Noah was still asleep when I left.

He always curls toward the wall when he’s comfortable. One hand tucked under the pillow. The other resting where I had been.

He’s so beautiful.

I stood there longer than I meant to.

The apartment was quiet. Soft. Warm in that way that makes you forget the rest of the world exists.

For a second, I considered skipping training.

Just texting Dylan something simple.

Busy today. Can’t make it.

But that’s not how this works.

And I know that.

I pulled my hoodie on slowly, careful not to wake him. The floor creaked anyway. Noah shifted, mumbling something I couldn’t catch, and my chest tightened.

I almost went back.

Instead, I left.

The air outside felt colder than it had the last few days.

Training was twenty minutes away. I drove the whole way in silence. No music. No radio. Just the sound of the engine and my own breathing.

I told myself it was just another day.

But something felt… off.

The warehouse was quieter than usual.

A scary kind of quiet.

Nico was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, looking like he was waiting for something entertaining to start. Victoria stood a few feet away, phone in hand, but she wasn’t scrolling. It 

She was watching the door.

Watching me.

“Well,” she said as soon as I stepped in, pushing off the wall. “There he is.”

I didn’t respond.

I never do.

She walked closer anyway.

“Did your boyfriend kiss you goodbye this morning?”

Her tone was light. Teasing.

Her eyes weren’t.

I kept my face neutral. “We’re training today, right?”

“Relax,” she said, stepping just a little too close. “I’m just curious. You’ve been distracted lately.”

I met her gaze.
 “I’m not distracted.”

Victoria smiled like she didn’t believe me.

“Sure you’re not.”

Behind her, Nico snorted quietly.

And then Dylan’s voice cut through the room.

“Lucas.”

Just my name.

No emotion.

I turned immediately.

He wasn’t near the range.

He was by the back hallway.

“Come with me.”

No explanation.

No one else moved.

Victoria’s smile faded slightly.

Nico just watched.

I followed.

The hallway smelled like disinfectant with something metallic underneath it.

Dylan didn’t slow down. I followed him past the storage rooms and into the back office.

The door was already open.

And there was a blond-haired boy sitting in one of the metal chairs.

At first glance, he looked fine.

Second glance—

He wasn’t.

His posture was wrong. Too loose. Shoulders slack. Hands resting on his thighs like he’d forgotten what to do with them.

His eyes lifted when we walked in.

Slowly.

Like it took effort.

“Hey,” he said, blinking a little too hard. “Are you… Lucas?”

His voice lagged behind his mouth.

Dylan stepped aside slightly, watching me instead of him.

“Is he sick?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

Dylan’s expression didn’t change.

“He’s useful,” he said. “His name is Ethan.”

Ethan tried to sit up straighter.

“I’m good,” he added, nodding to himself like he was convincing his own body. “We’re training?”

His pupils were blown.

Not from fear.

From something chemical.

My stomach tightened.

I’d seen this before.

Noah.

Dylan walked over to Ethan and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Ethan stilled immediately.

Not flinching.

Not resisting.

Just… waiting.

“Lucas,” Dylan said calmly, “you’re going to take him.”

I didn’t move.

“Take him where?”

Dylan’s eyes flicked to me.

“To complete a delivery.”

Ethan blinked. “Delivery?” he echoed faintly.

Dylan’s grip tightened just enough to silence him.

“He understands,” Dylan said.

No.

He doesn’t.

“You’ll make sure he follows directions,” Dylan continued. “You’ll make sure nothing interferes. Then you’ll bring him back.”

My jaw clenched.

“And if he doesn’t?”

Dylan tilted his head slightly.

“He will.”

The implication was clear.

Because if he doesn’t, it’s on me.

Ethan stood up too fast and wobbled slightly. I reached out to steady him.

His skin felt warm.

Too warm.

He smiled at me.

Soft. Unfocused.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

My throat went dry.

He’s asking like a normal person.

He has no idea.

And later—

He won’t remember asking.

Dylan was watching me.

