Glass Hearts [BL]

The laughter died down, but I could still feel it....like they thought this was something they could easily come out of. Like the Coil were just some neighborhood bullies we could outwit with sarcasm.

But they didn’t get it.

Jasper raised a brow, still slouched back. "We’re listening."

"No, you’re laughing." My voice cracked. My chest felt tight. "You don’t understand what we’re up against."

I turned the phone around, the light of the screen spilling across all their faces. The air shifted instantly.

On it was the sketch. Liam’s killer.

Casper sat up straighter. Ian’s hand froze halfway through tugging his sleeve.

"That’s him," I whispered. "The one who killed Liam."

Jasper’s whole body snapped upright when the sketch came into view. His face twisted, disbelief hardening into rage.

"So all this time...we’re sitting here thinking Liam just...died? That it was random? And you..." he pointed at Dominic, "....you knew the motherfucker who killed him?"

Dominic stiffened, still seated.

"Bullshit!" Jasper exploded, his chair scraping back hard. "You knew, Dom! You knew and you didn’t tell us? You let us sit here cracking jokes, laughing like idiots, while Liam’s killer is out there breathing free?"

Dom’s face hardened. "I wasn’t sure..."

"Don’t," Jasper snapped again. "Don’t give us the ’wasn’tsure’ crap."

"And it’s not just him." My thumb swiped once more, the next image flashing up.

The sketch I made of the snake’s coil.

Ren whispered, almost to himself, "The serpent..."

"Every kill. Every debt. Every warning. They leave it behind." My hand shook slightly, but I held the phone out steady. "This isn’t just some story. They’re real. They’re organized. And they don’t forgive."

Dominic’s jaw tightened beside me.

Finally, Ian muttered, his voice hoarse. "Shit."

Casper leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the screen. "That’s not a gang. That’s a syndicate. Still can’t believe Dom kept all these to himself."

Dominic let out a sharp breath, dragging both hands over his face. His voice dropped, rough with guilt.

"I didn’t just see him. I cornered him. I beat the hell out of him."

The room erupted.

"What the fuck, Dom?" Ren blurted, wide-eyed.

Casper leaned forward, his stare was cold. "You went after him alone? Without us?"

"Are you insane?" Jasper’s voice was climbing. "That’s not protection, that’s suicide!"

"I shouldn’t have done it like that. I shouldn’t have cornered him alone. I was pissed, I wasn’t thinking. And instead of telling you guys, I thought I could handle it myself." Dominic shook his head, and bowed his head

Ren’s voice cut in again. "This is exactly what we mean. You’re always acting in the shadows, making choices for everyone. But this? This isn’t a schoolyard fight, Dom. This is the Coil."

"It was stupid. I just...." he exhaled again, like the memory itself burned. "I was angry. Angry at him, angry at everything. But keeping it from you? That’s on me."

Casper’s tone stayed low, controlled. "You don’t get it. You keep us in the dark, we can’t protect you either. That’s not leadership. That’s recklessness."

Jasper pointed a finger at him again, his chest kept heaving. "Liam’s dead, and you think you get to decide when and how we fight? You’re not the only one who lost him! Instead you’re trying to be a hero." He shook his head.

Dominic’s nostrils flared. His fists trembled at his sides. "I’m not trying to be the hero. I just needed enough proof!"

"Proof?" Casper scoffed and shook his head. "Bro, Liam’s dead. You needed proof before telling us a death squad was coming for us?"

Dominic’s jaw clenched. "I didn’t want to scare you."

"You didn’t want to scare us?!" Jasper’s voice cracked. "Our best friend’s dead, Dom! You think we’re not already scared?!"

Casper’s eyes were colder as he looked at Dominic. He wasn’t yelling, but his voice was calm. "Your big ’I’ll handle it myself’ crap. It’s not just you anymore, Dom. You drag us all down with you."

Dominic didn’t speak again. His hand twitched like he wanted to reach for me but didn’t.

This is getting intense. I really can’t take it anymore.

Ren leaned forward. "You want to be our leader, Dom, but you can’t keep us blind and then act surprised when the walls close in. Liam’s gone. We can’t afford any more surprises."

Ian finally snapped, standing up, running both hands over his face. "Okay, okay, everyone stop yelling. It’s killing me."

"Ash’s right about one thing, we can’t panic. We have to think. But Dom..." He pointed at him. "This is it. No more secrets. Ever. You keep something else from us, we’re done."

My chest was tight.

They were all looking at him like he was the enemy. I really understood why he kept it from them even tho it wasn’t a right choice.

Dominic exhaled. "I get it. I do. You’re angry. You have every right to be. I’m sorry, okay?"

"That’s the problem," Jasper folded his arms and scoffed. "It’s not about apologizing, stop trying to do things alone. What if we lost you in the process?"

Casper folded his arms too, still staring. "No more solo hero moves. Not with the Coil bullshit. This isn’t something you can fight from the shadows."

I wanted to say something, but my throat closed up. They were all glaring at my boyfriend. I felt bad for Dom.

Ian turned to me then, softer. "Ash, hey. You’re shaking. Don’t panic. Okay? Let us handle him. You’re shaking."

I realized I was. My fingers still clenched the phone so hard it hurt. My chest felt like it was going to crack.

"I’m fine," I said, but my voice cracked. "Please, stop yelling at Dominic, please."

That quieted them a little. Even Jasper.

"No, you’re not." Ian’s eyes softened, but his tone stayed firm. "Breathe. You’re not our enemy here. This..." he jabbed a thumb at Dominic "....this is between us and him."

The room felt cold.

The silent was proof they believed how intense the situation is.

Dominic’s head snapped toward him. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to also drag Ash into this?"

"Then why did you?" Jasper roared. "Why do you always drag someone new into our mess before telling us what’s going on?"

My heart hammered. "Stop," I blurted, but it came out small. "Please. All of you!"

They didn’t.

Casper finally leaned back, shaking his head. "You don’t get to shut us out anymore. Not after this."

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Jasper dragged both hands down his face, groaning. "Man, you’re such a dumbass sometimes."

Ian pushed himself up before things could snap again. He caught Jasper by the shoulder. "Hey. Enough!"

Jasper jerked his arm free at first, but Ian didn’t back off. "You don’t want Ash watching us tear each other apart, do you?"

That hit. Jasper froze, then they all glanced at me.

My face must’ve said it all....wide-eyed, tight, like I was barely holding it together. I was seconds from also snapping towards them.

His mouth twisted, guilt flashed across his face. "Damn it." He raked a hand through his hair, shaking his head.

Then, out of nowhere, Jasper barked a laugh.

The room loosened, if only a little. Shoulders dropped, breaths came easier.

Casper smirked reluctantly. "We are kinda embarrassing right now."

Dominic groaned, rubbing his forehead. "You guys are impossible."

Ren, still seated, smiled softly at me. "Relax, Ash. We bark louder than we bite. Nobody’s actually throwing punches."

Ian nodded. "Exactly. We’re pissed, sure. But we’re not gonna fight Dom. Not when you’re right here."

Jasper threw his hands up dramatically. "Fine, fine. Only because Ash is here."

The room was finally calming down when Jasper’s eyes flicked to me. That grin spread across his face...the kind that meant trouble.

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