Page 22 of Red Obsession

“I’m going to use the restroom,” Gabriel announces before shuffling out of the booth and running off.

“Thank you.” Izel brings my attention back to her. I don't know what she’s thanking me for, but I wave her off as well. I don’t even know what I would be doing right now if it weren’t for her. Probably getting into another contract, maybe in the middle of killing someone. Who knows?

“You’re not just going to wave me off like you did with him.” She smiles, eyes darting to the bathroom doors.

Grunting, I pull my mask up some before draining the water in my hand.

“Zion,” she whispers.

That stops me. My eyes snap down to hers and I’m lost.

“Will you ever show me your face?”

Shaking my head, I don’t need her to see the scars. I don’t need her being scared of me.

Izel gives me a sad smile, “I wish you would, but I get it. Anyway, I mean it, thank you. You’ve done so much and for a stranger. I can’t imagine what better things you could be doing. So, thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” I finally speak.

“You saved me and just saved my brother.”

That stops me.

Brother?

“He’s your brother?” I blurt out.

Izel laughs, her hand grabbing mine. I almost sigh in relief. Thank the fucking heavens above.

“Well technically, he’s kind of my cousin, but brother.”

“What?”

“Long story short, we have the same mother and our fathers, well they’re brothers. It’s kind of confusing and a little complicated. But we just say we’re siblings. I mean we fight like cats and dogs, but I’d do anything for that little nugget,” she says, watching the bathroom once again.

“How old are you?” I find myself asking.

“Twenty-one, you?” She sighs, her thumb rubbing against my hand.

“Thirty-three.”

Izel opens her mouth to say something when Gabriel comes back, sliding back into the booth. Izel drops my hand and I try not to be hurt.

“We going to the bus station now?” Gabriel asks before either of us can say anything.

Izel glances over at me before nodding her head. I don’t like the idea of them heading off to the bus station. But I have no control over them, nor do I need the trouble Izel is bound to bring into my life.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Izel mumbles, shoving Gabriel out of the booth.

Izel

“Izel….” Gabriel leans his head against my shoulder. “We’ll be okay right?”

Opening my eyes, I look around at the near empty bus. I know we’ll be okay for now, but I still have that feeling in the back of my heart that something is going to happen. But I don't want to worry Gabriel.

“Yeah, we’re okay.” I sigh, leaning my head against the window once more.

“Are we going to talk about him?” he interrupts me trying to get some sleep.

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