The Six: Genesis | A Reverse Harem Novel

Thirty

"I should have told you," he sighs. "For not divulging this information, I apologize."

He's said this three times over the last two hours, but I don't respond. How can I? Who told me?

That's the first thing out of his mouth when I ask about it? I've spent the last few nights screaming into my pillow. Rage fills my veins.

If it wasn't for the augmentation, would I ever have known? Did he intend to hide this for the entirety of our relationship? Though, the genetic enhancement makes sense.

How he could keep up with me. How he could take me on in a fight. How he always seemed to be a step ahead of me.

I want to know more. I deserve to know more. This could have killed him and it would have destroyed me.

"Blue..."

Clenching my jaw, I saunter to the other side of the gym and stack a pile of mats. Right now, I don't want to be anywhere near him, but I can't avoid it. Being forced to be near him is a different type of torture.

Tracking his improvements via Iris is possible. Not ideal. I need to observe him to ensure the tech is responding appropriately.

Sweat clings to my shoulders and back. Tension feathers in the air. Instinctively, I move away as he closes in behind me.

"Blue..."

His systems comb through mine, shifting to read my thoughts and emotions, but I block the connection. While I know there are many things I don't know about him, this was something he should have told me when he learned I underwent augmentation. Yet, he kept it from me.

And apparently, still didn't want me to know.

"Ignoring me won't make this go away."

Oh, so now I'm the one ignoring this? He had months to tell me about this and he kept it a secret.

Rolling my eyes, I circle him and continue to the other side of the gym. His physical therapy requires vigorous training and a specific diet to maximize results. Multiple days a week, Ryker helicopters in a physical therapist and he works with Gatlin on the things I cannot.

We've tested his flexural strength and created a plan to improve it. With the supplements and the daily tests, he's improving—not as fast as he'd prefer. Luckily, he's leagues ahead of where he would have been if he had not taken an active role in his recovery.

It's been a week since he asked who told me about his genetic enhancement and we haven't spoken about it or much of anything else. Every time he tries, I push it and him away.

"Blue," his hand closes around my arm and pulls me to a stop, "wait—"

Vehemently, I yank my arm out of his grip. Without missing a beat, he grabs me a second time.

"Stop."

This time, his grip won't budge. His shadow casts over mine, swallowing me completely in the brightly lit room. Stubbornly, I won't meet his gaze and instead stare over his shoulder.

"Talk to me." He begs. "I know you're angry and you have every right to be, but you have to understand, I haven't told anyone anything about my enhancement."

"You came after me, remember?" I say, shaking my head. Tears gather at the edge of my eyes and my throat burns. "You said you wanted me, and at no time did you think you should tell me this, especially once you found out about my augmentation?"

His head drops. "Blue..."

"Stop saying my name." I spit. "If you can't be honest with me... What are we doing?"