Strong For Too Long Trilogy ✔️

09. Survival in Affairs

CHAPTER 9: Survival in Affairs
(Aaron's POV)

I snap my eyes open in a jolt. Blurriness flutters around me as I crush my hand against what feels to be a familiar duvet, my head churning and feeling as though removing itself from my shoulders was currently the best option.

"You're an idiot for thinking you could stop Pierce from visiting her grave." I hear a masculine voice from the other side of the room, Tobias sits facing his desk, laptop open, he looks to be working on an assignment, physical and chemical reactions when in combat, by the looks of it.

I lie back down slowly, trailing my crusted eyes to the ceiling, "Did they taser me?" I wonder, aloud. My back burning from something, the cascading pain was no longer of a continuous cycle, but I still felt as though my head would pop right off any moment.

"They did. Exactly, what were you thinking again?" He says to me, turning around in the black desk chair, folding his arms. I give him an annoyed look, shrugging away his question as I remove my shirt, reaching for the drawers to grab another one when I realise someone else was in the room...just as she says,

"Damn, they ruined all that muscle." Celeste notes behind me.

I glance over my shoulder, "What are you doing in my room?" I spit in irritation when she moves to step in front of me, behind Tobias, who turns and gives her a raised eyebrow, she folds her arms.

"Why were you so worried? Aster Pierce loved Olive Crane, it's not like he'd destroy her grave." She states, saying the one name that still ripped my heart right out of my chest as I clench my jaw and stare straight forward. I couldn't tell if Olive would have befriended Celeste or beaten her to a pulp. I know which I would have choose.

I don't say anything, not directly, but she can read it on my face.

She gives me a long look, "Your scheduled for combat shooting in half an hour." She mutters, turning back towards the front door.

"Celeste." I say her name, once.

It's silent, she sharply inhales, "Yes."

"Don't ever say her name again." I say, lowly. She didn't deserve to speak her name, she didn't know her, not personally. Defining Pierce's actions in front of me was a big mistake, surely she would have known that, only I watch her eyes darken as she turns away and slams the door behind her without another word.

Branson stands with his bare arms folded on the mat, watching Madison drill in another female, both hitting each other, yet they weren't effective enough to topple the other, Branson grins, gesturing towards it, "Do you think she's met her match?" He chuckles.

Reynolds gives him a raised eyebrow from where he curls Samsara into his chest, rubbing her back slowly, "Here we thought that was you?" He wonders, giving Branson a knowing look. Harrison folds his own arms, watching her too.

"We make love, not war." Branson says, openly.

"Shut up, Branson!" Madison yells at him from where she has the other female in a head-lock, glaring at Branson from inside the ring, he grins slowly as he winks at her, Agent Javier and Alexander step up towards us, rolling out their arms.

Javier nods to me, "You're up next, Westlake." I watched him from where I stood, rolling out my arms, deciding to keep my shirt on as I move stoically towards the flat mat, he takes his stance as Alexander folds his arms off the mat beside us.

"Go." He says one word.

I block Javiers upcoming fist attack, he swerved it towards the side of my neck, I send a swift kick towards his abdomen, pushing him back a step as I watch him, attempting to watch his footing, every step that earns me a nick right in the jawline, close to my throat. I slam straight into the floor at the power in the punch, "You watch one area at a time, Westlake, and you're dead." Alexander spits, flicking his finger at me as he and Javier turn away.