Chapter thirty-eight – Cold shoulder

Nina ignored the man sitting in the living room, his feet up on the coffee table while his eyes were focused on his tablet. He was probably writing up a rapport or reading through a rapport about the attack from last night. They found the rebels took two in, the others died in combat. She figured that wasn't the truth, but it was the story they were going to tell Candor. She knew William would probably see through Eric's lie, but she'd back him up even though she was pissed at him. Eric came back in one piece, looking smug about it. She ignored him then and went to bed, letting him clean up by himself. It was hard to stay away from him while he was covered in blood which wasn't even his blood, but she had to make a point. If he'd be pissed at her for being so reckless she could also be pissed at him for being reckless. They were equals in their marriage.
Nina headed straight to the kitchen, pouring her daily cup of coffee which she drank overly sweet with milk. She wanted to ask Eric if he needed a cup as well, but then pressed her lips together realizing they were having a silent war going on. He wouldn't give up. Tori was right, Eric was the most stubborn person alive. She wouldn't give up either, she'd fight for what she believed in. Holding her warm cup in her hands she walked past Eric and headed to the bedroom, staying in there so she wouldn't feel the need to touch or talk to Eric. If he was right beside her she'd break, she knew she would. She settled in bed, leaning against the headboard while she checked her mail. She scrolled through all the mails she had about last night attack, she couldn't care less about it. When she reached an email from William she opened it and read it through, a smile spreading across her face. He was coming over today. She was sure William also informed Eric about his visit, yet she did not see annoyance or anything else on his face when she headed to the kitchen to grab herself a cup of coffee. Maybe he was confident about Candor letting this one pass.

"Your brother is coming over." Eric stood in the doorway, startling me with suddenly barging in like that, "You don't have to attend the meeting."

"You don't want me to attend the meeting."

He held her gaze, his look not faltering at all, "You were not involved in this, so you attending the meeting is pointless."

"Fine." She narrowed her eyes on him, "But after the meeting is done I'm still meeting up with William. I like to spend some time with my brother."

He didn't look happy about it but still nodded, "Fine."

She wasn't the one who first broke the silence between them but even though they were talking it still didn't feel right between them. When Eric was getting ready to leave the apartment Nina walked alongside him, she wouldn't attend the meeting because Eric asked that of her, but she would inform William about her plans for them afterwards. She knew William was probably busy being the faction leader of Candor, but he'd give her his time if she asked of it. It was selfish of her, but she couldn't care less. She needed to talk to her brother again, they hadn't seen each other after she stormed into his office together with Eric to tell him about their marriage and upcoming baby. Nina spotted William standing in front of the meeting room talking to Four, both had serious looks on their faces. Eric walked past Four and William entering the meeting room while Nina joined William's conversation.

"What's with him?" William whispered when Nina pulled him in for a hug.

"He got shot a few days ago." Nina shrugged.

She felt Four's gaze on her, but she refused to look at him. He probably knew the truth and was surprised she didn't voice out her complaints to William. She loved her brother, but even though she and Eric were fighting she wouldn't say negative things about in in front of other factions. William might be her brother but his duties as Candor's leader came first.

"Then I'll make this quick."

Nina reached for William's hand when he was about to enter the meeting room, "Spend some time with me after the meeting. I like to catch up, it feels like it has been ages since we spent some time together."

"I have a few minutes to spare." William agreed.

She knew he was lying she might not be part of Candor anymore, she did grow up there. She spent sixteen of her years in that faction so it was hard to miss the telltales of when people were lying.

"You're lying." She smiled, "But thank you, we'll just have a quick drink and then I'll let you get back to Candor."

"I'm not lying, I'm sure your abilities to pick these things up have become rusty since you've been living here."

"True, I'm not as good as you when it comes to reading people's behavior anymore. But I know you well enough to know when you're lying to me."

Smiling William entered the meeting room and closed the door behind him. She turned around and nearly ran smack into Four who still stood there, with his arms folded across his chest while he gave her a pointed look.

"You lied to him."

"I did."

She walked past Four and leaned against the walk across the meeting room. William was keeping the meeting brief so she assumed he had no complaints about how Eric handled the situation yesterday. If he did he'd probably let it slide considering it was a personal matter. They lost their soldiers along with many of their soldiers getting wounded. Her brother was reasonable enough to know when not to interfere with people's personal issues.

"He doesn't need to know Eric and I did not agree on matters."

"He did what he had to do."

She raised an eyebrow at Four, "You agreed with him?"

