Chapter hundred and nineteen

Dallas

My heart was thundering for an entirely different reason now. It wasn't fear like when I learned about his accident, nor was it panic. This feeling…I don't exactly know what it was. He knows. Oliver knows about Lucien. But how?

The ‘how’ doesn't exactly matter anymore. Now that he knows, he would put himself in danger for me. I didn't want that. I didn't want to lose another person closest to me. I couldn't, wouldn't bear it if anything happens to him.

He was staring at me intently, monitoring my every breath. His body inched closer to me as if Lucien could just barge in here and hurt me. As if he would fight him without second thoughts if that happens, despite his injured state.

“The man that was supposed to be dead is Lucien, right?” he asked again, but I didn't give him any response. I couldn't bring myself to say something.

He grabbed my hand and held it between his. That's when I realized I'd been shaking the entire time. He stroked the back of my hand, an attempt to calm me down.

The gesture was soft, urging me to calm down and remember where I was. I was safe. I'll always be safe with him.

I shoved the terror deep down inside me and willed my body to calm down. I finally raised my head and my eyes immediately collided with Oliver's worried ones.

“How?” Was the only thing I could say.

He gave me an apologetic look before bringing his hand to my hair. He unbound my hair, letting it fall freely on my shoulder. I’d ran my fingers through it so many times on my way here that it was a mess now.

Oliver stroked my hair gently, his eyes still on me. I leaned back into his warmth, enjoying the gesture. He removed his hand and I winced slightly at the sudden loss of warmth.

I froze when I saw what he held to my face. It was a tiny device that I recognized quite well. It seem to be a tiny replica of the tracker I had with me the day Atlas was arrested, except this one was really tiny. I had to squint my eyes to see it.

That thing has been in my hair and I had no idea. How did he get it there?

As if reading the question on my face, he said,
“I had Ethan make this small tracker when I suspected things weren't adding up. It has an audio receptor built in it. I'm sorry I put it on you without your consent.”

That explains his accident. He was rushing to meet me when he learned what Ron and I were doing.

Despite his apologetic look, there were no regret in his eyes. He would do it again if it meant protecting me. I understood why he did it even though it was a huge invasion of privacy.

And maybe it's because we were currently dealing with something bigger, or because I was just so tired, physically and emotionally, but I couldn't muster the energy to be mad about it. So I simply nodded.

“How did you even get it on me?” I asked, diverting the subject.

I wasn't ready to broach the topic yet. There was just too much to unpack and I didn't have the energy to do that.

If Oliver noticed what I was trying to do, he didn't let on. He simply cocked his head to the side, the movement graceful despite the bandage on his forehead.

“How do you think?” He smirked.

My gaze narrowed as I searched my memory for when he must have put it in. He stood on the porch the entire time, except when he hugged me. My eyes widened at the realization.

“Asshole.” I chuckled. “What if I had to wash my hair?”

“It's waterproof.” He said. “And you're stalling.”

I sighed at the accusation.

“I just don't know where to start. I don't even know the whole story.” About Ron and my mother. Or how Ron found Lucien. I didn't know and I was tired.

“Tell me what you know. Start from wherever you feel comfortable” He said softly, pulling me closer to himself.

I loosed a breath, organizing my thoughts.

“Ron approached me at the wedding party with the information of Lucien's whereabouts. I didn't believe him at first, I saw Lucien fall off that cliff with my own eyes. But Ron showed me a video of Lucien sneaking around.” I sucked in a breath as I remembered the pure horror I felt while watching the video.

“Apparently, he had survived the fall somehow. That's why his body wasn't found. Ron doesn't have any information on who might be helping Lucien, but if he'd managed to remain hidden for this long than it has to be someone influential. There's no way it's Atlas when he's still rotting in jail.” I paused, panic slowly building inside me.

“What if we were wrong? What if Atlas wasn't the one supporting Lucien and the mastermind is still out there? What if–”

“Dallas,” Oliver's tone was gentle but firm. He held my face in his hands and I looked into his eyes. I immediately felt calm.

“Whoever the person is, we will find him. And we'll make him pay. Lucien will pay for his crimes too. I promise.”

“What if we don't?” I said, a little quietly this time.

“We will.” He said firmly. “I promise, Dallas.”

And there was something in the tone, in the way he called my name that compelled my worries to subside. I nodded.

He gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead and pulled me into a hug. For a moment, neither of us said anything or attempt to break the contact. We just sat there, breathing in each other's scent.

“Do you trust Ron?” I asked suddenly.

He might be my father but I've only known me for about two minutes. Oliver has known him his whole life even if he doesn't remember much about him. He was close with Oliver's father.

Ron seem like a decent person on the outside but I couldn't fully trust him. No decent person would abadon his child for twenty five years only to pop up and help with a case. His timing was suspicious.

“No.” He said firmly. “Do you?”

I loosed a breath and disengaged from the hug.
“I'm not sure whether to trust him or not. He's my–” the rest of the words died in my throat. I swallowed hard.

Oliver brought his hand to my face and stoked my cheeks.

“Have you had the chance to talk about to him? Get some answers?”

“No, we were too occupied with Lucien.” I didn't mention that he tried to talk to me today but I shut him down. I didn't want to talk about him yet.

Oliver nodded as of he could read the unspoken words on my face.

“We'll get through all of this together. Just don't push me away again, please.” Hurt flickered in his eyes making my chest tighten in an unexplainable way.

“I couldn't bring myself to tell you.” I said slowly. Because if there was a slight chance that Lucien was now as dangerous as everyone painted him, the last thing I wanted was for him to get close to anyone I love.

“I know. But we're a team. We're not supposed to go through anything without the other. I want to be there for you. No matter how dangerous or scary the situation might be I want to always be there. I can't stand the thought of you hurt or terrified alone.” His body shuddered slightly.

“Neither can I.” I admitted and sighed. “I'm sorry I kept it from you.”

“You're not forgiven.” He said, feigning seriousness.

I tipped my head back and let out a laugh. When I finally got a hold of myself, I found him staring at me.

“What?”

“I miss hearing that sound.” He said softly.

My cheeks reddened at his words and I smiled.

“God, I've missed everything about you. I know it's only been three days but it felt like years.”

He leaned closer, pressing his forehead to mine. His lips hover above mine.

“I love you, Dallas.” He rasped.

My breaths turned heavy. His words, a silent promise of what we would be when this is all over. When I finally have the courage to face both my stepfather and biological one.

I closed my eyes and whispered,
“I love you too.”