↳ 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 ー 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘

𝐋𝐈𝐈𝐈 ー 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐝

◉

Icy bullets pour from the pearl-grey clouds, the sky behind coloured snowy white. Sierra gazes at the rainfall from the shared bed, knees pulled to her chest and arms folded atop of them.

Droplets patter against the windows and slide down the glass. The occasional gust of wind hinting to an incoming storm which she'd appreciate at a time like this. It's nice to listen to it whilst wrapped in the warmth of her home.

Kaden returns to the bedroom as promised. Sits on the edge and slips a hand around her leg which earns a vague smile. She blinks slowly, like it's a struggle to lift them up and keep them open.

"Didn't mean to scare you," she breaks the silence. "Really did just need to get away from everyone."

"I get it."

"Guess this makes us even." She wipes a tear before it falls. "Both have shitty parents."

"You deserve better than them."

"I keep trying to put myself in their shoes but I can't. Hope could choose the worst person in the world but I wouldn't turn my back on her. Wouldn't try to kill her either."

"They won't get a second chance."

"They used my money to buy the weapons. My money got Grayson shot. He told me to stop sending them gifts but I didn't listen."

"You couldn't have known they'd do something like this. They would've just found the money elsewhere."

"I wanted to take them down."

"I knowー"

"No. I wanted to end the New Order for good. I had the weapons we seized from them, I had information, I had everything in place. I was going to bring them down on my own. I thought if I could do this it would take the stress off you and you could be here with Grayson."

His brows furrow at her selflessness. "Baby you don't need to worry about any of that."

"Trey agreed to help me but he had reservations about following orders behind your backs. Said you'd both kill me if you found out but he promised he was just joking."

Kaden sighs. The text was from Trey, a burner phone he presumes.

"My parents being the head of the organisation kind of changes things." She sniffs. "Really wanted to make you proud but I don't think I can carry on knowing I'm working my way up to them."

He moves to sit beside her, resting against the pillows and pulling her into his arms. Sierra curls into him and nestles her head against his warm chest. While she's doing her best to hold back a river of tears he's practically beaming. Heart swelling and close to bursting with the love and pride he feels for her.

"I am always proud of you, angel. I know being with me has brought so much pain into your life but I'm proud of you for everything you've done. All I care about is you. I will take over for you, okay?" 

"Okay." She pouts against his chest.

"I think Gray is sick of me fussing over him anyway."