"The situation wasn't ideal, he was wounded and he had a pregnant wife at home, but I'm sure you understand that as a main leader of this factions he couldn't let people out there think he'd sit back and do nothing when one of his own got hurt."

"He could have gotten seriously hurt."

"True, but he didn't."

"So I should just accept things because he didn't get hurt?"

Four sighed, "I'm saying that it's pointless to keep angry about things that has happened, you can't turn back time and change it anyway. So moving forward is the only option."

She didn't say more, but Four seemed pleased enough with getting things off his shoulders. She stared ahead, focusing on the closed door. She knew they couldn't turn back in time and change things, but it hurt knowing that if it had been her Eric would have might a fuss about it. But she also understood what Four was saying. As the main leader he had to make sure the message came across. That he would not let it slide if one of his own got hurt. She understood he had to make that statement. Sighing she cursed Four to hell for being right.

Eric rubbed his aching shoulder, trying to ease the stiffness. He watched Nina sitting across the dining hall together with her brother, sipping from her tea as she talked lively with William. They seemed to be having a good time, seeing the bright smile spreading across her face only angered him more.

"It's been a while since I saw you glare at her like that."

Eric looked up meeting Tori's amused gaze, "What?"

Tori glanced over her shoulder, "Nina. I think the last time you glared at her like that was during initiation and that was months ago."

"I have no idea what you're rambling on about."

He did know what she was saying and she did catch him glaring daggers at Nina, but he would never admit that to her. Four told him Nina lied to William about them, even though they had a silent war going on she still had his back. He had to remind himself of that while he watched her being so cheerful when she gave him the cold shoulder that morning.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Tori reached for her coffee and clutched the cup in both hands, "You were a dick to her, of course she's angry."

"Mind your words, Tori."

She snorted, brushing him off, "Please, everyone else might cower in the corner when you glare at them. That looks doesn't do anything to me though. You walked all over her when you left to take care of things last night. You could have handled it with more care."

"I had to go."

"I agree, but the way you handled it last night was very unlike you. I thought you were more sensible than that considering you defected from Erudite. You're supposed to be the one with the brains here, not letting emotions getting the better of you."

He knew she was right, he did get a bit too emotional when Nina told him he wasn't leaving the apartment. It pissed him off that she was telling him what to do. He should have considered her feelings more carefully. She was only concerned about him, but at the time he was in a rush, needing to assist his men as they infiltrated the warehouses at the pier. He glanced back at his wife and clenched his hand around his cup as he watched her throw her head back and laugh. Enjoying her time with her brother a little bit too much.

"It pisses me off."

Tori smirked, "Don't like it when your wife is ignoring you but having a good time with another. Even if it's her brother?"

"Eat your lunch and shut the fuck up."

Tori grinned in response, "No need to bite my head off."

He threw her a glare which made her chuckle. She started to eat her lunch like Eric suggested but didn't keep quiet. He had to listen to her tease him on and on about his quarrel with Nina. It was his punishment for being a dick to her last night so he sat back and just let Tori say whatever she wanted.

Nina was seated on the couch, tablet in hand while she read through all the emails she ignored that morning. Reaching for her cup she glared at the man who took the cup from her and sipped from her peppermint tea.

"That's mine!"

He sat down beside her, "Now it's mine."

She narrowed her eyes on him, "You better be nice to me, thought it was a saying 'happy wife happy life'."

He chuckled, handing her the cup back, "Never heard of that saying."

"So I heard you were trying to kill me with your glares at lunch."

She smirked when she saw his look falter. Because he always made Tori stay with her whenever he was away they bonded, Tori told her all about their conversation during lunch. She knew Eric would figure it out and stop sharing things with Tori. Four who always had been on her side suddenly became besties with Eric, having his back and keeping his secrets. It was cute but at the same time freaking damn annoying.

"You annoyed me."

"And you didn't annoy me last night?"

He sighed, leaning back against the couch and putting his feet up on the coffee table, "I know you disagreed with me and Tori mentioned I should have been more considered about your feelings. You were concerned about me, I can't hold that against you."

"But sometimes you need to go out there even if it means it will get you killed."

"Yes."

She saw the confusion in his eyes, "I had a talk with Four."

"So I have Four to thank for you not giving me the cold shoulder anymore?"

She leaned closer to him, "I think you have to thank Four for more than just that."

Eric wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, letting his free hand rest upon her swollen stomach.

"I don't want to keep fighting with you. Life here is hard enough as it is."

Nina rested her head against his shoulder, "Yes, I'm done fighting with you."