Love Like War (LGBT) ✅

Chapter 5

5.

The signal led them to a disused warehouse on the outskirts of Rhome, dilapidated and derelict, which made it the perfect place for the coven to use. There was no worry of distractions, John had said that it was a notoriously bad part of the city only frequented by drug dealers and prostitutes, and, if they did happen to stumble inside, then the witches could kill them without worrying about any trouble finding its way back to them. It was clever, really, and just a little bit stomach churning to think about.

"Conor appears to be unwell," Draco remarked, ducking his head through the passenger window. "He was not so pale before we left Keeter, was he?"

"He looks like he's about to vomit," Aiden said.

Draco very quickly ducked back out.

"I'm not going to hurl," Conor said, getting out slowly nonetheless, and keeping his arms wrapped around his stomach. "I'm just coming down from an adrenaline high."

"You were brave," Draco said, smiling at him quite genuinely, "and you have aided us greatly but, for now, I think it might be best if you were to stay in the car."

"What?" Conor's head shot up and he instantly grimaced, slowly resting it back on his knees. "I found them, I deserve to go in there."

"And what use are you to your sister dead?"

He rolled his eyes. "They can't kill me, that's illegal."

Draco made an abortive gesture that vaguely translated as 'where the hell do you even find these kids?' which he must have learnt from Callie.

John had the good grace to look embarrassed. He moved over to talk to Conor, leaning down on one knee. "You know where we are, right?"

"The worst part of Rhome."

"So the people who choose to stay around here would be what kind of people?"

"Bad?"

"Exactly. These people kidnapped your sister and they're also largely responsible for most of the so-called suicides in this area which means that they probably won't hesitate in killing you, right?"

The sheriff was clearly rusty at delivering bad news because Aiden winced and even Draco, who had a limited grasp of social interaction and human sensitivity, could understand that that was the wrong way to go about it.

"What about Rachel?" Conor asked, looking like the enormity of the situation had just hit him. "What's going to happen to her?"

"Nothing will happen to her, I promise, so you sit tight, okay, and I'll come out with her."

Conor hesitated, before nodding slightly. "Okay."

"I want you to sit in my car and lock the doors, don't come out for anything, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Aiden frowned as John made his way back to them. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"Well, the way I see it, it's a lot safer than him following us in. Even if we're dead, the drug dealers can't be as bad as the witches, right?"

"That's interesting logic but, I meant, are you sure that it's wise to promise him his sister back?"

Draco nodded sagely. "It is best not to make promises you cannot keep."

"I'd better not break it then."

They approached the door of the warehouse, standing before it and Aiden took the opportunity to look around the deserted strip.