She shuddered woefully at the thought and Miles held her tighter.
"Hey, come on now," he urged gently, stroking her bare upper arm. "Your brother is being protective, nothing more. Besides, if he did try and come between us, he never could. I love you, Brea. Nothing can come between us."
Brea tried to take solace in Miles' words. He was saying exactly what she needed to hear yet she still couldn't shake the feeling that their love might not be enough, that Sylar might be willing to sink to depths she couldn't even comprehend to part them.
"Sometimes I feel like my brother is keeping secrets from me," she admitted sadly. Miles tensed beside her.
"I think everyone has a few secrets," he replied darkly.
"I don't," Brea instantly responded. "I don't keep secrets from anyone. Secrets are dangerous."
"Let's just try and get some sleep," Miles led her back towards the pillows on the other end of the bed. He quickly fell back to sleep as soon as they laid down. Brea lay awake listening to his steady breathing and wondering what secrets not just her brother, but also her boyfriend, were possibly hiding from her?
Chapter 57
Sylar parked his bike directly outside the tattoo parlor. The street was dark and deserted around him. Slicking his hair back with the palms of his hand he sauntered towards the door beneath which light was escaping out into the night. He was impressed that Gina had been decent enough to meet with him.
He knocked briskly against the distorted glass which boasted Gina's name. He saw her mottled appearance materialize in the reception area. Seconds later, she was opening the door and bathing him in golden light. He squinted against the sudden brightness.
"Come in," she ordered briskly. Sylar obeyed, eager to get off the street where despite the late hour, he still risked being seen.
"This had better be good," Gina crossed her arms over her chest, concealing her bosom and narrowed her eyes at him.
Sylar licked his lips. He knew that he needed to choose his words carefully. He needed to keep Gina as an ally, especially if he wanted her help in safely delivering Brea out of Colridge, which was what he reckoned it was going to come to.
"Like I said, Brea is in danger."
"From you," Gina seethed. He could see the hurt and betrayal flare in her eyes as she spoke. He should never have snuck out on her like he did. Women were always so sensitive about that kind of behavior.
"No, not from me."
"I know who you ride with," Gina declared icily. "I recognized your tattoo."
Sylar could feel his cheeks starting to burn. Being with the Blood Pact was such a big part of his identity, but one he never spoke about to non-members.
"If you've told anyone then - "
"I've not said anything."
"Good." Sylar exhaled sharply. "Well then, if you know I ride with the Blood Pact then you should have picked up that Brea's new boyfriend rides with the Highway Reapers."
Gina paled.
"So do those guys who were in here," Sylar continued. "And let me tell you, Gina, the Reapers aren't to be messed with. I should know."
"Are they … are they here to start trouble?"
Sylar still didn't know why there were so many Highway Reapers members in Colridge, but he wasn't about to admit that to Gina.
"They're here for Brea," he replied quickly, with confidence. "They think that getting to her is a way of getting to me. They mean her harm."
"Oh God," one of Gina's hands nervously fluttered up to her throat. "Poor Brea."
"And she's completely oblivious to all of this," Sylar stated.
"I see," Gina's hand had now settled on her chest. Sylar couldn't help but notice the swell of her breasts in the low cut top she was wearing.
"I need to get her out of town, at least until things have blown over."
"Out of town?" Gina repeated in disbelief. "But Sylar, she works here. Colridge is her home."
"No!" Sylar raged, clenching his hands in to fists. "She belongs back home with me, not here!"
"Are you truly worried about Brea's boyfriend or are you just concerned that you don't have any control over her anymore?" the fear was gone from Gina's face, replaced by contempt.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Sylar pointed an angry finger at her.
"I think you want to get the hell out of my store," Gina stormed over to the front door and flung it open, letting in the cool evening air.
"You're making a mistake," Sylar glared at her. "I need to help my sister. If anything happens to her, you'll have blood on your hands."
"Yeah, well so will you," Gina jerked her head in the direction of the darkened street outside. "Not that you'd notice since I'm sure your hands are already covered in blood."
"I'm not the monster you think I am." Sylar stepped towards the door.
"No?" challenge burned in Gina's eyes. She was goading him, seeking to punish him for having hurt her. Sylar wished that women could be more resilient with their emotions. He knew he should just walk out to his bike and ride out of town and forget about Gina. She was never going to be an ally. But as she stood beside her in the doorway his gaze lowered to her chest and there it lingered.
"Oh, you're not getting anywhere near this again," Gina scoffed though she didn't do anything to conceal her bosom. Sylar got the impression that she wanted him to keep looking, to keep undressing her with his eyes.
"Is that so?" he made his voice as husky as possible as he asked the question.
"You think you can run out on me before dawn," Gina cried haughtily. "Well, I don't think so. I'm not just some - "
Her words were silenced as Sylar's mouth pressed against hers. She uttered a brief cry of disdain before hungrily kissing him back. Sylar scooped her into his arms and hungrily pressed his tongue against hers as he kicked the door to the shop closed. His hands were now roving over her breasts, eager to unleash them from their cotton cage.
"Oh, Sylar," Gina gasped as they broke their kiss so that he could hastily unbutton his jeans and hoist up her skirt. He gave a groan of appreciation when he noticed that she wasn't wearing any panties. So this had been her plan all along, to seduce him.
Sylar pressed her against the reception counter and eased himself inside her. Gina gasped with desire and dug her nails into his shoulders, gripping him tightly against her.
"Fuck me," she pleaded breathlessly. So he did.
Chapter 58
When Brea was quite certain that Miles was fast asleep she crept away from the bed. She grabbed a spare blanket and cloaked herself in it as she wandered in to the main living area of her apartment. Her head felt heavy and her body ached. Miles had all but admitted to having dark secrets of his own. Why were the men in her life so intent on keeping secrets from her?
Brea went and stood by the large window which overlooked Colridge. The few lights that were on at night sparkled among the darkened streets like precious stars. Brea loved the vista her apartment afforded her. She imagined what a bigger place would look like at night, somewhere like New York City where there would be a thousand more lights on at night, sparkling like unnatural stars. For so long Brea had only known the streets of her small home town but since moving to Colridge she'd awoken a desire within herself to travel. She wanted to see all of America. Her parents used to talk about how they used to travel together before having children. They had such great adventures.
There was a faded photograph of the pair of them at the Grand Canyon, arms looped around one another and wide smiles on their tanned faces. They looked so happy, so carefree. So alive. Brea traced a finger down the pane of glass in front of her. She wished she'd bought some pictures of her parents with her to Colridge. She needed to somehow feel their soothing presence now more than ever. What would they make of her life now? Of Sylar and his penchant for keeping secrets?
"I miss you," Brea sighed tearfully, her breath misting against the glass. She drew a heart in the fog and then cut through it with an arrow. If Miles truly loved her, then why would he keep secrets? But Brea knew she could ask the same thing of Sylar. There was too much she didn't know about both men. Too much that was being kept in the shadows, hidden from sight. But no more. Brea stepped back from the window, her body tense with purpose. Whatever secrets Miles and Sylar were keeping she was going to find out. And if they didn't tell her the truth she'd remove them from her life. She didn't need relationships built on a foundation of lies.