Friday, October 3rd. Joshville Division.

A man was found dead in his car by the locals near the outskirts of Downtown on the eve of 2nd October. The man is identified as Deputy sergeant John Yates from a nearby town Joshville. Downtown comes under Joshville's legislation and thus it was sourced that he might have been there for work.

There were no signs of robbery or struggle as the police informed. Forensics report that there were lethal doses of cocaine found in his blood and was likely to be the cause of death.

"John Yates was priorly demoted for working along drug racketing. Though there is no known history of his drug abuse, it comes as no shock that he might've OD'ed." _Sergeant, Van Doren spoke shortly after his body was found.

The body of Yates will be soon handed over to his family in Manchester to perform the final rites.

_Southern Times, Divisional sector.

Selene closed the newspaper, releasing a shaky breath. It sounded like a pretty solid closed case for now, but there's every chance that the cops will come looking for her.

Even if they come after her, she could always ask NIA for back up but then she would've to explain everything from the start. They would know that she lied about Keir and after that it's hard to say if they would still support her.

Keir. His name played on her mind. It has been two days since she saw or talked with him. She would be lying if she said that she isn't concerned about him.

The argument that night was pretty heated. She remembered punching him and calling him out with obnoxious names. That was the problem, she loses control over her mouth when she is angry.

Selene acted on her instinct when she punched him. She knows he is a serial killer but that doesn't mean that he has to kill every single man walking on earth, just because he can. His proud statement ticked her off.

Selene scoffed to herself, I can, my foot!

He can't kill every man that speaks shit about women. If that is the case, every man needs to die on earth, even Keir. It's a man's nature to disrespect and antagonise women. Who did he think he was, killing a man because he disrespected her?

Why would he call him into his house, the first place? She wondered.

Selene spent another ten minutes, switching on and off her phone, expecting a miracle to happen and that he would message her.

She opened her message box and stared at the old messages of Mr. Killer looks. Despite being angry, a small laugh managed to escape her lips at his stupid contact name. She nibbled on her lip, contemplating whether to message him or not.

If she messages him first, it would mean a white flag from her and he would start bothering her just like before or he might not reply altogether.

She didn't give it a second thought and typed on the message box.

Hey! - She deleted back.

How are you? - sighing she deleted it again.

Her thumbs danced on the keypad, unsure what to write.

A minute later, she decided to just type his name and send it.

Keir.

She waited another five minutes in hope of a reply from him. When nothing came she tossed the phone on her couch and got up to take a shower.

Wrapping a towel around her and detangling her freshly washed wet hair with her fingers, she checked her phone again. Still there was no answer.

Gritting her teeth, she called his number. It rang for a minute and the line went dead. She tried calling him two more times before ultimately giving up.

Huffing in frustration, she threw on a pair of black Jeans and a pink Breton striped pullover. She decided to make herself a cup of coffee and went to the kitchen.

She started filtering the decoction when she heard a triple knock from the front door. Hastily walking to the living room, she peeked outside to check who it was.

She was disappointed that it wasn't him and dreaded that it was Haden. She freed her hair from her bun and covered the red finger marks on her cheek with her loose hair. They were barely visible but Haden is the one with hawk eyes.

She took a deep breath before opening the door.

"Haden? I was just coming to you."

He invited himself in and gazed around her house. It was the same as he remembered. He turned to look at her.

"I figured, that's why I'm here. To tell you that there's no need."

"But the clients?-" He cut her off.

"Clients were wary about the meetings when they heard the news about dead Greg and missing Jace and Will." He sighed.

Selene cast her eyes down.

"-So we decided to take payments through account transactions and delivery of supplies by our staff. Given that, the payments are irregular-" He cocked his head thinking to himself, "This will have to do till we can come up with a new solution."

Selene's eyes twitched listening to what he said. "We?"

"Dealers, Brent and I spoke on the phone and came up with this."

She narrowed her eyes, "I wasn't informed?"

Haden nodded, "It was my decision. Involving you will only give a reason for the dealers to taunt you. I didn't want that. So I excluded you."

Selene sighed and nodded, "You could've just called me. You don't have to come here."

He shrugged, "I was going out of town with Luigi and Benjamin. So decided to stop by and check on you."

Selene nodded and gave him a small smile, "I'm fine. Thanks."

He nibbled on his upper lip, looking at her for a moment and nodded.

