Page 41 of Brutal Empire

“I would disagree,” I bit out as I stood up, intending to leave him alone.

“You look different, but not that much.”

I had no idea what he meant by that, but I didn’t let myself think about it. Instead, I just kept walking back, ignoring the looks people gave me. The attack was coming, and I didn’t want it to happen anywhere near these people. I didn’t want them to see how weak I was.

Bastian took one look at me, and he turned a murderous gaze toward Julian. Then his eyes went to my arms where I had left them exposed, and the look he wore intensified. I took the seat next to him and sat down, trying to keep my breathing even.

I didn’t want everyone to see me fall apart. Sometimes people weren’t fragile like a flower but like a bomb. And I liked to think that if I did fall, it wouldn’t be without causing destruction around me.

Bastian took hold of my hand, and my nerves jolted. He rubbed the back of his thumb in a circular motion against my palm. It was soothing and a small gesture that he was here.

“What did he say?” he asked between gritted teeth low enough for me to hear.

“Nothing worth repeating.”

* * *

There wasa black car waiting for us when we got to Texas. I got off without bothering to look back. I was on US soil, and my knees felt weak. It wasn’t necessarily home, but it was something. I had been drifting all over the world, and I was finally closer to the place I was lost from.

An old man came out of the passenger seat. Despite his age, he was still tall and bulky. His hair was gray, and he had many wrinkles, but that didn’t take away from his looks.

“Sir.” He said the simple word, and it almost sounded choked up.

Bastian smiled, and it was genuine, making his features much softer. It was fascinating to watch.

“Chris,” Bas said with equal emotion as he embraced the man in a hug.

Bastian opened the door for me, and I looked up at him. I stopped believing in fate, in destiny, in the fact that there was a God, but looking up at him and everything we had lived through, there had to be a reason why we were still standing.

“Come on, Angel, inside.” He nodded toward the car door.

Once I was inside, Bastian closed the door before he went around and came through the other side.

“Did you bring what I asked you?” Bas asked the driver.

The man took one hand off the steering wheel, reached for a small tablet, and then handed it to Bastian. Most of the drive was quiet, with Bas asking questions here and there. He was immersed in reading whatever was on the tablet. A skyline came into view, and I sat up straighter. It was beautiful. The way the lights shone from all angles cast a glow down the streets. We drove deeper into the heart of the city, and I was glued to my window, watching it all go by.

Something in me told me I loved the city. The tall skyscrapers, the wind on my face. It was nostalgic, yet not déjà vu.

“You like the city lights?” Bas asked with a gentle tone.

I turned to look at him, and he was facing me. His eyes were gleaming, and a soft smile was on his face. It made it harder to look at him because it blurred everything I thought I knew about myself and men.

“They are beautiful.”

“Beautiful,” he repeated.

It was hard to hold his stare. The more I looked into his eyes, the more I felt like I got lost in them, as if those black, inky pools would pull out memories or emotions, and I knew I wasn’t ready for any of those.

The car came to a stop in front of the lobby of one of the tallest buildings. The driver got out and opened Bastian’s door. He exited the car and then extended a hand for me to do the same. This time, when I took it, I knew things had changed.

Why was I so terrified of living if I wasn’t afraid of dying?

He didn’t let go of my hand, and I didn’t push for him to do so.

“Keep your head down,” he told me as he began to walk toward the elevators.

People were staring at us; phones were being flashed in our direction. Bastian kept walking until we got to the last row of elevators, for which he had to put in a passcode before the door opened. Once inside, he put in another set of passcodes before it began to move.

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