Mercy on my Soul

TWENTY-EIGHT

Azura's P.O.V 

I get out of the shower just as Silas walks up the steps. I look at him and he smiles at me. He walks up to me and wraps his arm around me. I hug him back and take a deep breath. He smelt like peppermint and vanilla mixed with his rainforest aftershave. He pulls back and shoves his hands in his pockets. "I wasn't expecting you to still be here. I figured you would have gone home last night," I nod. 

"It was late so we stayed here last night," He gives me a confused look. 

"We?" 

"Yeah, her boyfriend," Ryder said. I look past Silas to see Ryder leaning on the door frame of my room. He was shirtless looking at Silas. Silas hums and turns to him. Ryder gives him a fake smile. 

"Is this the part where you kick my ass?" Ryder hums. 

"I really, really want to but I won't. You kept her safe and that's all I care about," Silas nods. 

"Really? So you aren't going to hit me? Threaten me? I just get off the hook?" Ryder shrugs. 

"Well I didn't really like the idea of Azura defending you to me but I know why you did what you did." Silas hums and turns to me. 

"You defended me? I knew you loved me." I roll my eyes. 

"Don't make him angry. It's six in the morning," He smirks. 

"Than we shouldn't tell him about you loving me," He said. I hit his chest and walk past him. He grabs my arm. I look at him confused. He places his hand on my chin and moves my head to the side. I take a deep breath because I knew what he was looking for. He rolls up my sleeves and checks my wrists. 

"Silas?" His eyes go on mine. I give him a soft smile. "You won't find any bruises," He glances at Ryder before looking back at me. 

"Meaning what?" 

"Meaning I didn't lay my hands on her," Ryder said. Silas looks at him. 

"You reframed from abusing her? You? Ryder Montalli? Leader of the Montalli organization? You kept your hands off of her after she defended me to you?" Ryder swallows harshly. 

"I'm trying to be a different person. A better person." Ryder said quietly. Silas's hand on my arm drops as he looks surprised. 

"Oh really? I'm not convinced," Ryder rolls his eyes as he stands up straight. 

"I don't need to convince you of anything. You are the least of my concerns." Silas lets out a dry laugh. 

"There's the Ryder I know so well," 

"He let me go," I said softly. Silas's head snapped towards me. He looked shocked. 

"What?" I take a deep breath as I look into his eyes. 

"He gave me an out. He said after finding out what really happened it was stupid to try to get revenge when my father wasn't the enemy." Silas lets out a heavy breath. 

"You didn't take it did you?" He asked with his voice laced with hurt. I didn't want to answer that. I knew what he wanted from me but I knew what I wanted. If I just stopped what I was saying then we would be okay. I knew if I answered his question it would hurt him in more ways than one. 

"No, I did not," I whisper. He lets out a breath of relief and I look at him confused. "You are relieved?" He nods. 

"I can't deny my feelings for you. Of course, I want you to take the out so I have a chance but I'm not going to pretend that you don't love him. I've never seen you so ready to have a family as I do now. I mean you never wanted children but Ryder gave you a reason to want them. I may hate this and it may hurt but I know Ryder will protect you and that's all I care about." I smile and wrap my arms around him. He chuckles. "So we don't tell him about this kiss?" He askes. I pull back looking at him.