RED
I let out a groan as I opened my eyes. My head was pounding and I felt a very intense nausea roll through my system.
I slowly sat up on the couch, my head spinning.
"Hey, calm down. With how drunk you were last night, you're bound to have a horrible hangover" Lia said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I stared at her silently, afraid that if I tried to say anything, I would puke.
"I need- to use- the bath-room" I croaked, bile rising up my throat rapidly.
She helped me up, steadying me as I swayed. She placed a hand on the small of my back as she led me to the bathroom. Tiredly, I got into the bathroom, puking my brains out until I felt so empty. "You should take your bath, you'll feel better" she said. My knees buckled and her eyes widened as I slid down the wall.
She rushed to my side, placing her palm on my forehead.
"Red, you're burning up"
I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. I felt awful and I had a feeling that it wasn't just because of the hangover.
"Come on, you should get into the bath tub" she said, helping me to my feet even though my legs felt like jelly.
She helped me strip down to my underwear, her cheeks turning pink.
I chuckled, pinching her cheek gently.
"It's fine. I can take it from here" I said, giving her a weak smile.
"Okay" she said and left the bathroom, looking very concerned. After I'd taken my bath and shaved off the growing beard on my face, I laid down on my bed. I was on the verge of dozing off when I heard the knock on the door.
"Come in" I said, opening my eyes. "Hey, wow. You shaved" Lia said, sitting on my bed. I smiled, looking up to meet her gaze.
She smiled back and brushed my hair away from my face. "You still look unwell though" she pointed out, stroking my hair.
"To be honest, I feel like shit" I mumbled.
"When was the last time you felt this sick? I'm not talking about the beatings or injuries"
"After I was given the mission to--- you know? I was doubtful about it. I began to get drunk and uh- do drugs. It got worse. I fell sick, it was horrible"
Lia's fingers sank into my hair, massaging my scalp tenderly. My eyes slipped close, a moan slipping out of my lips.
"You should eat something, Arch. I'll give you the medicine when you're done" Lia said. I heaved a sigh, sitting up in bed. She grabbed the toast and an orange juice from the tray and handed them over to me. "I know you don't want to risk throwing up again but you should at least get something into your stomach" she said.
"I'm not hungry" I muttered under my breath before I began to nibble on my toast.
Thereafter, I was laying down with my head on her lap as she massaged my scalp. Goose bumps appeared on my skin and I shivered slightly.
"You're cold" she said, placing a blanket around my shoulders as I curled up.
Exhaustion caught up with me and I slowly succumbed to it. "Get better, tiger"
I vaguely heard her say before I fell asleep.
***
LIA
I pressed my lips to his warm forehead and left his room quietly. Axel and Lee were in the sitting room having a conversation when I walked in.
"There you are, sweetpea" Lee said, smiling at me.
"Good morning, ladybug" Axel said and I blushed.
"What's with the pet names?" I asked, taking a seat. "What? Don't you like them, sunshine?" Lee said, wriggling his brows.
I laughed, running a hand through my hair.
"Speaking of which, have you seen my brother?" Axel asked.
"Yeah, that's right. I haven't seen him today" Lee said, frowning slightly.
"He's not feeling well. It's not that bad. It's just a fever and he's hungover too" I said. Lee's gaze softened.
"Alright, he'll be fine"
Tori walked in, dressed in a pink dress that hugged her figure. Lee whistled under his breath.
"Wow, look at you. All dressed up for me" Lee said and we all laughed.
My phone rang and I picked the call. It was a video call from Aiden.
He looked upset but miserable. His eyes had lost their brightness, his lips were chapped, he was growing a beard which was so unlike him and there were half circles under his dull eyes.
"There you are, Dahlia Malone. Looking very pretty...." He said, his eyes showing his hatred for me.
"Aid-"
"I know that you're on the run with some sort of animals. I know about the failed assassination...."
I blinked.
How the hell does he know that?
"I know about Scorpion's eye organization. You've probably cheated on me with one of those dogs-"
"They are not dogs, Aiden! They saved my life, how could you-"
"Shut up, Lia! Shut up! You betrayed me. You left! You didn't trust me enough to tell me what was wrong! I could've protected you but what did you do?! Huhn?! How do you know it's not a trap! How do you know that they won't murder you?! "
"I trust them" I said, angry tears filling my eyes.
