Exodus (The Ravenhood)

When the door opens and closes some minutes later, I keep my gaze out the window but can feel his hesitance from feet away.

“Well done, Tobias, but you had to know I’d figure it out.”

Silence. A long minute of quiet followed by another. I can feel his eyes on me, my spine prickling in awareness, my heart fluttering in my chest.

“I didn’t care if you did.” The timbre in his voice combined with the thick foreign lilt has my eyes closing and my heart lurching into rapid rhythm. For years I dreamt of hearing his voice, and for years I’ve replayed echoes of his soft murmurs during our most intimate moments.

“So why didn’t you show up?”

“It wasn’t necessary.”

“You mean I’m not worthy of a handshake? Or at the very least a little gloating on your part.”

“No gloating necessary. I’m well aware of your position to deny me this. But you never cared about his company.”

“Why now? Why did you wait so long?”

“I wasn’t sure I wanted it anymore.”

“What’s changed?”

“Nothing, except deciding I did.”

Despite my mission with my own career, I haven’t so much as touched Roman’s company since I inherited it because though I hold my grudges close, it was never supposed to be mine for the taking.

“This was supposed to go down years ago. What happened? Did you take pity on a dying man?”

“Plans changed.”

Quietly exhaling, I turn and lay eyes on him for the first time in six years. It’s a shot to the chest which robs me of breath and ricochets when his eyes collide with mine. In those few seconds, I’m engulfed in flames, my lips parting slightly as we take in the other, at a loss for words.

He’s cruelly beautiful, as he’s always been, even more so now. He’s larger than life in the outdated office. His dark suit clings to his physique, his build just as magnificent as it was years ago when I felt his naked flesh under my palms, and our breaths mingled.

No memory I have did him justice. From the surreal ember color of his eyes to the cut of his jaw, to the majestic strength of his nose, down to his light crimson lips, he’s spellbinding. And just as I recognize the fire in his eyes that I’ve longed for with every beat of my betrayed heart, they cool considerably before slicing like diamonds down my form.

“I see we’re going with an openly hostile reception. I would think this would be a good day for you, Tobias. A celebration. You won.”

“I won nothing.” His tone sends a chill down my spine.

“I’ve been well, thanks for asking.” I take a step toward him to engage, and he stiffens. “You’re going to give it back to them, aren’t you?”

One sharp nod.

“They deserve it. I won’t fight you on that.”

Another nod as he sweeps me as if he’s trying to make sure I’m unharmed. I’m fucking not.

“But I won’t let it go fully, either.”

He snaps his eyes to mine. “Can’t you just be done with this?”

“In the last six years, I’ve been no burden to you. I did what was asked of me.”

“I told you not to come back, Cecelia. I meant it.”

“Yeah, well, sorry about the inconvenience, my father died. I have business here.”

“Your father died two years after you left, you didn’t show up then. But if you want to use him as an excuse, then let’s get this over with so you can go.”