#{alexandervbarrett: second}

Ray’s jaw was throbbing painfully. Almost panicked, a hard thud, thud, thud, against his ribcage in time with his racing heart. After the events of the night -- a whirl wind of women and punches and blood -- he was surprised that this was the thing that he’d honed in on. But, it wasn’t as if Raymond had ever needed to prove his loyalty to Alexander Barrett. He was his boss, his friend, his brother. As much as he loved Sophia, and the guilt that ate away at him for what he’d gotten Avery into, he needed to see Alex. He needed to see him now.

The underboss pink velvet suit was in disarray, and several party goers audible gasped as he streaked past them in heavy movements. There was blood on his clothing -- his shirt, his knuckles. For people who knew him, it wasn’t anything new. But for the guests, it was a shock to see such a man so dead set on his path and obviously rising from... something. There wasn’t time to think about it. Where the fuck was he?

“Barrett!” He barked, his eyes almost wild as he grabbed his boss by the shoulder and practically yanked him into a secluded corner before he could step back into the dancing, the drinking. Raymond wasn’t quite sure how he’d managed to hear her name, but he had. He knew the name as clear as day -- had even come to love her like family, despite originally thinking her no more than a gambling chip to make a pretty penny off of. Even after, she’d just been a piece of ass on the dance floor -- until he’d seen his brother look at her. Really, truly, look at her -- as if that single woman made his world spin. From that moment, he’d sworn he’d protect her. For the sake of his brother, if not for his own selfish pleasure in being able to see Alexander Barrett in love. And she’d been taken from them -- the tiny woman who would’ve without a doubt been in their lives forever. Who had become Alex’s purpose in the fucked up world they were apart of, and who’s absence had broken him in ways Raymond Holloway never wanted to see again. 

Raymond released his grip on his shoulder, his sharpening in a way that was very rare. Gone was the man who wanted nothing more than to drink and fuck. In his place? The man who countless people across the world had come to fear. A serious Raymond was not a Raymond to be trifled with. “She’s here.” But Alex didn’t seem surprised -- almost distracted. Ray took hold of his shoulders again, giving him a good, hard, shake. “Alexander. Did you hear me? She’s here -- Tatiana. Heard some Russians talking. She got out of the compound. She’s here.”

“Not a good time, Barrett.” Ikaia’s breathing was ragged. Anger coursed through him hotter than a newly forged blade ripping into his stomach. It hadn’t stopped since the wedding -- he’d barely even been able to process the fact that the event had turned into a shit show after the alcohol wore off and he’d stumbled into sobriety. All he could think about was Sophia -- his little bird -- all in white and walking down that aisle to what he was convinced was her death. 

Alexander was his brother -- but Ikaia’s past wasn’t one he talked about often. The vampires were no secret. How he felt about them, what they’d done to him. But this vampire king. This Gabriel. It was new, yet so, so already ingrained in his very make up because of her. 

The Gemini’s deck was silent. In a rage, he’d sent his crew scrambling from the deck just minutes before Alex had appeared. No doubt head heard the thunderous sound of Kai’s yelling. A whiskey bottle pressed into his palm, the fae lifted it to his lips and finished it off before letting it crash to the wood beneath his feet. “Don’t you have something better to be doing? Fucking just need some peace and quiet.” Quiet, to be alone with the rage that bubbled beneath his skin. To simply feel broken.