“I told him about us,” Brea stated softly. Her finger was floating over a particularly large scar which ran down from Miles’ left shoulder towards his new tattoo. It was pinker in color than most of the others, suggesting that it wasn’t that old.
“You did?” Miles turned to face her, denying her access to the scar as he rolled on to his side.
“Yeah,” Brea shyly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She instantly regretted having bought up talking to Sylar about their relationship since her brother had ultimately not seemed pleased about it.
“What’s wrong?” Miles wondered softly, reading her troubled expression. “Was he not happy about us?”
“No. I mean, yes. No.” Brea sighed heavily and sat up, drawing her knees up to her chest. “I thought he was happy about us but then he got kind of…weird.”
“Weird how?” Miles also sat up and looped an arm around her shoulders. She leaned in to him, relieved by his support.
“I don’t know,” shaking her head she wished she could decipher what exactly was going on with Sylar. He was definitely behaving strangely. “I got the feeling he was hoping we’d break up soon.”
“He was probably just being protective,” Miles reasoned. “You said that you two have always been close.”
“Yeah,” Brea wanted to shake the veil of sadness which she now wore. She was reunited with Miles, everything should be great. But she kept thinking about Sylar. She’d wanted him to be happy for her, it was important to her that he get along with Miles.
“I guess I just wanted him to react to the news like a brother,” she sighed. “Rather than a parent.”
“I don’t think any brother worth his salt, would ever be okay about his baby sister dating someone.”
“You think?” Brea shot Miles a hopeful glance. Growing up Sylar had kept her so sheltered from other people that she’d lost some of her grip on normality.
“Yeah,” Miles gave her shoulders a squeeze. “He just cares about you, Brea. I’m sure he’ll come round.”
“Will you meet him?” She felt Miles tense beside her. Her heart began to flip flop in her chest. She’d pushed too hard, she was scaring him away just as Sylar had intended. She wanted to smack her own head for being so foolish.
“Of course,” but when Miles spoke, his words didn’t match his actions. It was almost like his initial flinch had just been a knee jerk reaction. Had he met many brothers? Many parents. Jealousy burned bright in Brea’s eyes when she suddenly considered how little she actually knew about Miles. Had he had many girlfriends? Many sexual partners? He was her first on both counts and that was special to her. She swallowed uneasily.
“I’d love to meet your brother,” Miles reassured her brightly. But even though he was smiling he looked troubled.
“You would?” Brea challenged dubiously.
“Of course,” Miles leaned close and let his lips brush against hers. “If he’s important to you, then he’s important to me.”
“So are we like,” Brea pulled away from him and sat across from him on the bed. She suddenly wished she was dressed. Being naked made her feel even more exposed than she already did.
“Are we serious?” she hated how pitiful she sounded when she asked the question. She half expected Miles to shudder at the suggestion before making his excuses and leaving with haste. Perhaps Sylar was going to get his wish granted after all.
“Yes,” but Miles didn’t miss a beat in responding. He swiftly crossed the space between them and cupped her head in his hands. He was so warm to the touch.
“We are definitely serious,” he kissed her. This time there wasn’t hunger in the kiss but tenderness. Brea could feel herself melting against his heat, her fears and anxieties fading away.
“I love you,” she whispered the words unwillingly as they parted. She wasn’t even sure where they had come from. It was as if her heart suddenly had control of her lips and was making her say things without any involvement from her brain which would have screened the words and screened that it was too soon. Brea held her breath and feared that she’d taken things too far.
Miles smiled, his eyes crinkling in an adorable way.
“I love you too.” He confirmed. Brea threw herself against him, holding tight, threatening to never let go. He loved her. She loved him. That was all that mattered.
Miles embraced her back, holding her against his bare chest.
“I’ve never said that to anyone before,” he admitted shakily. Brea leaned back to look in to his eyes. She saw something in them that she’d never seen before – vulnerability.
“I never thought I’d find love,” he continued, reaching for her cheek and gently stroking it. “My life has been brutal and lonely and…”
“And now you have me,” Brea smiled sweetly at him.
“And now I have you,” he agreed with a smile. “And you know what? I’m never going to let you go.”
“That’s fine with me.” They kissed and the kiss quickly heated in to something more. As the day outside darkened to night they made love several more times, each time whispering their love to one another. If Sylar had hoped that they would part then quite the opposite had happened. They were now stronger than ever.
Chapter 55
Sylar pulled up at the gas station just after dark; above him the sky sparkled with the glittering of stars. But he didn’t pause to look up. He drove directly to a pump and stopped his bike. He ran his hands through his hair and glanced around. It was empty at the station, apart from the clerk inside who gave him a stiff wave.
