/~Contrario~/
He was getting closer.
My breath was steady, but my fingers twitched near my side, ready to ghost toward the hidden blade at my back. If Durnell made even one wrong move, I'd slice the regret out of his chest before he could even speak.
But then, he didn't stop. His gaze suddenly shifted from me and moved beyond as he brushed past me.
There was no pause. No ill intent.
That was when I noticed it. The slight glint at his belt.
The Entry cards. High-tier access.
My eyes tracked them instantly. Silver and gold laced, shimmer-coded, those weren't just passes. Those were command-level clearance tags.
"Our reason for coming here" I muttered under my breath.
"Fucking watch it, man," Durnell snapped, shoving me back half a step with his shoulder.
His voice was rough, deep, and full of old violence and his breath reeked of beer. The violence I felt in him was that kind of violence that had been used too many times to feel guilty about.
