emotions we’ve been keeping bottled up. Her lips are soft and warm against mine, and for a few seconds, the world fades away, leaving just the two of us.

When we finally pull apart, she’s breathless, her eyes wide with surprise and something deeper, something unspoken.

“Hadrian,” she whispers again, this time with a hint of wonder.

I brush a strand of blue hair from her face, my hand lingering on her cheek. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time, Magpie,” I admit, my voice low and rough with emotion.

She grins. It’s a soft, radiant smile that lights up her face.

“So have I,” she confesses. “But I didn’t think it was possible, not with everything else that’s going on.”

“It is possible,” I assure her. “We just have to fight for it, like we fight for everything else.”

She nods, leaning into my touch. “You’re right. We can’t let fear dictate our lives.”

“No, we can’t,” I agree. “We have to be brave for ourselves and for each other.”

The stars begin to twinkle in the darkening sky, and the cool night air wraps around us. But despite the chill, there’s a warmth between us and a shared resolve that strengthens my conviction.

“We should get back,” Harley says after a while, but neither of us makes a move to leave. “There’s still so much to do.”

“Aye, we need to finish our preparations if we’re going to be ready in time,” I say, but my heart aches at the thought of leaving this moment behind. “I can’t wait for the fight tomorrow.”

“Do you enjoy it?” she asks, and the question feels as if it’s filled with intrigue rather than judgement.

“I do when it’s directed towards someone who deserves it,” I admit. I’ve never lied to her, never hidden anything so she’d find me more attractive. This time is no different.

“That makes sense,” she says softly. I watch her as she considers my words, then nods. “My father is the same. He doesn’t hurt innocent people, which is why I agreed to step into his shoes when he needed me. I want to do right by him and by the organisation, and I want to ensure everything he built survives.”

“You’re a good person, Harley.”

Looking at her now, I see the innocence from all those years ago. She may know all there is to know about her father’s business, but she’s still pure at heart.

“I don’t know about that. I think it’s just that I’ve been raised by a man who taught me to fight for what I believe in and to never give up or give in,” she responds as she looks up into my eyes.

Her stare is a dagger straight to my chest. The future after tomorrow is still uncertain, and once this is all over, there’ll be some difficult decisions to make.

“It’s a good lesson to learn and to live by,” I agree with a nod, trying to break the tension.

As much as I want to kiss her again, I know it’s best to keep my distance until we determine what’s going to happen between us.

“Just remember. Sometimes, choices need to be selfish, or you’ll forever live for others,” she tells me.

As we make our way back to the car, our kiss lingers in my thoughts. It’s a reminder of what we’re fighting for—not just for survival, but for a future worth living.

We drive back in comfortable silence that’s filled with unspoken understanding. When we reach the hotel, the others are waiting, their faces tense with anticipation.

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