35. Bad boys rage

I squirmed under his intense gaze. Of course, he had to be the one to catch me of all people. I had the worst luck in the world. My gaze lingered on his face for a few seconds and I noticed that his jaw ticking like he was barely holding back from lashing out.



I was biting on my lips nervously, my eyes shifting from my feet towards the white painted wall at the end. My nails were digging in my palms as I was trying to think of a good explanation to give him. There was no way he was going to buy the assignment one because we were not due for the next one anytime soon.


"Anya I believe you were going to tell me something"


I airily laughed, "Was I? I'm so forgetful sometimes. Anyways I'll see you tonight"


He tsked, shaking his head and held my arm before I could escape. What? I thought that reason would work. It did on my father sometimes. He pulled me closer towards him and I blinked my eyes, awestruck at his beauty. Damon was wearing glasses for the first time and he looked delectable. The black-rimmed round glasses really went well with his black loose tee and cinnamon brown pants.




"Really?" He quirked his eyebrow. My mouth felt dry at his glare. What more could I say without revealing everything?





"Umm... The assignment I guess" I lamely replied with my eyes still glued towards Mr Smith and Ryan. They were aggressively arguing about something and I just wanted to go in there and trap them before they getaway.





Damon scoffed, "Assignment? Anya, what's going on?"





My shoulders slumped at his tone and his broad shoulders were blocking my view. I tugged him by his arm and he didn't budge, not even an inch. Sometimes he really let me take his arm but at that moment he was being stubborn. It was a golden opportunity and I couldn't let it slip.





"I'll explain everything to you in a minute. Just get behind me" I whispered, trying not to create a scene. Damon seemed sceptical at my answer but agreed nonetheless. I felt like I could breathe again as he slid in behind me.





"What are we doing here anyway?" He blew his breath in my ear and I shivered, feeling goosebumps on my arm. I pointed at the duo in front of us.





"Why are we hiding here Anya?" Damon sighed again like he had not seen me point the fingers in his uncle's direction. I elbowed him to get his attention as he was to focus on pushing his nose in my hair.





"That's my uncle and Ryan," He said with a confused tone and I could imagine is face scrunched at that. Rolling my eyes I turned to peek at him. It made me realise how close we were standing and as much as I wanted to act upon it we had things to do. Catch his uncle and Ryan in the act.





"Exactly. We- I mean I am sure that these are the people who are behind your parents...you know" My voice dropped at the end. His eyes widened and he stared at me for several seconds.





A deep frown settled on his face and the arm which was around my side fell down. He had his fists clenched by his side. "This- Are you serious right now? He is my uncle, Anya"




"I know that...Trust me, Damon, I am not wrong about it. I heard your uncle talk to Ryan on the phone. They were-" I took a deep breath- "Ryan was following me"





"Why would Ryan follow you? That's crazy!"




I moved my head away. If I told him that one thing it could destroy everything. It wouldn't take him long to find out the entire think about me working behind his back to solve the case and that's the last thing I needed. Also, I had no option or a way to get out of it.




"He followed me because I was looking into it" I lowly whispered under my breath. He couldn't even hear it.




"What's that now?"



"Damon please don't be mad-"




He clenched his jaw and the words gritted out of his mouth, "What did you do Anya?"




"I might be trying to find the real murderer" I closed my eyes shut as those words left my mouth because I couldn't bear to look at him. Not when I knew that he was going to be pissed. Damon had warned me far too times to take it lightly. He was right about it is not my battle to fight but I needed to get that story out for my application. That was the sole reason why I started it before the priorities changed and I was doing it to prove him innocent.




His vein as prominent and the way he narrowed his eyes made me gulp. I had never seen him so angry. My legs felt wobbly as I stood before him. I knew he would never hurt me but unintentionally I had hurt him. That was clear on his face. The hurt and anger he was experiencing at that moment was something that I could never forget. He opened and closed his mouth, blowing his breath like he had no idea how to start.





"Why?" He said in a low voice




"I just-" I took a deep breath, my fingers nervously entangled together- "When you told me about your story that night I couldn't stop thinking about it. I'm sorry"




"You should be" He spat which made me flinch. Damon had every right to be angry.




"Why would you do that to me? How could you think that I would be okay with this? This is not some game Anya and I thought you were sensible and clever enough to know it. Guess I was wrong"




My face fell at those words. They were so sharp and cold that it hurt me where it hurts the most.




Swallowing the lump in my throat I whispered, "I just wanted to help you"




"I don't need it" He snapped, his palms balled into fists and he raised them in the air. My breath was stuck in the throat as he pushed it against the wall. I gasped at the sound, his knuckles cracking at the impact.




"Damon"



"You crossed your boundaries, Anya. I thought you understood back then. When I told you about not getting involved you said you were fine with that." He sharply inhaled, slumping against the wall in defeat.




Before I could open my mouth to tell him the truth he whipped his head towards me.



"Is that why you wanted to meet my brother?"



"I-"



"Please don't lie this time" He gritted his teeth together. My head fell down in shame. There were so many thoughts running in my mind on how this could have gone differently. I never thought that he would find out so soon. Kay and I had thought everything through about exposing the real killer and then sitting him down and telling about it. The only thing was we did not have any strong leads other than his uncle, Mr Smith.




"You need to leave," Damon said, looking at the wall instead of me. My heart fell to the stomach at his words. Of course, he didn't want to see me anymore. However, I was not going to back down without putting a proper fight.





"Let me explain myself atleast" I pleaded, wrapping my fingers around his wrist. He pulled his arm away which felt like a knife being stabbed. Damon refused to even look in my direction or acknowledge my presence which hurt more. Tears stung my eyes and I was barely holding them back.




"Damon please"




"Please leave" He muttered, still staring at the wall. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed that Mr Smith was still there.




"Hear me out, please. Your uncle... he talked to Ryan about following me-"




"Anya" He interrupted




"Just hear me out. He said on the phone that Ryan had one job, to keep an eye on me. Damon, you have to trust me, please. They both are hiding something."




Damons eyes flared at that. My words affected him and he glared in their direction. Hope blossomed inside me that he can finally find out the truth and be free from his demons. The cover story didn't even matter anymore.




"Really?" He quietly asked his voice high pitch. It was weird but I nodded my head anyway. He took my arm in his and my eyes widened comically. What was he doing?




"Then maybe we should ask them" He gritted, tugging at my arm harshly and I winced. Damon was taller than he and was towering over when he stared down at me. When I tried to free my arm his grip merely tightened.





"No Damon..."




"Let's just get this over with Anya hmm?" He said with a cold smile on his face. It was so weird to see him in that way and I wasn't sure anymore. About confronting Ryan and Mr Smith.




"I don't-"



Damon madly chuckled, humourlessly, "No no you think you know everything. You have the guts to look into my eyes and call the person who adopted me and took care of me a murderer than surely it must be something huh"




I swallowed loudly at that. No one would like to hear that someone dear to them committed a crime.




"I didn't mean-"



"Save it" Damon growled as he rushed me in the direction of Mr Smith and Ryan.



I had a feeling that it was not going to end well
***