Chapter 101

Chapter 101

The mission file stayed hidden.

Locked away.

Buried beneath years of guilt and fear.

But secrets had a way of breathing.

Waiting.

Patiently.

Luca knew that better than anyone.

Which was why every time Damon smiled at him

Every time Damon stood too close

Every time Damon looked at him like he was something worth protecting

The guilt became harder to ignore.

Because Damon didn't know.

And Luca didn't know how to tell him.

Or if he ever could.

The next morning brought another briefing.

Unfortunately.

Because briefings meant people.

And people meant Nova.

Which meant Damon spent most of the meeting in a bad mood.

A fact everyone noticed.

Especially Cassian.

"You're pouting."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

Damon glared at him.

Cassian looked delighted.

Across the table, Nova casually stole a grape from Luca's plate.

Damon's eye twitched.

Immediately.

Instantly.

Luca noticed.

Again.

The tiny smile returned.

Again.

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

Nova looked between them.

Then grinned.

"Oh, this is getting worse."

"No," Damon answered.

"Yes."

"No."

"Definitely yes."

Seraphine looked up from the maps.

"Can we focus on the potential global catastrophe?"

"No," Cassian said.

"Why?"

"Because this is funnier."

Fair.

After the meeting ended, Nova volunteered to accompany Luca into town.

A simple supply run.

Nothing dangerous.

Nothing important.

And somehow

Damon hated the idea immediately.

Which was ridiculous.

Completely ridiculous.

Luca could take care of himself.

Probably better than anyone else.

That wasn't the problem.

The problem was Nova.

Nova who knew Luca before him.

Nova who made Luca laugh.

Nova who touched him casually.

Nova who looked entirely too comfortable around him.

The thought irritated Damon all afternoon.

By the time Luca and Nova returned

He was already annoyed.

A terrible sign.

The SUV pulled into the driveway just before sunset.

Damon was outside before he realized he'd gone outside.

Suspicious behavior.

Very suspicious behavior.

Luca stepped out first.

Followed by Nova.

Both carrying supplies.

Talking.

Laughing.

Damon immediately regretted existing.

Nova spotted him.

And smiled.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

"Oh look."

Luca sighed.

"Don't."

"Your boyfriend came to greet us."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The world stopped.

A bird probably stopped flying.

Time itself hesitated.

Damon stared.

Luca stared.

Nova looked delighted.

Cassian appeared in the doorway as if summoned by chaos itself.

"Oh my God."

"He's not"

Luca began.

"He absolutely is."

Nova interrupted.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"You're standing here waiting for him."

Damon considered several responses.

Unfortunately none of them were convincing.

Because he had, in fact, been waiting.

Luca looked like he wanted to disappear.

Which only encouraged Nova further.

"Amazing."

"Nova."

"Yes?"

"Leave."

"No."

Cassian nearly fell over laughing.

Mira peeked around the doorway.

"What happened?"

"No idea," Damon answered.

"A lie," Cassian corrected.

"Stop helping."

"I've never helped in my life."

At least he was honest.

Nova finally carried the supplies inside.

Still smiling.

Still far too pleased with herself.

Leaving Damon and Luca standing alone near the driveway.

The evening air felt strangely warm.

Neither spoke immediately.

Because neither knew what to say.

Then Damon finally sighed.

"She's impossible."

Luca nodded.

"Yes."

The agreement came so quickly Damon almost laughed.

Almost.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then Luca glanced toward him.

And there it was again.

That look.

The one that made Damon's pulse behave irrationally.

"She wasn't wrong."

Damon froze.

"What?"

Luca looked away first.

Coward.

"About you waiting."

Silence.

Dangerous silence.

Because Luca sounded almost

Hopeful.

The realization hit Damon hard.

And suddenly the teasing.

The jealousy.

The tension.

None of it felt like a joke anymore.

Because Luca wasn't pulling away.

Not really.

If anything

He kept getting closer.

The thought made something warm settle in Damon's chest.

Terrifying.

Absolutely terrifying.

Before he could answer

A car door slammed.

Both turned.

Nova stood by the SUV.

Watching them.

Arms folded.

A knowing smile on her face.

"Should I leave?"

"Yes," Damon answered immediately.

Nova blinked.

Then burst out laughing.

Luca covered his face.

Damon immediately regretted nothing.

For the first time

Not a single thing.

And somewhere deep inside him

A possessive thought took root.

Quiet.

Dangerous.

Certain.

Luca wasn't his.

Not yet.

But Damon was beginning to wish everyone else would stop acting like they had a claim on him.

Because every time someone stood too close

Every time someone touched him

Every time someone demanded his attention

Damon found himself wanting to step between them.

And he was running out of excuses for why.