“Nah, she’s not my type. The brunette was, but I’m going pass this time.”
Because you already have someone else in mind. I chose to bite my tongue. I knew it was for the best right now.
Zane came around the back of the trailer. “Don’t make me tell you two ladies to stop flapping your gums.”
Ryoko jumped down. “We’re already done with the chains. Not like we’re wasting time since only one person can unload the cars at a time. Which has me thinking, who’s hungry?”
Zane chuckled. “You know the way to a man’s heart, don’t you, Ryoko?”
She giggled. “Who doesn’t like food?”
Zane laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “I can’t disagree there. Go pick us up something and meet us back here. We should be done in about an hour so don’t go too far.”
Ryoko nodded and then grabbed Raikidan by the wrist. “You’re helping, let’s go.”
“Why—oh okay.”
We watched Ryoko drag him off and the boys snickered. Well, except Rylan. He actually looked both confused and irritated.
Blaze nudged him. “Someone’s unhappy.”
Rylan shoved him away. “I am not. I just don’t know why she didn’t ask me like she always does.”
“You’re not her only friend, Rylan,” I said as I headed for the truck. “She’s allowed to ask someone else to go with her.”
“Where you going, Chickadee?” Zane asked.
“Going to sit down,” I replied. “I’m not going to be useful when it comes to unloading the cars.”
“Fair enough.”
I walked around the truck and sat on the bumper to wait. I watched Raikidan and Ryoko walk down the street while the boys went back to work. The two were laughing about something and I found myself getting jealous. Why couldn’t I open up to either of them like that? To anyone like that? Why did I have to be such a recluse freak that couldn’t hold a proper conversation without pissing someone off?
I looked to my right when Rylan appeared—he too watching Ryoko and Raikidan. I snickered. “You’re pathetic, you know that?”
“You’re watching them too,” he countered. “Makes you no better than me.”
“I’m just observing. You’re the one getting worked up.”
He looked at me. “I see that look in your eye. You want to know what’s up too.”
I shook my head and chuckled. “I really don’t care. The two are friends, so what’s there to get all worked up about?”
“You can’t fool me, Laz,” Rylan said. “The bond has made me very aware of how you’ve been feeling lately, especially when it’s been just the two of you. I’m aware of how you’ve been feeling while sitting here. You know the bond has always been stronger on my side than yours, for whatever reason.”
“I was thinking about something, but it’s not what you believe it to be.”
“Right.” He grabbed me by the wrist and hauled me off my feet. “Let’s go.”
“What are you doing?” I demanded as he dragged me down the street.
“Getting to the bottom of this.”
I stared at him wide-eyed. “Seriously, Rylan? We are not stalking them. Not only is that illegal, it’s creepy.”
“We’re not stalking them,” he insisted. “We’re investigating without them knowing.”
“That’s stalking, stupid.”
“Shut up and follow with me.”
I snickered and complied. I was more interested in observing his behavior than Ryoko or Raikidan’s. This was very out of character for him.
“Hey, where are you two going?” Zane yelled out.
I waved him off. “We’ll be back.”
“But—ah forget it. Be back soon.”
I chuckled and followed Rylan as we stalked Ryoko and Raikidan. I studied Rylan as he observed Ryoko’s interaction with Raikidan. His expression would sour and the bond would tug every time she’d get physically close to Raikidan, especially when her actions appeared flirty. Raikidan didn’t reciprocate, but Rylan was sure responding as if he had been.
It amused me at first, but as their interactions continued, I began to feel negative about it as well. I was sure a lot of it had to do with Rylan and the bond, but I knew some of it was me, too. I was aware of the change happening in me about Raikidan. Rylan’s observation wasn’t too far off as time progressed, and I didn’t like it. I knew this couldn’t happen and I needed to keep Raikidan at a distance, but as the jealousy rose, the more Ryoko and Raikidan interacted, I knew that was going to be easier said than done.
Rylan abruptly pulled me into an alley and I caught a glimpse of Ryoko looking back before I was pulled out of sight.
“What, didn’t want her to see us?” I teased. He hushed me and I snickered. “If you weren’t stalking her, you wouldn’t have to worry about her finding out you’re being creepy.”
Rylan ignored me and peered around the corner. I peered around as well and caught a glimpse of the two turning a corner. Rylan ducked back in case Ryoko looked our way again, but I wasn’t going to hide. I suspected I knew what was going on in her head. If I was right, she was trying to get Rylan riled up and Raikidan made for the perfect bait.
“We can keep moving,” I said when the two disappeared.
“Did she see you?”
“No, she didn’t look back.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
I followed him but he slowed his pace as we came to the turn. I on the other hand, didn’t slow down and he hissed at me to not to turn the corner so carelessly and blow our cover. Ignoring him, I turned the corner to find Ryoko looking back. Acting as casual as possible, I continued walking as if nothing was amiss.
