Luke's pov
As I leisurely concluded my academic endeavors for the day, I withdrew my phone to dial Heaven, only to be halted by a conspicuous notification. My inquisitive gaze fell upon the screen, revealing a message from Emmett.
Emmett: Luke, come to the second warehouse once you finish your lectures.
Confusion draped over me as I frowned. Why the second warehouse? Had I, perhaps unknowingly, done something wrong?
Maybe, just maybe, Emmett sought my assistance in the aftermath of the recent attack that left the security systems in disarray. The prospect of being summoned for my skills rather than reprimand offered a glimmer of relief.
Driving to the second warehouse, I showed my card to the guards at the entrance. After texting Emmett, he directed me to the room where we stored our high-tech creations.
"Hey, sir," I greeted as I entered the room.
"Hey, Luke," he responded.
"Need any help with something, sir?" I asked.
He sighed and looked at me intently. his gaze fixated on me, probing, and for a moment, the weight of his scrutiny felt like an unwelcome shroud.
Uncomfortably, I sought refuge in distraction, my eyes flitting across the machines, counting them in an attempt to divert attention from the disconcerting intensity of his stare.
The walls, painted in a shade of blue. Wow, I never thought that they would use colors instead of white, gray or black.
"Is there something wrong, sir?" I ventured to ask.
Emmett nodded gravely and disclosed, "You remember the holographic machine that I told you about?"
"Yes?" I blinked twice, my curiosity piqued.
"It's gone! They stole it!"
"What the heck!" I howled, unable to contain my disbelief. "But that's a top-secret machine. How did they know about it? Why did they specifically target it and not any other machine?" My mind raced with questions.
"Exactly, Luke. That's a top-secret machine. Just a few people know about it. You, me, and Ezra," Emmett disclosed with a gravity that left me bewildered.
"What are you referring to?" I asked.
"If this secret got out, it means one of us leaked it, and it certainly wasn't me."
"Yeah?" I responded, a tinge of confusion lingering. Then, my eyes widened as realization dawned. "Don't tell me that you are accusing me."
"Not accusing, Luke. Maybe unintentionally, you spoke to someone about it- perhaps Peter, Heaven, or any of your friends," Emmett asserted.
A surge of disbelief and hurt welled up within me. His words felt like a slap to my face, a digger relentlessly burrowing into my heart.
How could he insinuate that I, of all people, would betray our trust, jeopardizing not only our shared secrets but the very core of our relationship?
The weight of his suspicion felt like an indignant challenge to my loyalty — to him, to our shared cause, to my own family.
How dare he entertain the notion that I could harbor such treacherous intentions? I hadn't even broached the subject of that machine with myself, let alone anyone else. The bond forged in the clandestine world we inhabited, once steadfast, now felt frayed and fragile.
Anger mingled with hurt as I sought to convey my innocence. How could Emmett, the leader I had pledged allegiance to, doubt my fidelity?
In that moment, I saw red, eclipsing reason.
