Arthur's vision blurred with rage, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.
Ryker. Ray. Everything they'd taken from him.
Everything they still held over him.
"I'll make you regret it. Both of you."
The humiliation in the gym, Ryker's smug face, the condescension — it was just another reminder that the world wasn't fair.
But Arthur wouldn't stay down.
He couldn't.
...
Inside the Gym
James's sharp gaze lingered on Ryker, the air around them awkward.
"Ryker, why did you do that? You clearly made him upset." His voice was low but laced with disappointment, each word like a cold blade in Ryker's stomach.
Ryker fumbled for words, forcing a grin. "Captain, I didn't mean to. Really—"
James's head tilted slightly, his eyes darkening. "Do you take me for a fool, Ryker?"
The gym fell eerily silent.
Ryker's breath caught, and the air suddenly felt heavier. James's gaze was no longer the warm, friendly look he often wore—it had turned predatory, chilling.