“Hey, Laz, whatcha doing out here?” Ryoko called.
I shrugged. “I wasn’t useful to the unload process so I figured I’d walk around.”
“It’s just you?” she asked.
“Only me.”
“And you’re just walking?”
I nodded and passed them. “Yep.”
“You’re not going to walk with us?” she asked, clearly confused.
I shook my head. “You didn’t invite me and I don’t invite myself. You guys keep having your fun and get the food you promised.”
“But you can join us,” Ryoko said.
“No one willingly chooses to be a third wheel.” I hoped she’d take the bait.
“Third wheel? You wouldn’t be a third wheel,” she said.
Bingo. You’re welcome Rylan. I shrugged. “I’m just out for a walk. Don’t mind me.”
“Laz, if you want to come with us, you can.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Oh, okay…”
I continued to walk, but as I went to take a turn to go down a side street, strong hands seized my arm and threw me over masculine shoulders.
“Raikidan,” I growled.
“You’re coming with us,” he said.
“Why?” I asked. “You don’t need more than two people to fetch lunch.”
“Because you’re already here and you’re not going to walk around on your own and get into trouble.”
I chuckled. “Who said I was going to get into trouble?”
“Me.”
“Right.”
I looked back to see Rylan standing in the street and watching. I winked at him and he smiled his thanks before heading back the way we had come. He had been too fixed on Ryoko’s actions to know Raikidan wasn’t a new form of competition for him. And even though I didn’t want to get in the way of Ryoko’s plans to uncover the truth about his feelings for herself, I needed to keep the house peaceful.
“So, Laz, was it really only you following us?” Ryoko asked.
“I wasn’t following you,” I lied.
“But you hid when I looked back because I thought we were being followed.”
“Because I left shortly after the two of you and I didn’t want you to think I was stalking you or anything. I didn’t see which direction you had chosen to turn and hadn’t expected to make the same choice.”
“And you were alone,” she pressed. “Because I was sure I saw Rylan.”
“You were sure, or you hoped?” I teased.
Her face flushed. “Laz, don’t start!”
“Yeah, she was hoping,” Raikidan ratted out.
“Raikidan!” Ryoko shouted.
I snickered. “I do know he was upset you didn’t ask him to join you on your excursion for food.”
“I knew Zane would want him to move the cars,” she claimed. “He’s good at unloading them.”
“She’s lying,” Raikidan said.
Ryoko face reddened and I chuckled. “I know. But, hey, Rai, do you mind letting me walk on my own now?”
“No, because if I do, you’ll try going off on your own,” he said.
I shook my head. “I’m not going to walk off on you. You obviously want me here that bad, so I’ll stick around.”
Ryoko stopped walking abruptly when her communicator started flashing. She placed it on her head and answered it. Raikidan put me down on my own feet when she started rolling her eyes. From what I could catch, she was talking to Zane and they were having an issue they needed her help to fix.
“I need to head back,” Ryoko said when she hung up. “A part of the trailer is jammed and none of them can get it unstuck.”
“Okay, we’ll continue to get food then,” Raikidan offered. “Makes Eira’s arrival a good thing.”
Ryoko nodded and started heading back the way we had come. “Thanks. I was just going to a sandwich shop, so it wasn’t going to be anything fancy.”
I nodded. “Won’t be too hard to get the order right. I know what the guys like.”
She smiled and nodded and continued in her direction while we continue in ours.
“Eira, why were you really following us?” Raikidan asked when Ryoko was out of earshot.
“Because Rylan dragged me with him,” I admitted.
“So her plan did work.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. He wasn’t happy in the least.”
“You figured it out and didn’t go with it, how come?”
“Because of how irritated he was. He was actually beginning to hate you because he wasn’t reading your actions properly, and I don’t want discord in this house. Ryoko can figure out a different tactic, or outright tell him.”
“How did you feel about it?”
My brow rose. “Why are you asking that?”
“Because it’s Ryoko, and she thought it might upset you, too,” he admitted.
“I suspected she may have had an ulterior motive behind her actions, but like I told Rylan, I don’t care.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” I snapped. “Why would I care?”
“I don’t know…”
I sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
“No, don’t be. I should know better than to question your motives.”
We were quiet and I didn’t like it. I wasn’t a good conversationalist and my actions toward Raikidan were honestly uncalled for. It proved I wasn’t good around others and made for an overall poor human being.
“Eira, I’m sorry I upset you,” Raikidan finally said.
“I’m not upset with you.”
“But you’re being quiet.”
“Well I’m sorry I can be bubbly and talkative and all buddy-buddy with you like Ryoko can.” I sighed. There I go again. “Forget that. Let’s get lunch and get back.”
“Okay…”
We were both quiet after that. Even when we made it to the sandwich shop we didn’t talk to each other. I ordered food for the others and myself, and before I could indicate it was Raikidan’s turn, he was rattling off what he wanted to the man at the counter. We left the building once we had all our food and, unsurprisingly, our walk back was quiet too. I knew better than to open my mouth. I was better with silence and I might as well accept that and keep to myself from now on.
