Page 53 of Outrun The Devil
She had witnessed the aftermath of such self-imposed isolation in others, witnessing how the struggle to preserve oneself led to a gradual erosion of their spirit. She couldn't help but wonder if she, too, would face the same fate.
The struggle was real. Balancing self-preservation with the fear of detachment gnawed at her, a constant inner battle. Olivia knew the importance of setting boundaries and safeguarding her well-being, but she feared the point of no return, the point where her safeguards would become self-imprisonment.
The truth was inescapable, lurking beneath layers of denial and deflection. It was a magnetic force that drew her towards him, a gravitational pull she couldn't ignore. Olivia had attempted to bury her feelings, dismissing them as insignificant or inconsequential. Yet, with each passing moment around one another, the flame of attraction flickered brighter, defying her attempts to extinguish it.
But what was it about Nathan Steele that drew her in? It was more than just his passion and excitement. There was an undeniable magnetism in the way he challenged her, stirring something within her that had long been dormant. He reminded her of the fearless woman she once was, before the weight of her responsibilities and the walls she built around herself.
As she reflected on their connection, Olivia couldn't help but acknowledge that, despite her best efforts, Nathan had managed to breach her defenses.
The armor she had meticulously crafted to shield herself from vulnerability had been momentarily penetrated. Last night had been a turning point, a rare occasion when she allowed someone to see the raw and unguarded parts of her.
Her cell phone jolted them awake, and Olivia sat up, disoriented in the harsh morning light. She brought the phone to her ear, her voice still laced with sleepiness. “Collins.”
“I hope I didn't disturb your beauty sleep, Detective,” Xavier's voice sneered through the line.
Olivia glanced at the alarm clock, the time reading 7:15. She rubbed her eyes, attempting to shake off the remnants of slumber. “No, I was already up,” she lied, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing she had been awakened by his call. Beside her, Nathan grumbled, his presence a reminder of the delicate balance she was trying to maintain.
Hoping Xavier wouldn't detect the presence of another person, Olivia turned away from Nathan and leaned closer to the phone. “Cut to the chase, Knight. I'm not interested in your mind games.”
Xavier's voice dripped with amusement. “Oh, Detective, always so serious. But I have something that might pique your interest. That is if you're not too distracted by your personal affairs.”
The insinuation in his words sent a wave of irritation through Olivia. She was determined not to let him get under her skin. “Just get to the point, Xavier,” she snapped, her tone sharp with impatience. She couldn't help but wonder how he had obtained her private number, but she dismissed the thought, unwilling to give him any satisfaction.
“I have a lead for you,” Xavier finally revealed, a hint of mystery in his voice. “But perhaps you're too preoccupied to pursue it. After all, you do seem to have a lot on your plate.”
Olivia's jaw clenched, her resolve strengthening. She wouldn't allow him to undermine her focus. “Give me the lead, Knight,” she demanded.
“No need to get upset, detective.” Xavier continued and spoke of a man who went by the name Vincent Blackwood, and that he knew a victim of his that survived, Samantha Mitchell. Knight went on to explain that the M.O. was very similar to the current murders they had and it might be beneficial for them to follow up.
“I also have a gift for you. I’ll text you a time and place.” And then he hung up.
Olivia stared at her phone a moment before her attention turned to Nathan.
“Let me guess, it was Xavier?” Nathan sounded less than thrilled.
Olivia sighed, the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. She hated the fact that Xavier had managed to infiltrate their investigation once again.
“Yeah, it was Xavier,” she confirmed, her voice tinged with exasperation. “He claims to have a lead, and as much as I loathe to admit it, we're running out of options.”
As if a light came on, Nathan's eyes went wide and then narrowed. “Is that who bit you?”
His accusation nearly had her reaching for the stop button.
“Liv,” his shoulders dropped, “being bit by a vampire is dangerous.” He closed his eyes as if he needed to steady himself. “Did he attack you?”
Olivia shrugged, avoiding looking right at him. “I’m fine. I’m aware of the risks.” In truth, she wasn’t. Olivia thought she knew the risks, but she never actually asked Xavier what a bite entails fully. She had yet to know the expanse of the supernatural world or her powers, yet Olivia convinced herself that she knew what she was doing. And that risk was worth it in the end.
“Jesus, you did it to get information, didn’t you? That’s why he’s calling with a lead.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed.
Olivia didn’t deny or confirm anything.
Nathan groaned, his face scrunching up in annoyance. “I can't believe we're considering taking his information seriously. That man is nothing but trouble.”
“I know,” Olivia agreed, her voice laced with reluctance. “But desperate times call for desperate measures. If there's even a slight chance that he's holding valuable information, we can't afford to ignore it.”
Nathan let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his tousled hair. “I just don't want him playing games with us. He's manipulative, and God knows what he's up to.”
Olivia reached out and squeezed Nathan's hand, a silent reassurance passing between them. “We won't let him derail us, Nathan. We'll approach this lead with caution, and if it proves to be another one of his tricks, we'll be prepared.”