Glass Hearts [BL]
Chapter 31: No One Has To Know

Chapter 31: No One Has To Know

The tattoo.

I didn’t even hear the bathroom door open until Dominic’s voice snapped me out of my trance.

"Yo," he said, towel still slung over his shoulders, hair wet and dripping onto his bare shoulders. "Did you just do a whole art project while I was gone?"

He’d changed into black joggers and a loose white shirt that clung to him in places it definitely shouldn’t have.

I stared at him. "Dominic. I remembered something."

He froze mid-step.

"What?" he said, crossing over and leaning over me. Drops of water fell onto my arm.

"Is this a serpent?" he asked.

I shoved the sketchbook toward him. "This. The guy that night. He had this tattoo on his arm. I saw it when he raised the knife."

Dominic grabbed the book, flipping it closer to his face, his eyes scanning the serpent.

His brow furrowed.

"Ash... are you sure?"

"Of course," I nodded. "It was on his right arm, just under the elbow. I remember it now. The second he lifted his arm to swing the knife at me, I saw it. It was this exact design." I tapped the page.

Dominic stared at the sketch for a long second, and raised a brow.

"Shit," he gasped. "That looks... familiar."

I raised my head immediately. "Wait...you’ve seen it?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking suddenly restless.

"I...I don’t know," he said. "I swear I’ve seen this symbol somewhere. But I can’t remember where. It’s... like a déjà vu thing. Like I’ve glimpsed it before, maybe in passing, maybe online, or..." He trailed off, eyes flicking away.

"But you’re sure you’ve seen it?" I pressed.

"Yeah. I’m sure. I just... can’t place it. Not yet."

"Dom, this could be the link. Whoever this guy is, he’s tied to that symbol. Maybe it’s some secret group. If you remember where you saw it, it might tell us who he is."

Dominic let out a low groan and sank down beside me on the couch. He moved his fingers through his hair.

I stood, stepping closer. "Maybe you saw it at a party? Or on someone at school? A friend of Liam’s?"

Dominic shook his head. "No. It’s older than that. I swear I’ve seen it before, like... years ago. This sounds insane. I don’t know if it’s the same tattoo or if I’m just... mixing stuff up."

He rubbed his forehead.

"I hate that I can’t remember," he muttered. "I’m usually good at this stuff. Details. Faces. Symbols. But it’s like... it’s right there. And I just can’t grab it."

"Hey." I nudged him lightly with my elbow. "We’ll figure it out. Together."

He glanced sideways at me. A faint smile curved the edge of his mouth.

"Together, huh?"

"Don’t make it weird," I shot back.

He grinned. "Too late."

But then the grin faded as he studied the serpent again.

"I’ll dig into this," he said firmly. "If it’s a gang symbol or a cult insignia, there’s gotta be a record somewhere. Online forums, news archives, something. I’ll find it."

"Thanks," I said. "Seriously."

Dominic closed the sketchbook carefully and set it aside, leaning forward.

"You’re not alone in this, Ash," he said quietly. "Not anymore."

Dominic’s blue eyes met mine...and for a second, my chest felt a little bit lighter.

"Dom..." I whispered. "Can I tell Marcus and June about this?"

His eyes snapped up to mine so fast.

"No," he said sharply.

I blinked, startled. "Why not? They’re my best friends. They’re already helping me....."

"I know they are," he cut in, trying to keep his voice calm. "But Ash... this is bigger than you. Or me. You have no idea how dangerous this could be."

"I’m not trying to shut you out," he said. "I’m just saying... this can’t get out. Not until we know exactly who we’re dealing with."

I nodded.

"If this is really connected to some underground group, or some psycho who was targeting Liam...we don’t know how far they’ll go to cover it up."

"If word gets out that you have details nobody else does, you become a target," he said softly. "And if you tell your friends...they could become targets too."

A chill scraped down my spine.

"But..." I tried again. "They’re my best friends. They’d never..."

"I’m not saying they’d betray you," Dominic interrupted. "But you don’t know who’s listening. Who’s watching. Even in a place like Blackwell...you think gossip doesn’t leak?

The second you involve more people, you’re putting them in danger too."

He leaned closer, close enough that I could feel his warm breath on my neck.

"Listen to me, Rivera." His voice dropped. "Secrets keep people safe. And right now, this one has to stay between you and me."

He held up a pinky finger between us.

"Promise me," he said. "For now... it stays just us. No Marcus. No June. No one. Not until we’re sure what we’re dealing with."

I stared at his hand.

"But Dom...."

"Promise me," he repeated. "Or I swear I’ll shut this whole thing down. Right now. I’ll delete everything I’ve been digging up. I’m not risking your friends. Or you."

His eyes were so intense it made me feel like I couldn’t breathe.

After a moment, I sighed and slowly wrapped my pinky around his.

"I promise," I said quietly.

He nodded once, locking our pinkies together.

"Good," he said. "It’s safer this way. For both of us."

My stomach twisted at the thought of keeping secrets from the two people who’d carried me through the worst years of my life. But Dominic’s eyes left no room for argument

I swallowed hard. "You’re really that worried?"

Dominic let go of my hand.

"Yeah," he murmured. "I’ve seen what happens to people who dig too deep into stuff like this. And I’m not letting that happen to you. Or your sister. Or your friends."

The way he said it made goosebumps ripple across my arms.

I stared down at the sketchbook in my lap, suddenly feeling how heavy the secrets were.

"Okay," I said. "Just us."