The clerk knew who Sylar was, or rather who he rode with. Any gas he pumped there would be on the house. Stretching his legs, Sylar stepped away from his bike and wandered around the forecourt. He felt tense and uneasy. He wished he could just let the thing with Brea and her boyfriend go but he knew it was dangerous to do so.
From where he was standing he could read the sign out on the highway informing him that Colridge was now just twenty miles away. With a reluctant groan he reached in to the pocket of his leathers and retrieved his cell phone. He made a call as he strode back towards his bike. There were signs around prohibiting the use of cell phones at the station. He ignored them all.
“Hello?” Gina picked up and didn’t sound happy to have heard from him.
“Gina, hey, it’s Sylar.”
“I know.”
Clearing his throat he wedged the phone against his shoulder and neck as he began filling up the tank on his bike. The petrol chugged out slowly, filling the air with an acidic scent.
“Are you free tonight?” he asked directly.
“Tonight?” he could hear how outraged Gina was by question. “Whatever I’m doing tonight is none of your damn business,” she told him curtly.
“I think it is,” Sylar countered. “I think that you’re going to meet me so we can talk.”
“We’ve nothing to talk about.”
“We need to talk about Brea.”
If Gina had been intending on hanging up but she hesitated.
“She’s in danger,” Sylar admitted stiffly.
“If she is then you’ve only got yourself to blame!” Gina raged. “I know who you really are, Sylar. What it is you do.”
“Trust me, if she’s in danger then it’s nothing to do with me,” his grip on the petrol pump tightened in anger. His comment was only half true. But still, being with Miles was putting her in danger. Their relationship had to end and soon.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble,” Gina stated quietly, fear creeping in to her, usually, confident voice.
“Me neither,” Sylar insisted, “that’s why I’m currently on my way over to Colridge. And Brea can’t know. Got it?”
“So what? You’re going to sneak in to town under the cover of night and then disappear before dawn?”
“That’s the plan.” With his tank full, Sylar placed the petrol pump back in its rack.
“You’re certainly good at creeping off,” Gina noted bitterly
. Sylar grimaced and rubbed a hand down the back of his neck. He wished he hadn’t slept with her maybe then her reaction to him wouldn’t be so emotional and unnecessarily difficult.
“Can you meet me or not?” he barked sternly, growing weary of their conversation.
“Sure,” Gina sighed in reluctant acceptance. “But not for you, for Brea. If she’s in danger then I want to help.”
“Good,” Sylar hauled himself back on to his bike and nodded towards the clerk in the station who was nervously peering out at him from behind bullet proof glass. “Meet me at your tattoo parlor in an hour.”
“Sylar, w - ” Sylar hung up. He wasn’t willing to hear any excuses.
Chapter 56
Brea curled up contentedly beside Miles. She could hear the steady beating of his heart as his chest slowly rose and fell. She felt safe beside him, held in his sleepy embrace. The weight of tension which had been pressing down on Brea’s chest had lifted. She felt better for having talked to Miles about Sylar. He’d always been so understanding and patient about the special relationship she had with her brother.
Rubbing her eyes Brea willed herself to fall asleep but her mind was still too preoccupied with thoughts and questions. Every line of thought kept drawing back to Sylar, to his strange desire to have Brea push Miles away. Was her brother jealous? Threatened? She supposed that she should have anticipated such a reaction. Not only had she now left the family home but she’d found someone who was set to replace Sylar as the guy who looked out for her, who protected her. Her brother had every right to feel uncomfortable about the situation.
But still…Brea moved away from Miles, rolling onto her back on the other side of the bed. She stared up at the ceiling as if searching the cracks that etched across it, for hidden meaning. Sylar wanted her to break up with Miles, it was obvious. And she loved Miles, the last thing she’d do was break up with him. Would Sylar just accept that? Or would he do something to force her hand? Would he not stop until he’d caused a wedge between the two lovers?
With a disgruntled sigh Brea sat up and cradled her head in her hands. Why couldn’t her brother just be happy for her? Why couldn’t he be supportive?
“Baby?” Miles sleepily called out for her and he stretched and yawned and came to sit beside her on the end of the bed. “Is everything alright?”
“Yeah,” Brea replied quietly before shaking her head. “No, I keep thinking about my brother. I’m worried he’s going to do something to try and come between us.”
She felt the warmth of Miles’ strong arm wrap around her shoulders.
“Why would you think that?”
Brea inhaled sharply. She didn’t know how to respond. There was so much about Sylar that she didn’t know. Like where he rode off to every night. She accepted that he was lying to her. What kind of factory job resulted in employees regularly coming home with black and swollen eyes? His reluctance to tell her the truth made her think that whatever he was doing must be outside of the law. But how far was he willing to go to make money? Had he hurt people before? Had he killed people?
She shuddered woefully at the thought and Miles held her tighter.
