ADIRA

The guards, except the unusually happy one, behaved like I didn’t exist. They were like immovable statues—or in the case of the patrolling ones, mobile statues.

I won’t lie, I did entertain the thought of putting whip cream on their faces to see if they’d react to that instead. But I ignored that thought after weighing the pros and cons. They probably wouldn’t laugh at my idea of a joke anyway.

And yet you wondered what Iason meant when he told you not to do anything stupid. I really need to revisit Dr. Shane and ask for meds to shut my brain down for a while.

As the hours dragged on, I found it increasingly irritating that Andronikos managed to ghost me for three days, without so much as a text. It was just the cherry on top of my super aggravating sundae.

I decided to head to the kitchen to make myself some dinner. The cheerful third guard, whom I’d nicknamed ‘Smiley’ in my head, followed close behind. His overly enthusiastic footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent apartment.

“You know,” he began, his voice dripping with a crazy amount of happiness—which at this point, made me question his sanity and capability—“it’s such an honor to have a job where you’re basically guaranteed to die.”

I stopped in my tracks, turning to look at him with a mix of disbelief and amusement threatening to break through my annoyance. “What?”

“Oh yes,” he continued, a light appearing in his eyes as if that were the most normal thing to say. “I mean, who else can say their job description is basically, ‘Protect the boss’ girl and, if necessary, die a happy death’? That’s like movie-level shit right there. My mom would be so proud.”

Did he just wipe his eyes?

I pressed my lips together, determined not to laugh, but a snort escaped. “You’re so weird, but I’m sure you know that already?”

“Of course,” he said with a mischievous grin. Oooooouuu, we’re going to have so much fun terrorizing Andronikos, when he comes back. If he comes back. Not now, brain.

“Name’s Kace, by the way.”

I sized Kace up. His innocent-looking face seemed out of place when compared to the team of hardened, stoic guards in the building. His bright, wide-eyed expression was more ‘puppy who just discovered a new toy’ than ‘lethal protector.’

“Are you sure you’re in the right line of work?” I asked, my brows raised as I began pulling out ingredients for soutzoukakia smyrneika from the fridge. The spiced meatballs in tomato sauce were an easy, hearty Greek comfort dish, enough to feed an entire army.

“No need to worry, boss lady,” he replied with a smirk. “I’ve been through enough shit to prove myself worthy of this gig.”

“Hmm… If you say so then.”

Turning back to the task at hand, I began prepping dinner. Kace hovered nearby, a constant chatterbox beside me.

“Do you need my help chopping those onions?” he offered, already reaching for a knife.

“Sure,” I replied, sliding the cutting board toward him. “Just don’t cut your fingers off. I can’t explain to Iason why one of his guards is missing fingers.”

Kace grinned and got to work.

As we cooked, I began to regret my choice to make a meal for everyone. It was tasking and feeding a dozen stoic, hulking guards, who probably had appetites like whales, wasn’t part of my evening plan.

When the food was ready, I called the guards to eat and as expected, they ignored me. But I’m Adira, and I always get my way. So, what did I do?

I threatened to jump off the roof if they didn’t grab a plate, even holding a knife to my throat for dramatic effect. I’ve never seen grown men rush for food so fast in my life.

Kace stood at a corner, laughing at the scenario. Clearly, he could tell I was joking—unlike his moronic teammates.

When everyone was done eating, they all came to drop their dirty dishes, each of them eyeing me and the knife on the counter, warily.

While Kace helped me clean up the kitchen, he cracked jokes that had me laughing like we’d been friends for years. By the time we were finished, I realized how much I appreciated his presence.

Quickly, I stored the leftovers in the fridge, telling myself they were for later, though deep down, I knew I was saving them for that jerk. Not that I’d ever admit that to anyone.

After bidding Kace goodnight, I went to bed feeling a bit lighter, despite the lingering annoyance about my current situation.

**********************************

I don’t know exactly how, but I felt a weight on my bed. Cautiously, I opened my eyes and jolted awake at the sight of a shadow looming over me. My heart leapt into my throat as I scrambled to switch on the bedside lamp, grabbing it as a makeshift weapon.

Light flooded the room, revealing Andronikos staring at me casually, like it was totally normal to just walk into someone’s room in the dead of night, sit on their bed, and… wait. Is that blood?

“What the fuck, Nikos!” I exclaimed, my earlier irritation vanishing instantly as I jumped out of bed to grab the first aid kit from the bathroom. “What the hell happened to you?”

His body was riddled with bullet wounds, his shirt torn and bloodied. A gash–still oozing blood–on his arm was stark against his skin.

He looked like shit.

Andronikos smiled weakly, his voice a hoarse whisper. “Missed me, flogítsa mou?”

Is this man fucking mad? He’s bleeding out on my sheets and asking me if I missed him? What the actual fuck!

“Shut your mouth before I speed up your death,” I snapped, dragging the kit over and getting to work. Those first aid classes during junior camp are really paid off now.

I didn’t bother asking him why he didn’t go to the hospital, but he should have a doctor on hand somewhere.

“Don’t you have a doctor around?” I asked tearing his shirt open to work on him properly.

“You look like you’ve been through hell.” I muttered in despair as I gazed at his body.

“Feels like it too,” he admitted, wincing as I cleaned the gash on his arm. “And no, I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”

I paused for a moment, my hands trembling slightly. Picking up the disinfected needle, I continued, “So you thought it wise to wake me up because…?”

“Because, weirdly, I trust you Adira,” he said, holding my hand and stopping me from working. He looked into my eyes with an intensity that made my stomach flip and I couldn’t take it.

Yanking my hand free, I started removing the bullets lodged in his skin.

“You think you’re funny, huh?” I said, breaking the uncomfortable silence as I dug through his skin for the bullets. “Leaving me for days and then coming back only when you need me? Like I’m just some toy for your amusement?”

“Adira–”

“No. You shut up or I’ll dig these tweezers so far inside you, you’d see God before morning.”

For the first time since I’d known him, he stayed quiet.

I stitched him up quickly and efficiently, avoiding too much contact. I didn’t want him here longer than I could tolerate and I couldn’t bear to see him in pain, even if I currently wanted him dead.

When I was done, I wrapped him in gauze.

“All done,” I said, avoiding his gaze.

“Flogítsa mou–”

“Just leave, Andronikos.”

We stared at each other for a moment before he nodded curtly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, leaving the room and the remains of his bloody shirt on the floor.

And I hope I never have to see you again, I thought, even as my heart betrayed me and called out to him.