“I prefer you as the quiet type,” Raikidan said suddenly when we made it around the last corner before making it back to the guys again.
“Huh?”
“Ryoko is too talkative,” he said. “I would have liked it if she shut her mouth for more than a few seconds.” I stifled a laugh. “And there’s no way I could handle another person who would talk my ear off like she nearly did. I’d probably bite your head off—literally. I was nearly getting to that point with her.”
I didn’t believe him. I could see the fun he was having. He liked that Ryoko was open and talkative. He had more fun with her than he could ever have with me. He was just trying to make me feel better, but it didn’t change anything. I was boring, quiet, and definitely not open with anyone.
“Eira, please don’t go into one of those moods,” Raikidan begged. “I’m being—”
“Stop, Raikidan,” I said. “Just… don’t talk, okay?”
“Okay…”
The rest of the walk was quiet, like I had asked it to be, and when the others greeted us, I did my best to act as normal as possible. Once everyone had their food, I went to hop into the truck.
“Laz, where are you going?” Rylan asked.
“Into the truck,” I replied as I opened the back door.
“But it’s so nice out.”
“I’ll be in the truck.”
“What got her all upset?” he muttered to himself as I shut the door.
I placed my sandwich down next to me. I wasn’t hungry. Instead, I closed my eyes, but that made it easier for me to pick up conversations outside. This included the one Raikidan and Ryoko were having on the other side of the truck.
“Your little stunt, didn’t go anywhere near as planned,” Raikidan whispered to her.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “I was sure she’d get upset.”
“Oh, she did, but not in the way you were theorizing.”
Ryoko gasped. “No, she didn’t start comparing herself to me, did she?” When he didn’t reply she sighed. “What have I done? I don’t even know how to fix that.”
“Do what most people do,” Raikidan said.
“Most people would talk it out, but talking will only shut her down,” Ryoko replied. “And I can’t do a plan b—participate in a common interest to build bonds—because Laz and I don’t have much in common. It’s pretty illogical for us to be friends in the first place. Had we not been part of the same unit in the military, we would have never become friends.”
“Well think of something fast, because I tried to fix it, and she told me to shut up.”
Ryoko sighed. “Yeah, I’m trying to.”
“What’s this I overheard you saying you upset Laz?” Rylan asked suddenly. I was quiet surprised, as I wasn’t expecting him to be listening in.
“I kinda wanted to see if she’d get jealous if I dragged Raikidan off with me,” Ryoko admitted. “But I got a much different reaction.”
Rylan sighed. “Seriously, Ryoko? Even I know that was a poor idea.”
“Well, I’m sorry that we all can’t be perfect like you and just feel out where her emotional state is,” Ryoko spat.
I was taken aback by that outburst. I knew Ryoko had an issue with the bond, but that was a rather extreme lash-out.
Ryoko stormed away and Raikidan didn’t utter a word. He probably knew it was better if he kept his mouth shut. The front passenger door flew open and Rylan hopped in. He slammed the door shut, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the truck.
“Sorry,” I finally said.
He gave me a surprised look. “Why are you sorry? I’m the one who opened my big mouth. I should have just stayed quiet.”
“Because the argument happened because of me. Because I make for a horrible bond partner, and that should have gone to someone better. Like her.”
“Laz, please don’t start comparing yourself to her again,” Rylan begged. “We’ve been over this with y—”
“I’m not. I was designed from the very beginning to be an assassin. We’re trained to be quiet and kill without question. We’re not meant to be good conversationalists or decent human beings. Whoever made the choice to pair you with me was an idiot. She would have been a far better pick for that big of a choice.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Laz, and I wish you’d understand that.”
He was wrong, and I was certainly right about the bond. He should have been paired up with her. The two were perfect for each other from the get-go. Me? I was the shadow that got in the way all the time—the third wheel.
Chapter 21
The sun was low, casting long shadows across the courtyard. I struggled, but my two captors held me in place. Anger boiled in my chest and there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t believe this was happening. After all this time, building everything up to what it was, it was all about to crumble around me. I felt so helpless.
They held her down on her knees some ways off from me. The longer I watched, the more I struggled. I had to get out of this situation. I had to get her away from here. I wished Ryoko and Rylan had been here. I wished they hadn’t been sent off on some false assignment that was just a way to keep them away. No one could help us.
The crowd that had formed around us parted, and a tall man with short black hair made his way to the center where she was being held. It was Zarda, and he carried a gun in his hand. My heart stopped. It was too soon. I needed more time to think. My struggling became more vicious as he came closer. I needed to get free. I needed to get her free.
Zarda stopped a few feet away from her and waited. I knew he was waiting for her to look at him, but she didn’t.
“This could have been avoided,” he told her. “You would have been better off doing as you were told.”
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