“Hey, come on now,” he urged gently, stroking her bare upper arm. “Your brother is being protective, nothing more. Besides, if he did try and come between us, he never could. I love you, Brea. Nothing can come between us.”
Brea tried to take solace in Miles’ words. He was saying exactly what she needed to hear yet she still couldn’t shake the feeling that their love might not be enough, that Sylar might be willing to sink to depths she couldn’t even comprehend to part them.
“Sometimes I feel like my brother is keeping secrets from me,” she admitted sadly. Miles tensed beside her.
“I think everyone has a few secrets,” he replied darkly.
“I don’t,” Brea instantly responded. “I don’t keep secrets from anyone. Secrets are dangerous.”
“Let’s just try and get some sleep,” Miles led her back towards the pillows on the other end of the bed. He quickly fell back to sleep as soon as they laid down. Brea lay awake listening to his steady breathing and wondering what secrets not just her brother, but also her boyfriend, were possibly hiding from her?
Chapter 57
Sylar parked his bike directly outside the tattoo parlor. The street was dark and deserted around him. Slicking his hair back with the palms of his hand he sauntered towards the door beneath which light was escaping out into the night. He was impressed that Gina had been decent enough to meet with him.
He knocked briskly against the distorted glass which boasted Gina’s name. He saw her mottled appearance materialize in the reception area. Seconds later, she was opening the door and bathing him in golden light. He squinted against the sudden brightness.
“Come in,” she ordered briskly. Sylar obeyed, eager to get off the street where despite the late hour, he still risked being seen.
“This had better be good,” Gina crossed her arms over her chest, concealing her bosom and narrowed her eyes at him.
Sylar licked his lips. He knew that he needed to choose his words carefully. He needed to keep Gina as an ally, especially if he wanted her help in safely delivering Brea out of Colridge, which was what he reckoned it was going to come to.
“Like I said, Brea is in danger.”
“From you,” Gina seethed. He could see the hurt and betrayal flare in her eyes as she spoke. He should never have snuck out on her like he did. Women were always so precious about that kind of behavior.
“No, not from me.”
“I know who you ride with,” Gina declared icily. “I recognized your tattoo.”
Sylar could feel his cheeks starting to burn. Being with the Reapers was such a big part of his identity but one he never spoke about to non-members.
“If you’ve told anyone then - ”
“I’ve not said anything.”
“Good.” Sylar exhaled sharply. “Well then, if you know I ride with the Reapers then you should have picked up that Brea’s new boyfriend rides with the Blood Pact.”
Gina paled.
“So do those guys who were in here,” Sylar continued. “And let me tell you, Gina, the Blood Pact aren’t to be messed with. I should know.”
“Are they…are they here to start trouble?”
Sylar still didn’t know why there were so many Blood Pact members in Colridge but he wasn’t about to admit that to Gina.
“They’re here for Brea,” he replied quickly, with confidence. “They think that getting to her is a way of getting to me. They mean her harm.”
“Oh God,” one of Gina’s hands nervously fluttered up to her throat. “Poor Brea.”
“And she’s completely oblivious to all of this,” Sylar stated.
“I see,” Gina’s hand had now settled on her chest. Sylar couldn’t help but notice the swell of her breasts in the low cut top she was wearing.
“I need to get her out of town, at least until things have blown over.”
“Out of town?” Gina repeated in disbelief. “But Sylar, she works here. Colridge is her home.”
“No!” Sylar raged, clenching his hands in to fists. “She belongs back home with me, not here!”
“Are you truly worried about Brea’s boyfriend or are you just concerned that you don’t have any control over her anymore?” the fear was gone from Gina’s face, replaced by contempt.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sylar pointed an angry finger at her.
“I think you want to get the hell out of my store,” Gina stormed over to the front door and flung it open, letting in the cool evening air.
“You’re making a mistake,” Sylar glared at her. “I need to help my sister. If anything happens to her, you’ll have blood on your hands.”
“Yeah, well so will you,” Gina jerked her head in the direction of the darkened street outside. “Not that you’d notice since I’m sure your hands are already covered in blood.”
“I
’m not the monster you think I am.” Sylar stepped towards the door.
“No?” challenge burned in Gina’s eyes. She was goading him, seeking to punish him for having hurt her. Sylar wished that women could be more resilient with their emotions. He knew he should just walk out to his bike and ride out of town and forget about Gina. She was never going to be an ally. But as she stood beside her in the doorway his gaze lowered to her chest and there it lingered.
“Oh, you’re not getting anywhere near this again,” Gina scoffed, though she didn’t do anything to conceal her bosom. Sylar got the impression that she wanted him to keep looking, to keep undressing her with his eyes.
Miles (Highway Reapers MC): Inked Hearts Page 14
