Page 11 of Fractured Faceoff

"I figured you'd need these," she said, placing them on the edge of the couch.

"Thanks," I mumbled, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.

"Are you sure you're okay to go to work today?" she asked gently.

"I have to," I replied. "I can't just... fall apart."

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. "If you need anything, call me."

I dressed quickly in the borrowed jeans and sweater, trying not to notice how they hung differently on me than my own clothes did. The mirror reflected a pale version of myself—eyes rimmed red from crying, hair still damp and clinging to my neck.

But there was no time for vanity. I grabbed my bag and keys, took one last deep breath to steady myself, and headed out the door.

The drive to work felt surreal, like I was moving through a dream. The familiar landmarks blurred past as I focused on just getting there in one piece. Each red light felt like an eternity; each green light barely registered.

When I finally arrived at the office building, I parked and sat for a moment, staring at theentrance. It loomed before me like an insurmountable obstacle. But life went on, whether or not I was ready for it.

I pushed open the car door and stepped out into the brisk morning air. One foot in front of the other—I repeated it like a mantra until I found myself inside.

"Morning," someone greeted me as I passed by their desk.

"Morning," I echoed back automatically.

My office offered little sanctuary from my thoughts, but it was better than being alone at home. The hum of activity around me provided a strange comfort. At least here, life carried on as usual—no matter how much mine had crumbled overnight.

Chapter 4

Jared

Sleep evaded me like a thief in the night. I tossed and turned; the bedsheets tangling around my legs like the thoughts swirling in my mind. Something gnawed at me, an unease that clung to my bones since my visit with Ava. She'd been evasive, her words dancing around the truth.

I knew Ava well enough to recognize when she was holding something back. The way her eyes flicked to the side, how she chewed her bottom lip, those were telltale signs. But last night, she was more guarded than usual, like she had built an invisible wall between us.

When I finally sat up, the moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting shadows. My knee throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

She'd couldn't look at me, staring out at the city lights as if they held answers she couldn't share with me.

I rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of exhaustion but knowing sleep wouldn't come. Ava wasn't just hiding something; she was protecting herself from something. And that truth might be connected to Kash.

"Break things off with Kash," I'd told her the time before last, before I decided to play for the Serpent at all. It wasn't a request; it was a necessity.

She'd hesitated before replying, "It's not that simple."

"It is if you want it to be."

Her silence had been deafening.

And now…

The alarm clock glowed in the darkness—3:00 AM. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, wincing as pain shot through my knee. The house was quiet except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. In moments like this, silence felt oppressive.

I wandered into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water, staring into its depths as if it could reveal what Ava wouldn't. Her reluctance nagged at me. Why was she so afraid to leave Kash? What hold did he have over her?

A memory surfaced—Ava's hand trembling slightly when she'd reached for her drink last night. A small gesture, easily overlooked but not by me.

Something wasn't right.

I leaned against the counter, feeling the cold marble under my palms. My reflection stared back at me from the window—tired eyes and a furrowed brow.

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