Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Ten: Mika Sage

Seeing him bleeding just reminded me of the agony I went through when he went missing. He was gone for a week and as soon as he got back, we got into an argument over how he thinks he's invincible. Now here he's gone again and got himself injured and I can't even fucking say anything to him because he continues to act as if I don't exist.

I creep forward and watch as Saviour viciously removes the blade from his abdomen and my breath catches in my throat as I watch the vibrant red liquid drip down his caramel skin, my heart racing as I try and control my spiralling thoughts.

He's okay, he's home.

My eyes avidly flick over him as I search him for any other injuries, my eyes wide and skin incredibly pale. I'm handling this worse than he is and he was the one that was stabbed. I rub my hands together and twitch slightly, his eyes catch mine and I melt immediately. My entire body collapses in relief as he reassures me with his eyes that he is okay.

I just want to run over to him and bring him to my chest, to feel his heart beating against my chest as I devour him but I can't and he has someone else. Saviour declares that he is fine and Bear immediately calls Church.

I trail along behind as I watch Raphe struggle into his seat. I know he wouldn't take help even if we were talking so I just linger behind him in case he falls or passes out or something and I can catch him.

Once he's taken his seat, I slip into mine by the right of it and tap anxiously on the table. Even my laptop doesn't distract me from the sheer amount of fear that I just felt down to my very soul. Slowly and softly, a warm hand slips onto my thigh and I can recognise his touch anywhere. It both fires me up and calms me down in a way that has me reaching cloud nine.

His hand remains there and I find myself questioning his move. Doesn't he have a boyfriend? We haven't spoken in so long so I thought that maybe his feelings for me may have disappeared but the touch seemed to have calmed him as well.

I tangle my fingers with his and tune into the conversation as he explains how he even got into this situation in the first place. "Who stabbed you, Runner? We're in peace time right now." Bear is frustrated, his chest heaving as he glares down at Raphe who is taking the stare head on.

"It's not because of the club, Prez. I've been fucking around in the underground circuits, someone wanted to become my manager and I told him to fuck off. He took it personal and stabbed me while I was leaving."

That's where he was! Fucking fighting. I'm relieved that he hasn't been fucking other men like I thought he was but fucking fighting? Are you kidding?

He could've been killed, this was a lucky fucking shot and he could've passed out on his bike and gotten killed. So many different ways for him to have gotten off a lot worse and the thought of it has me squeezing his hand tight enough to make my knuckles white.

I try and concentrate on the soothing movements of his thumb as it brushes across my skin, taming my fear and terrifying thoughts as his soft voices carries across the room. "Runner, those circuits are not safe, not even a little bit. You can't be protected." Saviour looks pissed, like furious enough to launch herself across the table and strangle him.

"I wasn't flying colours, nobody there knows that I am a Rider. I would never bring the problem back to the club." If he thinks the club isn't getting involved now that he's been stabbed he is extremely wrong. The thought of whoever stabbed him escaping does not sit well with me, I want him to myself, tearing him apart piece by piece sounds good to me.

I smirk at the thought. This guy is fucking dead.

"It doesn't matter, you've been attacked which is a declaration of war. Looks like a few more people are joining the underground fighting circuit... we're bringing the lot of them to the fucking ground." Bear states and we all shout 'aye' in agreement.

Church is dismisses and I quickly take off to my office to bring up as much as I can on these underground circuits and everyone even remotely tied to it. Bookies, fighters, agents, managers, whatever.

"Mika." I jump at the sound of his voice, my name has always sounded better when he says it especially when he says it like that.

Raphe shuts the door behind him, as he clicks the lock into place my heart rate picks up to the point where I'm having palpitations. He hasn't been this close to me in so long, hasn't said my name is that gorgeous accent that almost brings me to my knees every time.

He slinks closer, leaning back on my desk as I tap away on my computer, trying so hard to ignore the way his legs cross at the ankles and the way his body is leaning towards me as his scent washes over me. "Look at me, Mika." He almost begs and I cave, my eyes flicking over to his god like face that always looks at me with so much care.

"You-" I start but can't finish, my words caught in my mouth as I think over everything that's happened over the last few hours.

"I'm okay." He whispers, gently taking my hand and laying it over his heart as it pounds consistently. His fingers trace the back of my hand as his eyes stay focused on me, he wants me to make the next move so I stand up from my chair and bring him into a tight hug. Pressing him to my chest as I bury my face in his neck, heavily inhaling the scent I've missed so fucking much.

He strokes the back of my head as his other arm wraps around my waist, binding me to him and I enjoy every fucking second of it. "Never do that shit again." I'm able to force out after at least five minutes wrapped in his embrace, feeling his every breath and soft touch. My voice sounds strangled and scared as I beg him and he coos me softly.

"I'm sorry." I pull back and press my hands to his face with pleading eyes.

"No, I'm the one that's sorry. God, I fucked you over so many times, you shouldn't be comforting me of all people." I basically cry, feeling my heart break as he still looks at me with the love and patience he's always had with me.

"Mika, please calm down." He whispers, brushing my face with his fingertips as if he's waiting to catch the tears that have gathered in my eyes.

"I'm going to get better, I promise. I'm going to therapy now and - and - and I'm clean." His smile is dazzling, his lips stretching to reveal his teeth before he leans his forehead on mine. "I will become the man you love, I promise."

"Mika, you are already the man I love."

"Then the man you deserve, Raphe, the man you deserve."