Endless

Nick's News | Ryan

I frowned as I watched Ali slip out to join Nick once more. Her off-hand comment was like a stab to my heart, so similar was it to the day before I'd left the Firm. You're more than a mindless killer. I'd wanted to kill her for her life force. She knew that, but she still looked up at me with those big, blue eyes and told me the complete opposite.

She'd spoken with complete certainty back then. As if she'd known a truth that was hidden from me. Then she spared me when she could have destroyed me, and I had spent the past seventy or so years since trying to make it up to her.

Somehow, my attempts had made her truth my own. It became part of me. It made me become a doctor. Now, it made me able to stop myself from killing her. Or maybe not. Not knowing terrified me. But damn, that kiss blew my mind. It was like sharing in her power without taking it. Amazing on so many levels.

I followed her out and found Nick reclined on my sofa, feet crossed on the coffee table. His expression wasn't the usual show of his not giving a damn. In fact, the concern etched into his face chilled me.

"What?" I demanded. If this was him fussing about Ali, I'd kick his ass.

Call me old-fashioned, but I didn't appreciate the competition he represented. Or the idea that he might have kissed her first. Maybe they'd even had a relationship at some point. I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. My snapping before wasn't safe.

"We're in deep shit," Nick said. "Especially now that both of us went through our juice."

"Yeah," I said. "They'll hunt now. We'll have to move."

"You won't have time," Nick said. "Alick's already here, looking for you."

I closed my eyes and rocked back on my heels. Shit. Although I hadn't used anywhere near my full power, it had been enough for him to feel it and know it was me. He could be on his way as we spoke. "Wait. How are you still here?"

"The Firm's in trouble," Nick said, and went on to tell me everything he knew.

Oh perfect. My day would continue to improve. I'd basically given away my position, and Alick would track me down. He'd find Ali, and then I'd either have to kill him or he'd kill her. Not much of a contest for me, although if I killed my father's new second in command, I might as well face the fact that I'd die. I rubbed the back of my neck, scowling. My gaze automatically went to Ali who was perched carefully on the edge of her seat, silent, watchful, and trusting. I couldn't let him find her.

"Ali. Stay here. Nick and I need to go."

Her lips parted briefly, then she shot up and shook her head. "No. You don't want to go back."

I drew her to me, holding on tight. Her point was excellent. I'd have to join the fight or die. I'd have to let the monster loose. I didn't want to. Not after the moment I'd just shared with her. But there was hope now. I suddenly had way too much to lose either way. Holding Ali gave me a strength I didn't know I had. She'd formed my life in a few simple words, and now protecting her was my purpose.

No matter what the cost.

Whether I wanted to go or not wasn't relevant. I had to keep Ali safe.

"I'll find a way out of this," I said and placed a tender kiss on the top of her head. "You'll be safe in here, okay?"

She gave me a squeeze and looked up. "Let me go with you. I'll stay out of sight. No one will know I'm there."

I shook my head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You mean too much to me, Ali. I can't put you at risk."

"I'm not made of glass," she countered, setting her jaw. "I could have killed you before."

"Speaking of which," Nick cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "I'll feel a lot better if you take this." He tossed a lighter our way and Ali plucked it out of the air with graceful ease.

He shot a dark stare at me. Clearly, he thought I was encroaching on his territory. Too bad. If he didn't talk about it, he couldn't stake a claim.

"Won't you need it?" she asked, immediately opening the cap and sparking a flame.

The simple action made my inner monster recoil, but it made me feel a lot better knowing she had it for protection.

"Probably not," I answered for him, and she focused on me again. Which made me feel a lot better too. "Don't open the door for anyone. No matter what they say."

Her mouth turned down. "Fine," she said, then softened a little. "Be careful." Aleria backed out of my hold and went to Nick, giving him a hug too.

His expression instantly eased. "What's this for?" he asked, back to his familiar, cocky attitude. "I'll expect another when I'm back."

She laughed. "Deal."

She gave us both worried looks, then went off to her room as if she couldn't stand to watch us leave.

Nick's gaze followed her, his posture slumping.

"You loved her," I said.

He flicked his attention back to me, his look sharp enough to kill. "Still do. Always will."

I stiffened at the very obvious line he'd drawn. If he thought he'd intimidate me into backing down when it came to Ali, he was gravely mistaken. I smiled without humor and cocked my head at a small angle. Just like old times, which thrilled my inner monster for reasons I didn't even want to think about. "Shall we?"

"Sure."

We went to my room, to the walk-in safe with my birthday combination. I opened it and handed him some guns, syringes, and knives before strapping the same to my body under my jacket. So Alick had said they weren't going to kill me, but that didn't mean it was true, and it definitely didn't mean I'd go down without a fight. Story of my life. I'd been battling for so long that even when I went rogue, I continued to stockpile weapons that could do permanent damage to a griffon. Maybe my inner monster had used the collection as his creative outlet because it was all I'd let him do.

I shut the safe and activated the lock. It boomed shut like an iron coffin on the life I'd built over the past few decades. No. It wasn't the end. It couldn't be the end.

"You ready for this?" Nick asked, leading the way out.

I glanced at Ali's closed door as we passed it. Was I ready for any of this? But my old instincts kicked in. Feelings and fears had to be concealed. Weaknesses eradicated. I straightened my posture and nodded.

The front door swung open when I tried to shut it. I scowled at Nick. He'd destroyed the lock when he thought Ali was in danger. I'd have to replace it before it worked again. Nick glowered right back. Neither of us said anything. We were both at fault.

"We need to break out," I stated instead. "No use hiding the apartment. They already sensed us earlier." We had to draw any risks away from here.

I exhaled and closed my eyes, mentally thanking Ali for being light on the dosage she's given me. It made it just that much easier to find my power and access it.

My true form stirred, already straining at its tether. I sighed and cut it loose, letting my inner monster burn through the morphine as if it was hardly there.

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