"I should get going then."

"Yeah." She nodded, crossing her arms on her chest.

He suddenly dipped his head, taking her bottom lip in between his and pulling her closer to his body. Selene wrapped her arms around his neck giving in, like she mastered.

He pulled back after the kiss and soon left. Selene involuntarily touched her lips and wiped them with the back of her hand.

She went back to the kitchen and poured the coffee she prepared for herself.

Haden and Selene were close years ago, more when his father used to run Reyes merchandise. Haden didn't know all the truth about her but he knew that she had seen rough days. He understood her well, enough to know what is going on in her mind.

It went on until he became the lord and fame washed over. His arrogance and his ways of getting women into his bed, made her lose the care she had once before.

She was one way thankful for his change. It'll be easier to betray him and hand him over to NIA.

Sipping the coffee from the cup, her face twisted in disgust at the brown pathetic liquid she made.

"Ugh!" She spat it out in the sink and poured the liquid down the drain.

Fetching her phone from her pocket, she checked once again for Keir's calls or messages. Anger washed over her face when there was still no response.

Grabbing her jacket and car keys, she locked her door and made her way to the car.

***

Glaring at the pounding front door, Keir made his way to open it. The person on the other side kept on attacking the door like there was a battalion behind him.

Keir opened the door, ready to give the visitor an earful but decided against it when he saw Selene in all her glory, glaring at him.

He cocked his eyebrow at her, wordlessly asking her what she is doing here.

"You are alive!" She remarked sarcastically.

Keir rolled his eyes and leaned on the door frame blocking her deliberately.

"Unfortunately, Yes. I am." He gave her a fake smile.

Selene bent down to walk past him and invited herself in. She turned to face him squarely.

"I messaged you."

"I didn't check," He said pursing his lips.

"I called you. Thrice." She crossed her arms on her chest.

He gave a shrug, "I was busy."

"Are you ignoring me?"

"No-" He said but Selene cut him off with a glare, daring him to lie.

He sighed, "Even if I am, I clearly failed at doing so."

She didn't realise until now that she missed his velvet smooth, British accentuated voice.

It's just been two days, her mind retorted at her ridiculousness.

Keir watched her as she cast her eyes down, thinking deeply to herself. A small baby pout started to form on her lips unknowingly. He found it incredibly difficult to keep a straight face, while she zoned out with a cute pout.

He cleared his throat grabbing her attention.

The intensity at which she looked at him, always made him feel something different in him. There was never one emotion in them, it's just a mixture of everything. Asking him to guess what she is majorly feeling right now.

"About that night-"

"That night-"

They both started at the same time.

"I forgive you." She stated confidently.

Keir scoffed, "I beg your pardon? You punched me! If there's anything, you should be the one to apologise."

"I wouldn't have done that, if you would've just let me handle Yates." She huffed and plopped on the couch comfortably. "You gave him drugs? He was fucking OD'ed!" She whisper yelled.

Keir shrugged nonchalantly, "That was the plan." Earning a glare from her.

It was obvious that she had no plan on leaving now. It's better to address the storm rather than running from it. Keir ran his hand over his face and looked at her.

"Coffee?" He asked.

A smile formed on her lips before it vanished. She nodded wordlessly making sure to hide the desperation.

Keir knew she loved it but just had the ego to admit it. He wondered why she loved it so much. He tasted better than what he made. He was glad that at least the coffee was something that they both can agree upon without tearing each other's throats.

Keir disappeared into the kitchen and Selene leaned back lazily on the plush couch. Her attention was caught when Keir's phone vibrated on the table before her.

She looked at the kitchen's way but only his hands were visible from her side. She leaned over to look at the caller ID and her eyebrows scrunched up at what she saw.

Gorgeous, was the saved contact name.

He never called her gorgeous, she mused to herself.

She ignored the call till it automatically stopped ringing but in a matter of a few seconds it started ringing again.

The caller ID felt like it was mocking her, blinking gorgeous on her face. She wondered what were Keir's standards for gorgeousness when it comes to women.

Grunting to herself, she instinctively picked up the phone.

"Hello?" She answered.

There was a silence for a moment and later the girl asked in confusion, "Uh who are you?"

Even her voice sounded soft and sweet. She had a familiar accent. Selene took a moment to answer her question. What exactly was she to Keir? NIA agent sent to catch Keir is more precise.

