Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

VII: WEB OF LIES

"You look tense," the smooth voice cut through the thick silence, laced with something dangerously close to amusement. "Did I interrupt something?"

The clink of glass against wood followed, the faint scent of expensive whiskey curling through the air as he poured himself a drink.

Neither of us responded.

The silence was unbearable, stretched so taut it might snap at any second. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I swore I could hear Zayne's pulse quicken beside me. The air felt heavy, suffocating, and for the first time, I was acutely aware of how small this space was. The three of us were caught in an unspoken war, standing at the center of something neither Zayne nor I had the strength to name.

I forced myself to inhale, focusing on the burn in my lungs rather than the way crimson eyes flickered toward me with amusement, as if he could sense the discomfort rolling off of me.

Sylus leaned back against the bar, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip, watching both of us with an expression that knew too much.

"I suppose I'll be the one to address the elephant in the room then," he mused.

The smirk on his lips was unbearable.

"Will you ever get tired of being an arrogant ass?" I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut through the unbearable weight pressing down on my chest.

Sylus raised an eyebrow, but his smirk never faltered.

"You wound me, kitten."

A flicker of something hot ran through me, burning in places it shouldn't. I hated that name. I hated that it made my stomach twist. I hated that he said it so effortlessly, as if it belonged to me now, as if I'd never escape it.

Zayne exhaled sharply beside me, the tension radiating from him palpable. "Enough," he said, his voice edged with frustration. "We need to focus. There's no returning to the city. Caleb has the entire place locked down, probably swarming with police and his men looking for us."

The weight of his words pressed against me.

There was no home to return to.

Not that I had one to begin with.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, but before I could respond, a low grunt filled the space, sharp and sudden.

Zayne swayed, his hand shooting up to grip his temple as his entire body tensed.

My breath caught.

"Hey," I said quickly, stepping forward to steady him. "Zayne?"

He sucked in a breath, his entire body rigid, as if he were somewhere else entirely.

A vision.

I gripped his arms, trying to hold him upright, and for a moment, I forgot about the man watching us from across the room. I forgot about the guilt and betrayal and rage that simmered inside of me.

Because Zayne was hurting.

And I couldn't stand it.

His breathing was uneven, his jaw clenched so tightly I swore I could hear his teeth grinding. I pressed my fingers against his wrist, trying to ground him.

"You're okay," I murmured, unsure if the words were for him or for me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I felt rather than saw Sylus stiffen.

When Zayne finally came back, blinking against the onslaught of whatever horror had played behind his eyes, his gaze immediately snapped to Sylus.

He straightened, slowly, his eyes dark.