Not Ethan.

Me.

This wasn’t about Ethan.

This was about whether I could do it.

Whether I understood.

I grabbed Ethan’s arm.

“Come on,” I said evenly.

My voice didn’t shake.

That’s what scared me.

Ethan nodded obediently.
 “Okay.”

As I walked him toward the door, I caught my reflection in the glass panel.

Calm.

Controlled.

Efficient.

The same way Dylan looked when he handed Noah instructions months ago.

Something shifted in my chest.

Something colder.

Dylan’s voice followed us into the hall.

“Don’t disappoint me, Lucas.”

I didn’t turn around.

I didn’t answer.

I just kept walking.

The drop-off was on a side street downtown.

Ordinary.

Dylan had chosen well.

Ethan blinked like he was trying to remember why we were there.

“Are we grabbing food?” he asked lightly.

“You’re meeting someone,” I said.

He nodded immediately.

“Right. Yeah. Meeting someone.”

He didn’t ask who.

Didn’t ask why.

He stepped out of the car and walked around the corner.

I watched him go.

He looked like any other college guy.

Backpack over one shoulder.

Headphones around his neck.

If I didn’t know—

I wouldn’t know.

Twenty minutes later, he came back.

Empty-handed.

That was it.

No tension.

No drama.

Just a transaction swallowed by the afternoon.

“It’s done,” I called.

He turned slowly.

“Oh. Cool.” He smiled faintly. “That was quick.”

He didn’t ask what he handed over.

Didn’t check anything.

Didn’t question it.

Five minutes into the drive, he shifted.

“I think I’m kind of hungry.”

We passed a drive-through.

I turned in without thinking.

“You want something?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

No preferences.

No questions.

Just hunger.

He smiled when I handed him the food.

“Thank you.”

He ate quietly while I drove.

Like everything was normal.

By the time we pulled back into the warehouse lot, his eyes were heavier.

Dylan was already waiting.

Of course he was.

Ethan stepped out.

Dylan placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Good work,” he said.

Ethan smiled.

“Thanks.”

Dylan looked at me.

No praise.

Just assessment.

“You see the value.”

Not a question.

Victoria stepped closer.

“He won’t remember within the hour,” she said casually. “It’s clean.”

Clean.

That word almost made me laugh.

Dylan’s gaze didn’t leave mine.

“You’ll understand eventually.”

If Dylan ever decided Noah was “useful” again—

He wouldn’t hesitate.

“I understand,” I said.

Dylan nodded once.

I was dismissed.

The ride home was silent.

The apartment smelled like food when I unlocked the door.

I paused for a second, staring at my hands on the doorknob.

They didn’t look different.

But they felt heavier.

I opened the door.

Noah was in the kitchen reading the back of a box of Hamburger Helper.

His hair was messy, like he’d run his hands through it too many times.

He looked up.

And smiled.

Immediate.

Unfiltered.

“You’re back.”

My chest tightened.

“Yeah.”

He dropped the box and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around me.

Soft. Warm. Familiar.

And my body—

Hesitated.

Just enough.

“You okay?” he asked.

I forced my arms to move.

“I’m fine.”

Lie.

He pulled back slightly.

“You’re quiet.”

“Long day.”

He studied me for a moment.

“Did something happen at training?”

“No.”

Too quick.

His eyes flickered.

“Was it… Victoria?”

I exhaled sharply.

“No. Why?”

“You’ve just seemed different.”

“It’s not about her,” I said, sharper than I meant to.

He flinched.

Barely.

But I saw it.

I exhaled again.

“I’m just tired.”

He nodded.

But he didn’t fully believe me.

He reached for my hand.

I let him take it.

But my fingers didn’t close around his like they normally would.

And he noticed.

I leaned down and kissed his cheek.

“Baby? Were you cooking?”

“Oh—yeah. I was trying to make sure you had dinner when you got home.”

I cupped his face and kissed him properly this time.

Foreheads pressed together.

“You are so perfect, Noah. Thank you.”