Page 71 of Fractured Devotion
I suppress a flare of annoyance. The task could easily take the whole day, pulling me far from Celeste when she’s most vulnerable. But refusal isn’t an option, not with Rourke. “Understood,” I reply evenly.
“Make sure it’s clean, Kade. No traces,” he warns sternly, turning to his computer as a clear dismissal.
The assignment is tedious and meticulous. Every trace of an unauthorized experiment needs to be obliterated from servers and physical locations alike. It takes hours of careful work, leaving me drained, but my mind never strays far from Celeste. By the time I finish, night has blanketed the city, and I rush back, hoping she’s still at the clinic.
I nearly miss her. The clinic is already shutting down, the staff trickling out in exhausted waves. Then I spot her, her shoulders tight and eyes clouded with worry, stepping quickly toward the exit.
“Celeste!” I call, my voice controlled yet urgent, catching up swiftly. She turns, startled, and her gaze flickers briefly with relief.
“Kade.”
“You look troubled,” I note gently, matching her pace as we exit onto the shadowed street. “Everything alright?”
She hesitates, visibly torn, before sighing deeply. “I honestly don’t know anymore.”
I allow silence to hang between us briefly, crafting a careful vulnerability. “Let me walk you home,” I offer, my tone gentle yet insistent. “Our routes align, and I’d feel better knowing you’re safe.”
She looks up, studying me carefully before giving in with a tentative nod. “Alright.”
We fall into step together, our pace leisurely yet cautious. At first, we walk without a word, the city’s subdued rhythm carrying us forward. Finally, I break the silence with careful ease.
“Long day?” I ask gently, shooting her a sideways glance.
She exhales slowly, a soft chuckle slipping out. “You could say that. Every day feels like it’s getting harder lately.”
I nod in understanding, keeping my voice light. “Believe me, I know the feeling. This job, it’s relentless, isn’t it?Constantly weighing on you, even when you’re supposed to leave it behind.”
Her lips curve in a faint, reluctant smile. “Exactly. I used to think I could handle it, compartmentalize it all. But lately… I don’t know. It’s just harder.”
We pause at a crossing, the traffic lights casting their reflections in her eyes and drawing out subtle hues I’ve never noticed before. I soften my voice further, leaning into the intimacy of the moment. “Well, sometimes it helps to talk about it. Even if it’s just trivial things or silly annoyances. Not everything has to be life or death.”
She glances at me, her eyes thoughtful and almost suspiciously curious. “Do you ever do that? Talk to someone, I mean.”
I shrug gently, offering a small, self-deprecating smile. “Honestly? Not often enough. But maybe that’s why I’m suggesting it. You deserve to have that, Celeste, someone to confide in without worrying about how it looks or who’s judging you.”
She pauses, her expression softening considerably as we start walking again. Her shoulders visibly relax, the tension draining slightly as she lets out a slow breath. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ve kept everything bottled up for too long.”
“Well,” I say, allowing warmth and sincerity to thread through my voice, “I’m here if you ever need that person. No pressure, just an offer.”
Her gaze slides to mine, steady and contemplative, as a tentative trust begins to warm the cool evening air between us. “I appreciate that, Kade. Truly.”
As we near her building, the air cool and crisp between us, I slow slightly, drawing her attention. “Listen,” I begin cautiously, a careful vulnerability coloring my tone, “this isn’t something I normally do, but if you ever need someone to talk tooutside of all this chaos, I’m here. No expectations, just someone to listen.” I pause, meeting her gaze directly. “Could I have your number? Just in case?”
She bites her lower lip thoughtfully, clearly weighing the risk, the silence stretching as her eyes hold mine. Then cautiously, she pulls out her phone, her fingers brushing mine briefly as we exchange contacts beneath the soft golden glow of streetlights.
“Thank you,” she whispers softly, a hint of genuine gratitude in her eyes.
A contained, burning satisfaction spreads through me as we part, each step closer to her solidifying the bonds I’ve so carefully constructed. Trust, fragile yet tangible, now sits nestled safely in the palm of my hand.
Chapter 24 – Celeste - Fractured Reflections
Sleep doesn’t come easily. Even after the walk home with Kade, a man whose intentions I still can’t quite figure out, my mind won’t shut down. Each intake of air feels heavy, as though my lungs are struggling to find oxygen in the dark, still air of my bedroom. My heart pounds irregularly, the anxiety dancing through my veins, relentless and exhausting.
Why did I give him my number?
I roll over, tugging the sheets higher around my body, searching for comfort in the cool fabric, but it eludes me. Trusting people isn’t exactly my strong suit, yet there’s something strangely magnetic about Kade, something subtly reassuring beneath his carefully controlled exterior. The contradiction frustrates me and makes my thoughts spiral further into uncertainty.
A soft vibration breaks through my restless musings. My phone glows faintly on the bedside table, drawing my eyes like a beacon in the dark. Kade’s name flashing across the screen quickens my heartbeat. I hesitate only a second before lifting the device and swiping open the message with cautious fingers.