"You whore! You trust them?! You trust them?! They are trained assassins. I bet those bastards can't wait to-"
"Stop it, Aiden! Just stop it! You know what? You're despicable and I hate you! You know what?! It's over between us! I don't love you and I know you never did-"
"W-what?" He stammered, taken aback.
"I'm sorry, Aiden. I've been trying to find a way to tell you. I am not yours anymore"
"You ungrateful bitch!"
Lee frowned, slowly rising to his feet. He was mad. Axel looked pissed off.
"That's your fiance right?" Lee said, his eyes blazing with fury.
"One of them is there, right?! I knew it! You're probably their slut now!"
Lee stepped into view.
"I was right. I do know who you are" Lee said.
Aiden looked....scared?
"You are not a man if you think it's great to yell at her. She had to do what she did. You have no right to call her a whore when you're basically the male version of a whore. You accuse her of not trusting you but did you trust her enough to tell her the truth?"
"Okay, I-I've got to go"
"You will not disrupt it or I'll hunt you down myself and I'll kill you" Lee said, dangerously calm.
Aiden paled considerably.
"Good. Now tell her everything right here, right now. Tell her how you know everything and why"
Aiden froze, beads of sweat appearing on his face.
"Cat got your tongue, Edward?"
I frowned, confused.
Edward?
Who the hell is Edward?
"M-my real name is Edward Carson a-and- I work for Scorpion's eye organization"
"W-what?!"
"Go on. Tell her what you've been doing even before she decided to leave" Lee said.
"I've been uh- cheating on you with several girls and I- I'm a drug addict"
"Oh my God" I gasped.
I had seen the signs but I'd believed his stupid excuses.
I was so upset, I wanted to choke him to death.
"Tell her more, come on. You know what I can do. You know that you can't run from me. I'll definitely find you..." Lee said, glaring at Aiden.
"I- I was given Red's assignment. I am supposed to kill you when I find you"
I gapsed.
"I'm s-sorry. I'm so sorry. I couldn't say no"
I was so mad, I smashed my phone against the wall.
I sank to the floor and broke down to tears. Tori embraced me.
"How did you know he was the one who'd replaced Red?" I asked Lee.
"It's simple. I hacked into the database and found the information. I knew Skull would replace Red with someone else. Edward was the third in command after Red and I. Of course, we've had several meetings together that's why I recognized him"
"What's going on here?"
I looked up to see Red standing at the entrance of the sitting room. He looked better. "Lia? Why are you crying?" He asked, moving towards me. He wiped my tears with his thumb and pressed a kiss to my head.
"It's Aiden. I--" I closed my eyes, burying my head in his chest. His strong arms were wrapped around me, comforting me.
"What happened?" He asked again, cautiously.
"Aiden is actually Edward Carson" Lee said and Red stiffened.
"He's the one who is in charge of Dahlia's case now. He was accusing her of so many things. So, I got him to talk" Lee said.
"Are you okay, Lia?" He asked, stroking my hair.
"Just hold me" I sighed.
"Let's go outside" he said and I nodded. We both sat down in the porch with my head on his shoulder. I slowly lifted the hem of his shirt and placed my hand on his muscled abs.
"Your fever is gone" I said and I felt him nod.
"I'm okay. I'm just really concerned about you" he said. I leaned closer and kissed him.
"You're so sweet"
"I am?" He asked.
I laughed.
"Gosh, you're weird" I chuckled, pressing a kiss to his collar bone.
He laughed, running his palm over my upper arm.
"You're weirder" he whispered.
"You know, I'm glad that you're here" I said, looking into his eyes. He smiled, his hazel eyes lighting up.
There was a loud banging on the gate. I froze.
"What now?" I mumbled as we both got to our feet.
Red grabbed his gun and carefully made his way to the gate. "Red! Please open up!" A female croaked from the other side.
I came closer, frowning slightly.
"Stay back, Lia" Lee said.
Red opened the gate and a young lady around my age, collapsed into his arms. She was bleeding from several cuts on her body. Her T-shirt was torn in several places. There were bruises here and there. She was practically gasping for breath.
Lee and Red let out a gasp when she looked up. Her left eye was swollen. She had a split lip and her nose was bleeding like crazy.
"R...Red....Grim..." she croaked, trying to smile. It ended up being more of a grimace.
"Vanessa?" Red said, looking dumbfounded.
Lee had paled too and I found myself confused.
Who the hell was she?
How does she know Red and Lee?
How did she know that we were here?
What if it's a trap?
***