The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over the city as Dimitri sat on the balcony of his apartment, staring out over the skyline. Normally, he would use his off days to decompress—to let the weight of the job slide off his shoulders and give his mind the rest it so often needed. But today was different. Ever since his first meeting with Kian Orlov, his thoughts had been consumed by the man's face, his voice, and the subtle, dark energy that had pulsed between them in that interrogation room.
Dimitri leaned back in his chair, the cool evening breeze ruffling his dark hair as he took a sip of the whiskey, he'd poured himself. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the alcohol settle into his bones. He should be thinking of anything else—his other cases, his own life outside of work—but instead, his mind drifted back to that room. Back to Kian, bound in the straitjacket, smiling at him like they were the only two people in the world.
He exhaled slowly, trying to clear his head, when his phone buzzed on the table beside him. Axel. Of course. The warden was one of the few people in Dimitri's life who understood the weight of his job. They had grown close over the years, both of them dealing with the same kinds of people, seeing the darkest sides of humanity day in and day out.
He picked up the phone, bringing it to his ear. "Axel," he greeted, his voice slightly rough from the drink and the hours spent lost in thought.
"Thought I'd check in on you," Axel's voice came through, casual, but there was a hint of concern beneath it. "You've been quiet since your little meeting with Kian."
Dimitri couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at his lips. Axel always knew when something was bothering him. "I'm fine. Just... processing."
"Processing," Axel echoed, with a knowing chuckle. "He really got to you, didn't he?"
Dimitri hesitated for a moment, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "He's... different. The way he looks at things. The way he looks at me."
There was a pause on the other end, and then Axel spoke again, his tone more serious. "You sure that's something you want to get tangled up in? Guys like him, they play mind games, make you think you're in control when you're not."
Dimitri sighed, standing and leaning against the railing of his balcony, looking out over the city. "I'm the psychologist, Axel. I know that but it's been forever since I've felt this excited, this alive. Also, he's hiding something, and I'm going to figure out what it is."
"Just be careful," Axel warned, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "I've seen guys like him. They know how to get into your head. Don't let him pull you into his world."
Dimitri nodded, though Axel couldn't see it. "I won't," he said, though a part of him wasn't entirely sure. Kian was already inside his head, and he hadn't even tried to hide it. There was a fascination there that went beyond the usual curiosity of his job, and that was what unsettled him the most.
After ending the call with Axel, Dimitri felt restless again. He grabbed his jacket and decided to take a walk, hoping the cool night air might clear his thoughts.
By the time he returned to his apartment, it was late. He threw his jacket over the back of a chair and sank down onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.
As the hours slipped by, Dimitri realized one thing—he would need to see Kian again. He had to know what made him tick, what dark secret he was hiding behind those calculating eyes.
The thought gnawed at him, relentless, pulling him deeper into an obsession he couldn't shake.
He wasn't done with Kian yet—far from it.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains of Dimitri's apartment, painting the room in soft gold and casting long shadows across the floor. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
With a groan, Dimitri swung his legs over the edge of the bed and ran a hand through his hair. He had plans today. Meeting up with old friends, people he hadn't really thought about in ages, but who still insisted on staying connected. The group chats, the occasional get-togethers—he went along with it all, playing the part of the friendly, easy-going Dimitri. It was easier that way, to blend in, to pretend he cared. Even if, deep down, none of it really mattered to him.
It wasn't that Dimitri didn't care for his friends; he did, in his own way. But after everything he'd seen, everything he'd been through, he wasn't sure he knew how to truly care anymore—not the way other people did. The ability to connect, to feel deeply for anyone, had slowly eroded over the years, leaving him aloof, even from those who meant something to him.
After a quick shower and a breakfast he barely tasted, Dimitri found himself on his way to a familiar café downtown. His usual casual smile was firmly in place as he arrived and spotted his friends at a corner table. They were already laughing and chatting like nothing in the world weighed them down. Sometimes Dimitri envied them, the way they could find meaning in such mundane things.
"Dimitri!" Lilith called out, waving him over. She looked like she always did—effortlessly stunning, her long copper hair falling perfectly over her shoulders. She had the kind of presence that drew people in, though Dimitri knew that, like him, she carried her own secrets behind her polished exterior. He doubted anyone else noticed.
Jaxon leaned back in his chair, flashing Dimitri a grin. "Well, look who finally decided to show up. Thought you might've ditched us for some new case."
Dimitri laughed, shaking his head. "Wouldn't miss it," he said easily, slipping into a chair next to Hayden, who gave him a welcoming smile.
"How's work been?" Hayden asked, ever the caring one. He was the kind of guy who genuinely wanted to know how people were doing, always offering advice or a listening ear. A good person, probably the only one in the group who was genuinely so.
"It's been... intense," Dimitri replied, keeping his answer vague. He wasn't about to tell them that his mind had been hijacked by a dangerous criminal, or that he hadn't slept well because of the tension he couldn't stop replaying. "But you know how it is. Same old stuff."
Melissa, sitting across from him, pushed her glasses up and smirked. "I bet you've got some wild stories, though. You never talk about them. Come on, give us the dirt."
Dimitri chuckled, his tone light as he replied, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
The table erupted in laughter, but there was a part of Dimitri that found it all so distant. This group—they thought they knew him, thought they were close. But Dimitri was only ever half there. The other half of him? Well, that part of him was always lurking in the shadows, tangled in the minds of the killers and criminals he spent his days unraveling.
Lilith leaned in, resting her chin on her hand. "You always keep us in suspense, Dimitri. One of these days, you're going to have to spill the beans."
He gave her a teasing smile. "Maybe one day."
The conversation flowed easily after that, as it always did with this group. Jaxon was telling some story about his latest conquest, his cocky grin in place as he explained how he always made things clear with the women he dated. Melissa rolled her eyes, but it was all in good fun. Hayden listened patiently, chiming in with thoughtful remarks that balanced out Jaxon's brashness.
To anyone looking in, it would seem like Dimitri was right there with them—laughing, joking, and enjoying the company of his old friends. But inside, his thoughts were elsewhere.
He took a sip of his coffee, trying to push the thoughts away, to focus on the conversation in front of him.
"Hey, you okay?" Hayden asked, his tone gentle as he leaned in a little closer.
Dimitri blinked, realizing he had drifted off for a moment. He flashed his friend a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Just spaced out for a second."
Hayden gave him a knowing look but didn't press. "Let me know if you need to talk."
Dimitri nodded, but he knew he wouldn't take him up on the offer. Hayden was kind, but he was out of his depth when it came to the kinds of things Dimitri dealt with. The things Dimitri carried inside him were darker, and more complicated than Hayden could understand. Even the simple act of hanging out with his old friends felt like a charade, one he was all too used to playing.
By the time the group parted ways, Dimitri felt more restless than ever. The easy camaraderie of the day had done nothing to ease the growing tension within him.
Returning to his apartment, Dimitri stood at the window, staring out at the city lights that flickered like distant stars. The quiet of the night pressed in on him, amplifying the unrest that churned within.
Dimitri took a deep breath, steeling himself for the days ahead.