Page 33 of Witch's Promise

Riley's lips curled into a smirk that had always made Sean want to punch him. "Now, now, Sean. Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"We were never friends," Sean spat. The mere presence of Riley was enough to set his teeth on edge, to bring back memories of a life he'd tried so hard to leave behind.

Riley's smirk widened. "Ouch. You wound me, truly. And here I thought we had such fond memories together. All those missions, all that blood on our hands. It creates a bond, don't you think?"

Sean's grip on his knives tightened, his knuckles going white. "Cut the shit, Riley. Why are you here? Does my father know you're skulking around Salem?"

"Why else would I be here?" Riley shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Think, Sean. I know it's not your strong suit, but do try."

The pieces clicked into place, and Sean felt his blood run cold. "Gabe," he breathed, his eyes darting back to where the other man still stood by the water's edge, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. "You're here for Gabe."

Riley's laugh was like nails on a chalkboard. "Give the boy a prize! He finally gets it."

"Why?" Sean demanded, taking a step closer to Riley. "What the fuck does my father want with Gabe?"

Riley tsked, shaking his head like a disappointed teacher. "Now, Sean. You know I can't tell you that. You're not part of the organization anymore, remember? You gave up your right to that information when you walked away."

Sean's mind raced, trying to make sense of this new information. Why would his father be interested in Gabe after all these years? What possible use could he have for a witch who'd walked away from the magical world?

"Although," Riley continued, his eyes glinting with malice, "I have to say, I find it interesting that you're still pining after the witch. What's it been, Sean? Ten? Twenty? And here you are, following him around like a lost puppy. It's pathetic, really."

Sean's fist connected with Riley's jaw before he'd even made the conscious decision to move. The older man stumbled back, surprise flashing across his face before it was replaced by something darker. More dangerous.

"Careful, boy," Riley growled, rubbing his jaw. "You don't want to start something you can't finish."

"Fuck you," Sean snarled. "Stay away from Gabe. Whatever my father's planning, whatever sick game this is, leave him out of it."

Riley's laughter echoed through the night, setting Sean's nerves on edge. "Or what? You'll stop us? Please. You're nothing, Sean. A washed-up fighter slumming it in underground clubs, too scared to face your past or your future. You couldn't protect Gabe before, what makes you think you can now?"

The words hit Sean like physical blows, each one finding its mark with unerring accuracy. Because Riley was right, wasn't he? Sean was nothing. A failure. A coward who'd run from the only good thing in his life because he'd been too afraid to face the truth.

But as Sean stood there, his chest heaving with a mixture of rage and shame, he felt something else. A spark of defiance, of determination. Because Riley might be right about who Sean was, but he was wrong about one thing.

Sean might not be able to protect Gabe. But he'd die trying.

"You're wrong," Sean said, his voice low and steady. "I'm not nothing. And I'm sure as hell not going to let you or my father hurt Gabe."

Riley's eyes narrowed, assessing. For a moment, Sean thought the older man might attack. But then Riley's face split into another one of those infuriating smirks.

"We'll see about that," he said, taking a step back. "But word of advice, Sean? Stay out of this. It's bigger than you, bigger than your pathetic little crush. Walk away now, while you still can."

Sean's blood boiled, his fists clenching at his sides. Who the fuck did Riley think he was, telling him to walk away? After everything Sean had sacrificed, everything he'd lost, did this smug bastard really think he'd just turn his back on Gabe again?

"Listen here, you piece of-" Sean started, but the words died in his throat as Riley vanished before his eyes. One moment the older man was there, smirking that infuriating smirk, and the next, nothing but empty air.

"Fuck," Sean muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Sean's eyes darted back to the riverbank where Gabe still stood, a solitary figure silhouetted against the glittering skyline of New York. He looked so damn peaceful, so unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. It made Sean's chest ache with a mixture of longing and dread.

What was he supposed to do now? The smart move would be to walk away, to pretend he'd never seen Gabe or Riley. To go back to his shitty apartment and his even shittier life, and leave the past where it belonged.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, Sean knew he couldn't do it. Couldn't turn his back on Gabe, not again. Not when he was in danger.

As Sean stood there, paralyzed by indecision, his mother's voice echoed in his head. A memory from years ago, before everything had gone to shit. Before Sean had made the biggest mistake of his life.

"Sometimes, sweetheart," her mother had said, her eyes soft with understanding, "the bravest thing you can do is to let someone in. To be vulnerable. It's easy to push people away, to build walls. But real strength? Real courage? That comes from opening your heart, even when you're scared."

At the time, Sean had brushed off his mother's words as sentimental nonsense. What the fuck did vulnerability have to do with being strong? But now, standing here with the weight of his past pressing down on him, Sean finally understood what she'd meant.

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