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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHAIN WAS WAITING for me outside, leaning against his bike, a cigarette burning between his fingers. The early morning air was thick, still holding onto the last traces of night, the sky painted in dull shades of gray.

I shut the door behind me, rolling my shoulders to shake off the feeling still clinging from waking up next to her. It had been a fucking long time since I shared a bed with a woman, and it felt so right with Zeynep. The feeling of being one with another human, no need to touch, just being near each other was enough.

That was something special, something that didn’t come along twice in a lifetime.

Chain flicked his cigarette, barely looking up. “You finally decide to grace us with your presence?”

I exhaled slow, shoving my hands into my pockets. “What’s goin’ on?”

He took another drag, his eyes sharp as they met mine. “One of Drago’s boys got spotted near our territory last night.”

That got my attention real quick. My jaw clenched, my mind already running through possibilities. “Where?”

“Outside a dive bar at the county line. Didn’t cause no trouble, just sat there drinkin’ and makin’ himself real fuckin’ noticeable.” Chain’s lip curled in disgust. “Like he wanted us to see him.”

“That’s ‘cause he did,” I muttered, running a hand over my jaw. “Drago’s sendin’ a message.”

“Yeah, well, I got a message for him too.” Chain ground his cigarette out under his boot. “If he thinks he’s got any claim to anything in our town, he’s got another thing comin’.”

“He needs delt with and fast.”

Chain studied me, his head tilting slightly. “You ain’t been yourself, man.”

I tensed. “Not this shit again!”

“Yeah, this shit again,” he said flatly. “Your head’s been somewhere else. Or, more like, with someone else.”

I exhaled sharply, jaw tight. “I’m doin’ my job.”

“Uh-huh.” Chain crossed his arms, not buying it for a second. “Look, I get it. She’s different. She’s been through hell, and she ain’t like the women who come in and outta this place. But you gotta ask yourself—where’s this goin’?”

I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t fucking know.

Chain scoffed, shaking his head. “I’m only lookin’ out for you. I want you to have a good woman in your life, just make sure you do it right. Are you ready for what makin’ her yours means?”

I wanted to tell him to shut the hell up. But I couldn’t. Because deep down, I was asking myself the same damn thing.

Chain let the silence sit between us for a second before his smirk faded. His next words came quieter, more serious. “She means a hell of lot to you, everyone here sees it.”

The muscle in my jaw jumped. I turned away, pretending to look out toward the tree line, but Chain wasn’t done.

“You think I don’t know why you’re holdin’ back?” he muttered. “I know you, Mystic. I know why you can’t let yourself go there.”

A sharp pressure settled in my chest. I didn’t look at him. Couldn’t.

Chain sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I ain’t tryin’ to push you. Just sayin’... she deserves the truth. And when it comes out? You better be ready for what happens next.”

I said nothing.

Chain studied me for another beat before letting out a breath. “Whatever. Devil wants us on high alert. Don’t matter if Drago’s sendin’ men or just playin’ mind games. We shut that shit down now .”

I nodded, my mind already setting into place. “Then let’s handle the fuckers.”

Chain clapped me on the shoulder. Chain smirked. “Good. I was this close to buyin’ you a kitten and a romance novel.”

I shot him a dirty look, but he just laughed, pushing off his bike. “Come on, Mystic. We got shit to do.”

I followed him, pushing down the nagging thought still bouncing in my skull.

Chain was right.

Giving a shit had consequences.

Bad ones.