Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 98

(Eddie's POV) Hande's sharp voice bounced around the walls in the room. "You don't take anything seriously, Eddie! Not this plan, not us, not anything!"

I blinked at her, stunned. I had seen her angry before, but never like this. She paced back and forth in front of the bunk beds. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest and her face was flushed with frustration. "I do take it seriously," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "I just... have a different way of handling things."

She stopped and turned to me. Her eyes were blazing. "A different way? Joking about everything isn't a way of handling it, Eddie. It's avoidance. This is life or death, and you're acting like it's some kind of game."

I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. She wasn't wrong. I had been brushing things off, cracking jokes, and making light of the situation. It was how I coped, but clearly, it wasn't working for her.

"Hande, listen," I started and stepped closer. "I know I'm not as serious as the others, but it doesn't mean I don't care. I do. I care about this plan, about getting out of here, about "I paused and swallowed hard, "about you." Her expression softened for a moment, but then she shook her head. "Then show it, Eddie. Stop hiding behind your jokes and start proving that you actually care."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "You're right. I'll do better. I promise."

She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumping. "I just.... I need to know that I can rely on you. This plan is too important to mess up.'

"You can rely on me," I said firmly and sat beside her. "I swear, Hande. I won't let you down."

She looked at me; her eyes were searching mine for a moment before she gave a small nod. "Okay. But no more jokes when we're planning. Deal?"

"Deal," I said with a grin, unable to resist. When she rolled her eyes, I added quickly, "I mean it. No more jokes. I'm serious now."

twitched, and she shook her head. "You're

love it," I said, nudging her

tension between us eased just a little, but I knew I had work to do to

.

(Dilara's POV)

my sketchbook open on my lap but the page was blank. My mind was too restless to draw, too consumed with thoughts of

mind like a broken record. The way he'd smirked at me, and his arrogance-filled voice as he'd said,

had wanted to scream at him, to claw at his smug face, but I had frozen instead. My hands had trembled, and my heart was pounding so loud I thought he could hear it. I had managed to walk away, but his laughter

me was demanding an outlet. I couldn't let him

creaked open, and Angel stepped inside. She took

out before I could stop them. "It's Ethan. He was... He... he

face darkened, and she sat down beside me.

encounter, the things he had said, the way he had looked at me like I was

this," she said firmly. "But you can't act on

don't care about the plan," I snapped. "I care about

if you go after him now, you'll only put yourself in more danger. And we need you, Dilara. You're part of this group, part of this fight. Don't let him win by breaking you." I swallowed hard as her words were sinking in. She was right, but it didn't make the anger go away. "He's connected to all of

acting impulsively may spoil

just a predator; he was part of the center's network, tied to its dark operations. His father was an important donor to the center,