Chapter 25

Octane

The next day…

I step out into the sunshine, pulling in big gulps of air. I hate the tunnel. It's dangerous and a liability. I'm going to find a way to get my hands on some explosives, and I'm going to close it for good.

My reasoning is two-fold. Firstly, it's selfish…I won't be able to make this trip again if the tunnel is sealed. Make no mistake, I will be sorely tempted knowing that Trinity is here, so it needs to go. Secondly, and more importantly, neither side will be able to use it as a weapon against the other. It's the biggest reason. The most important reason. Even though Titan and Igor are out of the way, there are more of these vigilante males on Mistveil. I also don't want HQ finding out about the tunnel. I doubt it would ever happen, but they might want to launch an attack on the Reds using it. It would be a disaster. So many innocents would get caught in the crossfire.

No!

The tunnel has to go.

I squint my eyes, looking around, but I don't see Trinity. For a few moments, my heart sinks. I drop the bag at my feet. It weighs very little. It's ridiculous, considering that most of my life savings are in there.

Moments later, she appears from behind one of the bushes. I grin like a fool before I remind myself that this is goodbye…for good this time. Then, my smile falters.

"Hey," she says, waving as she approaches. Her hair is tied back. She's wearing a beautiful green dress that hugs all of her glorious curves.

Fuck me!

She's beautiful.

When I look into her gorgeous chestnut eyes, I know that this is going to be impossible.

"Hey," I say, my voice thick with emotion.

I see her throat work, telling me that she's feeling it, too. The weight of this moment.

"You look beautiful." I take her hand.

"Thank you." She smiles, her eyes glinting a little too much. She blinks a few times.

"How are you feeling? How is the baby?" Her belly is more curved than it was when I met her. I want to put my hand on her belly. I want to touch her, but I don't.

"I'm good. My dragon is nearly gone. I can barely feel her. I'm not sure I'd be able to shift anymore." She gives me a sad smile.

"You don't need to. Just concentrate on growing a healthy baby. I wish I could be here for you. To see you grow ripe with child."

She laughs, and I love the sound. It warms me right up inside.

"You want to see me looking as big as a house?" She's grinning, her eyes sparkling in the sun. "That's quite rude, Octane." She gives me a stern look.

I smile. "Not as big as a house, but yes, I would have loved to have seen you swell with a beautiful, healthy baby. I think it's sexy." I hope I don't sound like a weirdo, but it's the truth, so I lean into it. "I wish I could be there for the birth, too. I would give anything to hold your hand and encourage you."

Her eyes cloud. "You're not his father, so I would never—"

"I would have done it, anyway." My voice is gruff, full of emotion.

She starts to say something and then stops herself.

I pick up the bag and try to put it in her hand, but she shakes her head. "Thank you, Octane, but I really can't take your money."

"I want you to have it. I insist." I try to hand it to her again, but she won't take it.

"I've moved in with my best friend. Her name is Nova. We've known each other for years. We hadn't spoken in the longest time, but when I went to see her, it was like nothing had changed. I'm staying with her for as long as I need to. I'm fine." She pushes the bag back to me. "Keep it, please. I need to be my own person, to stand on my own two feet. I went in to work today to see my boss. Although they weren't very happy about my disappearing act, they agreed to take me back." She smiles. "I start again tomorrow. They'll let me work for six, maybe even eight more weeks. We'll be fine…I swear it." She sucks in a breath. "I also found out that I will get a grant from the royal family. They encourage people to have children. Nova told me about it last night. The grant will be paid into my account monthly once the baby is born. It will be enough to cover the basics. So, you see, I will be fine. More than fine." She nods a whole lot, wringing her hands together. "I do appreciate it."

I want to beg her to take the money, but I know that it would be for me. It would be to appease this worry I have inside me. To appease this churning inside my gut. I have to honor her wishes, though.

"Are you sure?" I need to double-check. "Maybe you could take some of it?"

She shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. I swear. I mean, aside from how much I'm going to miss your grumpy, arrogant ass." She clears her throat when her voice hitches a little. "Aside from that, I'm just dandy. I promise. We will be okay."

My throat clogs up, and my eyes get watery. I blink rapidly, because it just won't do to have a grown male bawling his eyes out. I'm right on the verge of breaking down.

"I'm going to miss you too, Little Red," I choke out just as soon as I have half a handle on my emotions. I touch her belly. Fuck it! It's for the last time. "Will you tell him…about me? I'll understand if you leave some things out."

"I don't plan on leaving a single thing out. I will tell him," she agrees. "I'll tell him everything. You're going to make an amazing father one day. I'm just sorry I won't get to see it."

"I'll think of you often. Every day."

"I'll think of you, too. All the time." She chews on her lip.

I'm not sure if I throw myself into her arms or if she launches herself at me, but in the next instant, we're hugging and then kissing.

It doesn't last long before she pulls away. "You need to go." She cups my face, completely at odds with what she is saying.

I pull in a deep breath. "Last chance to change your mind. We could—"

She smiles, putting her fingers over my mouth. "Don't tempt me; it might just work this time, Draiger."

I smile. "In that case—"

"Go! I'll be fine. You need to leave while—" She's pushing me away.

"Guards, seize them!" someone shouts.

And then a whole army of uniformed men descends on us. They stream in from all sides. Over the fence, through the gate, which does not have a padlock on it. When did that happen? They're dressed in black armor, their faces masked. They move swiftly, surrounding us in a matter of moments.

"She had nothing to do with it!" I shout, my heart racing as I see Trinity's eyes widen in fear. "Arrest me, but leave her out of it."

"Sorry, but we have our orders," one of the guards says, brandishing a sword. "Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your back. Both of you."

Trinity swallows hard, and I can tell she's trying to keep her cool, but the fear is there in her eyes. "What do you want from us?" she asks, her voice shaking. "We've done nothing wrong."

Someone hits me between my shoulder blades from behind, and I drop to my knees on the ground.

Trinity starts screaming, but two guards flank her, forcing her to her knees as well.

"No!" I shout. "She's pregnant. Don't!"

"We haven't done anything wrong!" Trinity yells again.

One of the guards has a gold crest on the front of his armor, setting him apart from the rest. He grabs my shirt and rips it. "Just as I suspected. He's a Draiger."

Five swords are aimed at my chest moments later.

Trinity is screaming, trying to break free but the guards hold her tight.

"We received intel that someone has been using the tunnels. Looks like we found the culprits," the golden-crested guard says. His eyes are a bright blue through the holes in the mask, but that's all I can make out. They narrow on me with hate and loathing. "Put shackles on them," he says.

I'm in big trouble. I only hope I don't take Trinity down with me.