Chapter 2
The hum of the engine filled the silence as the city lights blurred past. Rian leaned his temple against the cool window, his breath fogging the glass. His thoughts swirled, but he didn't dare let them settle.
Adrian reached over with one hand, rubbing his shoulder gently while keeping the other on the wheel.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly. "I'll call the doctor to—"
"There's no need for that," Rian cut in quickly, lifting his head just enough to glance at him. His voice was calm, but firm. "I'm fine."
Adrian's brow creased. "You sure?"
Rian nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."
The car fell quiet again until Adrian whispered, "I'm sorry."
Rian shook his head, his gaze drifting back out the window. "There's nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. You missed your family dinner because of me."
Before Adrian could respond, his phone rang. He slipped in his earpod and answered.
"Hello? Yeah, he's fine. Thanks. Bye."
When the call ended, Rian turned his head. "Was that your brother?"
Adrian nodded, eyes on the road. "Yeah. He was just checking up."
Rian went silent, his fingers tightening against his knee.
Adrian cleared his throat. "We're… not really close. After the divorce, I stayed with my dad. He went with my mom. I didn't see them for… what, five? Seven years? Now we're trying to work out some kind of relationship, but it's… awkward." He gave a short, nervous chuckle, as though trying to lighten the weight of his own words.
Rian studied him quietly. In the two years they had been together, Adrian had rarely talked about his family. This was the most he'd said in one stretch.
They pulled into the driveway of their condo. Adrian was out first, circling around to open Rian's door like he always did. He helped him out of the car and led him inside the apartment they had moved into ten months ago.
Rian sank into the couch, and Adrian ruffled his hair before pressing a kiss to his forehead. A small smile escaped Rian despite himself.
Adrian stood up, brushing Rian's hair back lightly.
"I'll get you some tea. Might calm you down a little," he said softly before slipping out of the room.
The sound of his footsteps faded, leaving Rian alone in the quiet. The silence pressed down on him, too heavy, too loud. His eyes drifted to the mug Adrian had left on the table, then unfocused.
That was when it hit him.
Eleven years ago.
He was smaller then, younger, his uniform hanging loose on his frame. The world had felt bigger, harsher. And he had been… helpless.
The laughter rang first. Loud. Mocking. The kind of sound that could split skin without a blade.
He remembered the alley behind the old school, the smell of damp bricks and metal trash bins. Hands shoving him. Feet kicking at his shins. Voices spitting his name like poison.
But what burned most wasn't the pain. It was him.
That boy. Standing there. Silent. Watching.
Rian's breath hitched. His chest tightened. He could still see those eyes—calm, too calm for someone their age. Like he was studying him, not helping, not saving. Just watching.
The memory snapped, leaving Rian clutching his knees, his throat dry.
The sound of the door opening pulled him back. Adrian returned, carrying a steaming cup. He paused when he saw Rian's expression.
"You okay?" Adrian asked carefully.
Rian blinked, forcing his voice steady. "Yeah… just tired."
But his hands wouldn't stop trembling.
---
The condo was quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the walls.
Rian lay awake beside Adrian, eyes tracing the faint shadows on the ceiling. Adrian's breathing was even, deep—completely at ease. Carefully, Rian slipped out from under the sheets, making sure not to wake him.
The living room was dim, the glow from his phone screen the only light. A new message blinked across it.
Vanessa: I'll back in town tomorrow.
Rian hesitated, then typed back a quick reply. Almost instantly, his phone lit up again—this time with an incoming call.
He sighed and answered softly. "Hello."
"You're awake at this time? That's new." Vanessa's voice carried a teasing edge. "Does your man know that?"
"Stop," Rian muttered.
"What? You know you can't stop me from saying the truth," she fired back. "He cages you, Rian. Tells you what to eat, when to sleep—and you don't even see the problem."
"That's enough, Vanessa." His voice was sharper than he meant. He dragged a hand down his face. "I don't need this. Not tonight."
Something in his tone must have caught her, because her voice softened. "Did something happened?"
Rian swallowed, throat tight. "Something serious."
Her breath hitched. "He didn't hit you again, did he?"
"No," Rian said quickly. "He's not like that anymore."
"Oh, really?" Vanessa scoffed. "You think a few pills from some shrink can change a man like that? Hell no."
"Vanessa, please. Don't—" His words cracked. He lowered his voice. "Not tonight."
There was a pause. Then, more gently: "Fine, what happened?"
Rian hesitated. The words clung to his throat before spilling out, low and raw. "I met him today."
"Who?"
Silence stretched. Then his voice broke again, quieter this time. "Alex."
The line went still. Then Vanessa's voice, sharp with disbelief: "Wait—the Alex? That bastard from high school?"
Before Rian could answer, a voice from behind made him freeze.
"What are you doing?"
Rian turned. Adrian stood in the doorway, hair tousled, eyes shadowed with sleep but sharp in their focus.
"Nothing," Rian said quickly, ending the call. "Just talking to Vanessa."
Adrian's expression softened into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Come on. Let's go to bed. You've got work tomorrow."
Rian nodded and stood. Adrian stretched out a hand. "Your phone."
Rian's fingers tightened around it for a second too long before reluctantly handing it over. Adrian switched it off, slid it into the drawer by the bed, and closed it with a soft thud.
"Come," he said, taking Rian's hand again.
Back under the covers, Rian rested his head against Adrian's chest. Adrian pressed a kiss to his hair, then reached over to turn off the lamp. Darkness filled the room.
"Sleep," Adrian whispered.
But Rian's eyes stayed open in the dark, the echo of Vanessa's words and the weight of Alex's gaze refusing to fade.
---
Alex sat in the dimly lit room of the Gates mansion, his phone glowing faintly in his hand. On the screen was a picture—Rian, smiling softly beside his brother, their hands clasped together. Alex pinched the screen, zooming in on Rian's face. His jaw rested against his palm, eyes lingering as if memorizing every detail.
A sudden knock broke the silence. Alex quickly locked his phone and set it face down on the table. The door creaked open, and Lois Gates stepped inside.
Alex didn't rise. His father lowered himself into a chair across from him, studying his son's expression.
"I'm glad you came tonight," Lois began, his tone careful. "It's been too long since the family gathered. A shame Adrian had to leave early." He searched Alex's face for a flicker of emotion.
"Why are you here?" Alex asked flatly, not bothering to hide the edge in his voice.
Lois exhaled. "I'm your father. This is my house. I can go wherever I please."
Alex rose to his feet, uninterested in hearing more. He turned for the door.
"Hey—come back here," Lois called after him, frustration slipping through. "I know you hate me because of your mother—"
But Alex didn't stop. His footsteps carried him out the door, away from his father's words.
In the hall, Mariah appeared, smiling sweetly as she stepped into his path. He didn't spare her a glance, striding past her. Two men fell in line behind him, his silent shadows.
Downstairs, the doors opened, the night air rushing in. Alex slipped into the waiting car, his men taking position at the front before the vehicle pulled away.
From the window above, Lois watched him go, a heavy sigh leaving his chest. Mariah joined him, slipping her arm around his shoulder.
"It's alright, darling," she murmured. "He'll come around. He's your flesh and blood, no matter what."
Lois's gaze remained fixed on the darkness outside. "I do hope so," he said quietly.