"I'm his partner in crime." It wasn't a total lie minus the metaphor. They were indeed partners in his crime.

"I see," The woman drawled. Selene swore she heard a little anger in her voice.

Selene smirked and spoke again, "Keir is busy right now. Do you want me to let him know that you called?"

The woman hummed, "I'm sure he can talk for a minute."

Persistent, Selene thought.

"What are you doing?" Keir's voice came behind her. She turned to look at him approaching her with a cup in his hand.

"Uh-Your phone kept ringing," Selene gave a shrug, handing him his phone.

"Someone gorgeous," She added casually. Keir raised his eyebrows at her, smiling to himself.

"Hello?" He spoke.

Selene understood that she might be someone Keir is in relation with or had with. Her persistence and confidence said it all.

"No. No. She's just a friend." He paced around the hall, holding her mug and speaking on the phone.

Selene keenly paid attention to his conversation.

"Yes, I'm eating. Don't worry." He smiled.

The woman said something next making him throw his head back and laugh. Selene never saw him so carefree, she never heard him laugh so happily. She felt a slight tug in her heart, admittedly a little jealous of them.

She thought that she was the only one he charmed and everyone just knew his killer side. It was clear that she was mistaken.

"No, no. It's not necessary. No listen!" He was now persuading her.

"No. No, Mum. Ma? Ma!" He looked down at the now hung up phone.

Selene's ears stood up when he suddenly called her mom. She cursed under her breath, rewinding the way she talked with his Mum. It's not her complete fault, who would've thought that a serial killer had a mom and he saved her contact as gorgeous. Certainly not Selene.

Keir sighed and walked back to the couch, while fiddling with the phone.

"That's your Mom?" She asked.

"Yeah." He answered, looking focused on his phone.

"You have a mom?! Like an actual mom?!" She couldn't help but word out her shock.

He gave her a dirty look, looking up from the phone. "Yes, I do. And before you ask, no! Black magic has nothing to do with me. And no, I don't eat humans."

He rolled his eyes in irritation and he resumed back to his phone.

Selene gave out a laugh, shaking her head. Keir glanced at her in confusion. She had an expression somewhere in between awe and embarrassment. In one word she looked constipated.

She glanced at him and cleared her throat placing back her frown marred face.

"Can I have my coffee now?" She opened her palm and Keir obliged.

"I'm starting to doubt that you are using me for this coffee." He teased.

She smiled and took a whiff of the aroma. "Why doubt? Isn't it obvious?" She smirked.

He shook his head, smiling to himself and sat beside her.

"So, gorgeous is your mom?" She asked.

Keir smiled remembering her mom and nodded slowly.

"What was she saying?"

"Asking me to come over for a day."

"Oh." That means he will be gone for another day. At least she met him today.

He turned to look at her, "She actually invited you over," He said remembering the previous conversation. His mom literally threatened him to bring Selene over, if not don't come at all. That was her words.

Selene laughed, "Haha! No way I'm coming with you."

"Why not?"

She shook her head, a little seriously. "It's not my thing, Keir."

"Classic slit throat or mutilation? What would you suggest?"

Selene jumped in her place at the random question. "What?"

"Haden's death." She narrowed her eyes at him. "You know I can still do it, right? It takes me less than five minutes to kill him," He said, confidently.

As much as she wants nothing to do with the riff raff between the two men. She can't let two of her projects meet or worse kill each other. If not for NIA, insisting on handing over alive Haden she would've gladly let him deal with Haden. But now she needs to stay like a fly swat in between two palms.

"What a blackmailing douche!" she muttered under breath and agreed finally.

"Great! We will be off tomorrow, early in the morning." He announced and she grunted in response.

Smiling to himself at her grumpy face, he reached out for her face. He ran his fingers softly along her cheek, mesmerised by the soft flush that appeared by his gesture.

"Now tell me," He whispered leaning forward, "How did you know that I was called a cop killer?"

Selene's heart attack was inevitable now. Christ on the bike! She cursed inwardly.

****
Holy moly! He remembered when she called him a cop killer. That night several things were exchanged, anger, frustration, sexual tension? *wriggles eyebrows. 😏

How many of you think Sel was different today? She was out of her ordinary emotionless self. I personally think that she is more instinctive and whinier than usual 😂 If that's a word.

Let me know what you think >>>

Vote and share! ❤️

~Aurora.