H.U.R.T
Just Me

"You decided to bring your parents out of this country?" Beth raises her glass, takes Steve toast Steve to Steve's achievement today, which is to meet his parents.

Steve raised the glass and clinked.

"I'm so happy for you, too" Beth said honestly.

Steve just sat in silence, Beth frowned, confused by the attitude of her best friend. Shouldn't he be happy. But why does Steve's face look tired and moody?

"Something's bothering you?"

"I saw Austin with Olivia last night. The two attended a meeting conducted by Mr. President and his minions. Twenty days from now, they will do their plan. It's just I don't know what plan they're talking about. Are they really going to flatten this country?"

"What do you care? Aren't we going back?"

"I can't go back before the people who made me suffer experienced something similar. What about Riston, have you found her?"

"I'll try. Give me a moment. So you're sure Darkness is a group led by Olivia?"

"Hmm," Steve just muttered as if reality wasn't something important. "Supervise Austin's every move and report to me whatever they do. Where is Sam?"

"He hasn't come back yet."

Steve's phone rang, a call from the person they were just talking about. Samuel.

"Where are you?" Steve is not stale.

"If you want his men back alive, meet me now!"

The call was interrupted, Steve recognized the voice. Very recognisable. Not long after, his phone clinks again. An incoming message containing an address.

"Who?"

"Austinians. Sam is with her."

"How can you?"

"We'll know once we get there."

The two got into the car, speeding towards the address Austin had sent. Twenty minutes later, they reached their destination. An abandoned empty warehouse.

Steve and Beth opened their eyes, watching closely whether this was a trap or not?

"No sign of life." Beth mutters.

"Yes. Let's go in."

Sure enough, when they entered there were also no guards at all. Austin playing single.

"So you're the boss?" Austin looked at Steve with a flat nose from the top of the cigar he was breathing.

From the smell, Steve can guess if the man was smoking marijuana.

Austin sat on a wooden bench. Beneath him was Sam who had been battered not struggling.

Steve simply rolled his eyes at a glance, then refocused his attention on Austin who also looked quite messy. Looks like an incredible jotos fight before Sam finally fell. The surprise! Steve didn't expect Austin to be great at power fighting. Sam, one of his colleagues who is their flagship sniper. Honey, Sam's too weak for a woman's trickery.

Olivia took advantage of it, Steve knew it. Letting himself be watched on Olivia's orders. He wanted to see how far Sam would betray him.

His identity which is also easily known to Brian and his concocts can not be separated from the interference of Sam and Olivia.

"What's going on?"

Austin snorted, "What happened? You're really asking, what's going on?"

Austin pulled Sam's head up. Really, the face of the man was unrecognizable.

"Say who told you to set me up?"

"S-Steven Ivarez's..."

Steven chuckled at Sam's reply with a shrill and disjointed voice. Very depressing. Then he pulled out the gun and pulled the trigger. The slup! In an instant Sam breathed his last breath.

Austin nosedived an eyebrow looking at the action done by the man. Shoot without feeling. Yes, there are no feelings in the black world.

"To hide your rot, you took the life of your partner. What's your problem with me that you purposely set me up, you bastard! You asked him to call me to smuggle the damn thing and purposely leak it to the authorities. Tell me what's your problem, asshole?!"

With an unexpected gesture, Austin snatched the gun from Steve's hand and pointed it at the man's face.

"Stay away from Oleshia if you don't want your life to be fucked up. And by the way,-" Steve deliberately paused his speech. His index finger removed the gun from his front. "There's no bullet in it," Steve flashed a cynical smile and grabbed Austin by the neck, striking the man in the face with his head. Crews! The man's nose was broken and fresh blood sprinkled from Austin's nose.

"Don't look for trouble with me, Austin!" He patted the man on the shoulder before leaving.

____

"Daddy's here? In Virginia?"

Lexi's on a call with her mother, Alena.

"Why didn't Daddy call me and why didn't Mommy come?"

"Just a job, that's what Daddy said. Darren and Austin meet you?" ask her mother across the phone.

"No. I just met Harry."

You enjoying your vacation?"

"It would be nice if you were here, Mom. We will all enjoy the beautiful white sand on the Virginia coast! Argh..."

Lexi suddenly shouted as someone jumped up onto the balcony and pushed her into a corner of the wall. His phone even fell.

"Lexy... Lexi's... Lexi's... What was? You okay?"

Steve picked up the phone and put it into the girl's ear. Their bodies were very tight, clinging to each other. Lexi's scent was so intoxicating, testing her wits.

"Say something to Mother-in-law."

"Why are you here?!" Lexi asked about the man's whereabouts.

"Lexi, are you with someone?" There was a call from Alena across the phone. "Are you with Harry?"

"Oh, not Mom." Lexi snatched her phone out of Steven's hand. "Mom, I'll call you later. My room has a guest of a crocodile."

Without waiting for a response from her mother, Lexi disconnected her phone.

"So you infiltrated my room like that?"

"I wouldn't mind getting in from the main door. You want me to get in from the main door. I can go down now."

"I want you out of my room!"

"I'm sleepy" Steve dragged Lexi's hand into the room. He took off his suit and threw it away. Then he sat Lexi on the bed, and then he went up and laid his head on the girl's lap.

"What are you doing?"

"It's so safe." Instead of answering Lexi's question, Steve closed his eyes while holding the girl's hand and placed it on his chest.

"Lexi," he called later.

Not getting any advice, Steve opens his eyes and finds a shady iris looking at him. The man smiled sweetly, a smile that made opium.

"What do you think of Harry?"

Steve saw Lexi frowning confusedly. As if he didn't think he would ask that.

"He's a nice, warm man."

"What kind of husband do you want?"

"I don't have a picture yet."

"Lexy.."

"Hmm?"

"Don't give your heart to anyone."

"Including you?"

"That's the exception" Steve raised Lexi's hand and brought it to his mouth.

"I know a lot of guys love you, but trust me, I'm the only one who's gonna love you even if you love another guy."