Paying Debts
Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Call
Piper walked into the room, stopped in front of the gate and said, "I want to break it off."
And the Dark Ace looked at her with his eyes wide and blank, as if this announcement was a complete surprise to someone like him, before his black brows settled into a distinct frown on his face. His lips curled back into something that she didn't want to acknowledge as a sneer. And he said,
"You can't do that."
The Storm Hawk hesitated, felt the tension in the room grow thick and heavy like a cord before she took a step forward. Her hands touched the metal bars lightly and for the first time in a long time, she felt unsafe inside the Condor. She felt the foreign heat from his eyes roam over her body – distant and cold like a laser – and search her flimsy clothes for some way of escape.
Despite his anger, a feeling he hadn't projected towards this girl in quite some time, the Talon Commander didn't break out of his prison. He could have. So many times, so many opportunities he could have tricked her, locked her inside the cage, and fought his way off the airship. It took everything and more for Piper to hold back her revealing facial expression – the corners of her mouth wanted to turn downwards into a very unhappy frown.
She had her reasons. It had to be done now. There was nothing more she wanted to learn from him. It was a mistake.
But he could tell she was lying. He had the evidence in his hands, underneath his bed, hidden within the stuffing of his pillow – if they looked close enough, Piper would realize she could never fully hide what she had done. Soon, he would be gone. And soon, the rest of her teammates would come in here and refurnish the room back to the way it used to be – and then they would know.
"You can't just leave," he turned his back on her and faced the wall. Such a brilliant student, Piper had gone so far so fast and now she wanted to break the deal, seal it in a manila envelope, and slide it under his door.
How to act? What was the next best thing to do? Now the girl was mumbling to herself, or he must have zoned out her words completely. Fortunately for him, Piper opened another door of easy opportunity. Yes, she was a Storm Hawk. He noticed. Aerrow defeated him. Yes, that too. They were going to Terra Atmosia where he had to pay for the crimes he did.
A slow smirk brushed his lips and caressed them. The Dark Ace felt the familiar tidal pull of cruelty rush through his body, from his calves to his neck, and laughed within the sanctuary of his head.
Oh, if only she knew. If only she knew.