Invisible String

Chapter 4

Everyone tried to act normal but couldn't help themselves from thinking about the possible chaos and drama that April's return would bring, including Curtis and Taco who were bumping their elbows against each other as they smiled mischievously.

"I should've bought popcorn," Curtis whispered, making Taco chuckle, and Ray, who was beside them, hit both their heads.

"I swear to god, if you both instigate," the petite woman warned them. "Don't make her leave earlier than she planned."

Ray has been anxious about what will happen in the next weeks with her best friend being in the city. She knew that the siren and the vulture didn't have a proper closure because they chose not to have one.

"Ramee and I are over," the redhead said as soon as she entered Vinny's apartment. She had expected Ray to be there because they talked on the phone, but she did not expect her sugar daddy to be there as well.

"What?!" Vinny uttered from the apartment's kitchen, overhearing what she just said.

She looked at him and tried to think of lies to cover up what she just said. She didn't have the energy to explain to him everything, but her tears betrayed her.

The brunette immediately went towards her and hugged her. Fully betrayed by her emotions, she couldn't stop herself from crying, even with the older Chang Gang member watching them, waiting for the redhead to explain.

"Shh, I'm here," Ray comforted her. "Cry, just cry, let it out."

With that, she had let her emotions take charge. April sobbed and cried on her best friend's shoulder for a good 10 minutes, before Vinny interrupted and asked for answers. The siren having so much respect for him answered his questions.

Vinny couldn't believe the revelation he just heard from the redhead. He didn't know that while everyone was busy becoming the top criminals and businessmen in the city, a secret romance was brewing in the cubby.

"That's why you moved into Ramee's apartment? You have been together for 6 months?" Vinny clarified, unable to fathom the information.

The redhead nodded but smiled bitterly at the memory of her moving into the vulture's apartment. "I'm sorry we kept it a secret from you guys. It's just that... when we both started to be open with what we feel for each other, everyone instigated, so we decided to keep it a secret."

Ray sighed hearing and seeing how in pain her best friend was. She knew about the couple's relationship, saw how in love they were with each other and witnessed how special their relationship was. It was just her, April, Ramee, and Randy, who knew about it.

"You really took being Lil Bleach's parents seriously," Vinny said, trying to remember every detail that could point out that his favorite redhead and his brother were together.

All the time Ramee would insist on bringing April on their jobs, volunteering on paying for the redhead's bills when he's the stingiest person he knew, letting her drive all his cars, and even dropping a casino heist when she was in trouble with the cops— those were all signs that there was a special fire igniting between the two, and he missed it all.

"What happened now? Why did you two break up?" Vinny couldn't stop himself from asking.

"We got into a fight last week because he wanted to tell everyone about us, but I wasn't ready. I was scared, I don't wanna lose what we had, it was special to me. That started it, then we just grew apart. We haven't talked in three days, he hasn't been sleeping in the apartment, and he's been ignoring my calls and messages," she struggled to answer when her emotions took control over her again, but continued, "I guess now, we don't have to hide anything, because there's nothing that's going on... anymore."