Page 80 of Always A Villain

“I’ve never seen him like this.” He glances over at me, a rare softness creeping into his usually cocky expression. “You’ve got him all kinds of fucked up, in a good way.”

I snort. “Fucked up is a compliment?”

“With him? Yeah,” he says, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “He’s not usually…this human.” He chuckles. “Less stabby. Less growl-at-everything-that-breathes. He’s still a bastard, don’t get me wrong, but now he hesitates. Thinks, with you, at least. That never used to happen.”

I shift, unsure if I’m supposed to be flattered or concerned.

“He needs that,” Griffen says, tone dipping. “He’s spent his whole life bleeding for other people’s sins. You show up, and suddenly the guy remembers he has a fucking heart. The Reaper in a pastry line. Never thought I’d live to see the day,” he mutters the last part under his breath.

I stare out the windshield, chewing on my lip, unsure what to say.

He leans forward, his expression tightening. “You’re good for him. He’ll never stop being who he is. But with you? He doesn’t have to drown in it.”

Before I can reply, the conversation screeches to a halt when Axe slides into the driver’s seat.

“I'm gutting the next motherfucker who cuts me off in traffic,” he mumbles, yanking off the lid of his coffee and taking a sip.

Griffen just grins. “See? Total ray of sunshine.”

Axe ignores him, revving the engine like he’s ready to commit vehicular homicide. I shake my head, sipping on my iced macchiato, letting the caffeine work its magic.

As we near the Iron, that familiar dread twists inside me. My stomach knots tighter with each mile, and by the time Axe pulls up and parks, my hands are clammy. I really don’t want to run into my father today.

The elevator ride down is torture. The sterile walls close in, the hum of the machinery buzzing in my ears. Every second stretches too long, and my pulse hammers inmy throat.

“We're going to the Command Center. I need to talk to Arsen,” Axe says, his voice all business. I nod, even though anxiety is practically choking me.

I clench my fists, hoping it’ll stop my hands from trembling. Nope. No luck.

“You okay?” Axe’s question eases through my panic.

“No,” I admit with a sigh. “I don’t want to see my father. Or any of the leaders, honestly.”

He steps closer, his fingers brushing my chin, tilting my gaze up to his. “You won’t have to, little siren,” he promises, voice rough but soft in a way that makes my chest flutter. “I’ll keep him far away from you. He won’t even know you’re here.”

Every step down the hall feels like I’m walking to my execution.

Arsen’s gruff voice is the first thing I hear when the doors open to the Command Center.

“Jesus, Axe, heard you crashed your damn bike. How the hell are you not dead yet?” Arsen grumbles, eyes glued to a map sprawled across the table.

“Can’t get rid of me that easily,” Axe replies, pulling out a chair for me.

Arsen just shakes his head, muttering in Russian under his breath.

Axe’s tone shifts as he moves to the other side of the room, his words low and clipped. The mood darkens instantly, but I let my mind wander while they talk.

Griffen drops into the seat next to me, already half-tuned into a conversation with some Sovereign I don’t recognize.

I grab my phone, quickly firing off a message to Dom about missing rehearsals and shows. Just as I hit send, my phone flashes the dreaded 1% battery remaining warning.

“Griffen, do you have a phone charger?” I sigh.

“There’s one in the car,” he replies, standing up and tossing me his keys before returning to his conversation.

“Thanks,” I mutter, already moving.

I quickly walk through the hallways. The elevator doors slide shut behind me, and I jab the button frantically.