Chapter 40: Truth out
Dino

"Ziesha is fine," Dino cut the call with Caleb and turned to Ryan. "Said she'd gotten hit by a dart bullet so no after shocks. They should be good." Ryan just nodded.

"Are you alright man?" He'd already asked Ryan that; and Dino hated repeating himself but he was not gonna buy his lie this time. Something was up with the man, like he had some huge bounty on his head. "I'm good, just a headache." That's bullshit.

"You want me to drive?" Because Ryan was doing eighty when they should be doing two freaking hundred. "Nah, I'm good."

"Is Miranda okay? You guys are fine?" Dino did not miss the way Ryan's hand tightened on the steering wheel at the mention of his girl's name. "I guess she's good." Guess? "Y'all fighting or something? C'mon bro. Tell me." This was so unlike Ryan and quite frank, it was annoying as hell.

"I just haven't seen her for some time. That's all." That was also impossible since Miranda and Ryan worked in the same building, just different floors. "Why is that?" Dino could be annoying as hell too. "Just! What's with the questions!" Ryan hit a pothole on the road, sending the bags from with the weapons tumbling.

"Yo! Careful. We've got heavy shit in the car! What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" Ryan picked up something from the seat beside him that had fallen from Dino when the car had jerked. "What's wrong with you?" He flashed the photograph in his face. Dino tensed. It was a picture of Meera that he'd taken and kept with him since the day he'd kidnapped her. He'd found it in her wardrobe while packing some of her clothes. Without thinking or even having a reason, he'd stolen it.

"So I got a picture of the girl we kidnapped. Is that a problem Ryan?" Dino took the photograph back. He had never witness his friend act like a bitch ass boy before.

"Yeah it is an issue Dean. That's not your girl. You can't just go around stealing pictures of girls."

"Excuse me?"

"Meera is not your girl Dean!" he said again, "Wake up! She'll never fall for a guy like you. You messed up! Alright? So forget her!" Ryan spat all at once. Dino could not believe his ears. "Who told you that?" "It's pretty obvious that girl's not some easy lay. She's not gonna just fuck you and expect to never see you again. So quit-"

"What the fuck are you talking about? Look, I don't care whether you and Miranda are toast, don't involve Meera into this!"

Ryan turned to look at him. "And you don't bring Miranda into this!"

Dino was losing it. "Meera isn't just come ordinary chick to me Ryan! I'll never play her like that. Hell, I don't even think about her in that way." If Ryan wanted a war, that's what he damn well will get. He had enough of bullshit for one night, not to mention he had to leave Meera behind for this.

"She's not your girl Dean, you don't care about her!"

"I do care! And she is my fucking girl!" The words flew out of his mouth before he can prevent them. Ryan hit the brakes hard. The car came to a screeching halt. "Are you in love with Meera?"

Dino turned away. He wasn't gonna play this...