- Elias Carter:
Raine's bedroom was the kind of place you'd expect to find in a luxury magazine—the kind with glossy pages that made regular people feel poor.
It was large, bigger than my whole apartment, with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the golden morning light. The sheer white curtains billowed slightly from the breeze, their edges brushing against the polished marble floors.
The walls were a soft shade of cream, accented by intricate golden moldings. Across from her massive king-sized bed sat a fireplace, unlit but pristine, with a marble mantel decorated with small framed photos—most of them of us. Me and Raine are at different stages of life. As kids, as teens, and now as adults.
Her bed was a masterpiece of soft linens and plush pillows, dressed in a deep navy blue that contrasted beautifully with the gold trim of her furniture. It was the kind of bed that could swallow a man whole, and right now, I was sprawled across it, tossing a tennis ball up and catching it lazily.
"You know, for someone who's supposed to be my boss, you sure take your sweet time getting ready and making me wait. You are supposed to be ready before me," I teased, watching Raine through the mirror as she fixed the last buttons on her uniform.
She arched a perfect brow, glancing at me with a smirk. "I take my time because I care about looking professional. Unlike you, who just rolls out of bed and somehow still looks decent."
I grinned. "Decent? That's an insult, Archer."
She chuckled, shaking her head as she ran a brush through her long, dark hair. It cascaded down her back in soft waves, gleaming under the warm light.
She was effortlessly beautiful—always had been. From the moment I met her when we were five years old, she had this glow about her. The kind that made people stop and stare.
And I'd been staring for twenty-two years.
I never told her.
Never told her how much I loved the way she smiled when she thought no one was watching, how her laugh could pull me out of any dark mood. How she was the only person in this entire world who had my heart, and how I never even wanted to try giving it to anyone else.
Raine Archer had been my entire world since the day we met.
And I was fine with that.
Even if she never knew.
Even if it meant I'd go my entire life never knowing what it felt like to kiss her.
Because somehow, this—this friendship, this closeness—was enough.
I let the tennis ball bounce off the headboard, catching it again as she finally turned to face me.
"Alright, I'm ready," she said.
I sat up, resting my forearms on my knees. "Took you long enough, Your Majesty."
She rolled her eyes. "Keep talking, Carter, and I'll make you do all the paperwork today."
I pressed a hand over my heart. "You wound me."
She smirked, but her gaze softened slightly as she looked at me. "Come on, let's go."
⸻
We left the house together, stepping into the grand foyer where Raine's parents were already waiting.
Her father, James Archer, was a high-ranking official in the government. The kind of man people either feared or admired. He was tall, built like a soldier despite his years, with graying hair and sharp blue eyes that rarely softened.
Her mother, Celeste Archer, was just as powerful in her way. A woman who worked in diplomacy, constantly juggling political affairs with a grace that made it look easy.
"Be careful out there," Celeste said, placing a hand on Raine's arm. "And don't take unnecessary risks."
Raine gave her a small smile. "I won't."
Her father nodded at me. "Carter."
"Sir," I greeted with a small dip of my head.
There wasn't much warmth between us, but there was respect. He knew I'd die before letting anything happen to Raine, and that was enough for him.
After a few more goodbyes, we stepped out of the massive estate and into the waiting police car. I slid into the driver's seat, Raine beside me, and started the engine.
"You ever get tired of living in a castle?" I teased as I pulled out onto the road.
She sighed dramatically. "It's exhausting. The golden chandeliers are a nightmare to dust."
I chuckled, shaking my head.
The drive to the department was quiet, the city slowly waking up around us. Uppercity was always beautiful at this time of day, the golden sunlight reflecting off the pristine white stone buildings, the sky bridges humming with activity.
It was hard to believe that just beneath us, past the layers of floating districts and sky towers, was an entirely different world.
Undercity.
The place they called a crime pit. A place I had never seen with my own eyes, but one that Raine had. And for some reason, she never looked at it with the same disgust as the rest of Uppercity did.
Im the only one who knows why.
⸻
The police department was already busy when we arrived, with officers moving about, and paperwork being shuffled. But the moment we stepped in, we were met with the thunderous voice of Captain Denton.
"Archer! Carter!"
I sighed. "Here we go."
We walked into his office, where he stood behind his desk, arms crossed, face red.
"We've got a situation," he growled. "Big one."
Raine raised an eyebrow. "What kind of situation?"
He tapped the screen on his desk, and a holographic image appeared—mugshots of several men, their names and charges listed beside them.
"Recognize these bastards?"
I frowned, scanning the faces. And then—
"Shit," I muttered.
These weren't just criminals.
They were some of the most dangerous men in the Undercity. Gang leaders. Mafia bosses. People whose names were only spoken in whispers.
Denton leaned forward, voice dropping slightly. "They were caught last night in a sting operation. We've got them locked up in Blackgate."
Blackgate Prison. The highest-security prison in Uppercity.
"And what do you need from us?" Raine asked.
Denton gave her a grim smile. "You're gonna babysit them."
Silence.
Then—
"You want me to guard a bunch of crime lords?"
"Not just you. You and your team," he said, motioning toward me as well. "These bastards are a flight risk, and we can't afford any screw-ups. You're on duty at Blackgate, effective immediately."
I glanced at Raine.
Her jaw was tight, but her eyes were unreadable.
Finally, she nodded. "Understood."
Denton grunted in approval. "Good. Gear up. You leave in an hour."
As we turned to leave, I nudged her slightly. "Babysitting crime lords. That's a new one."