It was clear he wasnât offering any comfort, and he couldnât blame Rory for that. He was essentially a stranger, a known lover of the man who had stolen her away from her family and everyone else she knew. There was nothing to feel confident about with him aside the tales he told of her brother and their closeness. But it was a relief to know that nobody else knew of her true identity and the connections she had outside of these walls or the vampire clubs. âGoodâŚgood. As long as people know âMackâ, we shouldnât have cause to worry.â He shouldnât be worried anyway, he shouldnât be getting involved at all.
Mike watched as she put her face in her hands, and lets out a small sigh, taking another drag of his cigarette before passing it over to her. Heâd seen her eye it before and held it there insistently until she took it.
âWe knowâŚand they know itâs not safe. But it ainât gonna stop them is it. Family first right?â It made him feel sick saying that, family not something he really related to, not blood-wise anyway. Found family was different but blood let you down. Followed you when you wanted to be left alone. âLeave the tattoo to us. Weâve gotâŚsomething for that. Maybe.â He didnât want to divulge too much, things still in the early experimental stage, but he could plant a seed of hope.
Mike nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket and handing it to Rory. âTake whatever numbers you need. Not sure we have any overlap in our social circles but you never know. Bramâs in there. Brina too. Donât think Iâve got any other humans in there.â
       we shouldnât have cause to worry. that was a strange thought, that she was putting faith in him. that he would even be worried in the first place. âwhy are you helping me ??â her head cants, ocean eyes watching him warily. sure, he said he cared about bram but...it was a big risk he was taking even talking to her. âdoesnât this fuck up whatever-â she waves her hand vaguely. ârelationship, you have with oberyn ??â
    taking the offered cigarette, the blonde places it between her lips, inhaling a drag. heavy smoke settles in her throat, light buzz rushing through her. itâs a help, even if only briefly. passing it back to him, she leans back against the wall and lets out a low sigh. âthatâs why they canât. family first doesnât just apply to me. it means keeping them safe too.â three lives werenât worth trading for hers. turning her head, roryâs eyes flicker to his. âyouâve got a way to get rid of it ??â now that was a different story. if he could get rid of the tattoo, she could get away on her own terms. the others didnât need to get hurt.Â
    tentatively, the feeder pulls her own phone from her pocket, entering bramâs number. she wants to take brinaâs too...god, how she wants to. but she knows if she speaks to her sister, if thereâs even a message shared between them, then her resolve will buckle. her desperation to be reunited with her other half will be too strong. bram...bram she can try and make understand. âthank you.â rory nods, handing back his phone. âfor this and....for all of it.â