“I really have. I know I’m an asshole, but we didn’t grow apart because of that. He took a different career path. I didn’t want to give up mine to follow him. Maybe I should have,” he says, hanging his head and running his hands through his hair.
“Look at me, Aiden.” I wait until he does. “You followed the path you were supposed to be on. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have followed Matt to Corrigan & Co. We would’ve never met, and you wouldn’t be one day getting a giant trophy to commemorate your skills as a lover. Would you really want to trade all of us for someone who only seems interested in himself?”
“I definitely wouldn’t want to give up my trophy,” he says with a smile.
“You’re an ass,” I tell him, and then I’m in his arms, and his lips are on me.
“You know I was kidding. I could give up anything except for you, Doll. Trophy included.”
“Not your friends.”
“I’d choose you. I’d hate to lose them, but I can’t lose you.”
“Good thing you’ll never have to choose.”
“Shouldn’t you both be working,” Dave says, once again sneaking up on us and trying to ruin our night.
“Shouldn’t you be at home pressing your tie?” I ask.
“Nice one, El.”
“You both think you’re so special and funny, but you’re not.”
“Really?” I challenge him. “Let’s go ask Tim if he feels the same way.”
“Crying to Daddy? I didn’t peg you for a tattle tale, Aiden.”
“I’m not. I don’t need my dad to take care of you for me. We can go anytime.”
“One day I’m going to take you up on that, and you’ll be sorry. The Golden Boy won’t look so good when I rearrange his face.”
“I can’t wait for you to try. Really, please try.”
“I hate you.”
“No. Oh my God. Now we can’t invite him to the wedding, Aiden. My numbers will be all off,” I say with a smile.
“You don’t have a ring,” Dave tells me, narrowing his eyes at my hand.
“She will.”
“Then she’s stupider than I thought she was. I guess growing up in bars kills brain cells, huh?”
I lunge for him, but Aiden holds me back. “You say what you want about me, but leave my family out of this.”
“Or what?” he taunts me.
“You don’t want to know.”
“He’s not worth it, El. Just let him walk away. Back to his pathetic life.”
Tim and Andres are in front of us before I can reply. “What the hell is going on over here?” Tim asks.
“Your boy here insulted Ellie’s family. I suggest you move him along. I love you, Dad, but I’m going to let go of her if he doesn’t shut up.”
“Dave,” Tim says, sighing as he looks at him. “I’m not sure where all of this is coming from, but I’ve noticed your behavior lately. You’ve been very aggressive towards Aiden, and now Ellie. You’re a great worker, and we’ve become close, but Aiden is my son. Don’t make me choose between you, because I’ll always choose him. Always.”
“Over anyone,” Andres says, his mouth in a tight line.
“Yes. My son comes before everyone else. I won’t apologize for that.”
“I think we should just get back to work. Have a good night, everyone,” I tell them.
I lean up to kiss Tim on the cheek, and then glare at the other two. I’m not sure which of them disgusts me more. That’s not true. I know, I’m just not going to say it yet.
Chapter 10
Aiden
“Are we going to my place or yours tonight?” Ellie asks, coming up and wrapping her arms around me.
I know she’s going to be upset, but I can’t go home with her. “Why don’t I meet you at your place later, okay?”
“Are you and the guys going out?”
“No. I just need to be alone for a little bit. Do I have to start telling you when I take a piss now, too?”
“Fuck you, Aiden Ford. Or better yet, I won’t.”
“El,” I tell her, grabbing her hand. “I’m sorry. That was a dick thing to say.”
“Yeah, it was.”
She pulls her hand out of mine and crosses her arms over her chest. I close my eyes as I try to figure out a way to fix this. I shouldn’t have taken out my bad mood on her. I can’t tell her that I’m going out hunting, but I didn’t have to act like she’s smothering me. She’s not like that, and I know she never will be. Even if she was, I wouldn’t mind it. She can smother me all she wants.
“It’s not you. This has nothing to do with you. I swear. I’m just keyed up from all the bullshit earlier tonight.” There. I told her part of the truth. That’s something, right?
“Why would you want to be alone? I could help you work off that extra energy.”
And fuck if she isn’t right. If I wasn’t such a messed up sociopath, I’d be coming up with some new ways to earn that trophy she’s getting me. But I am who I am, and that’s a hunter. Ellie calms me, and keeps me from killing, but I can’t stop hunting. Helping people is integral to me, like the blood flowing through my veins. I need it.
“Later. I promise.”
She looks like she wants to say something, but stops herself. She takes a moment before giving me a fake smile. “Great. I’ll see you later. Have fun being alone.”
Whoa. I know I didn’t imagine the emphasis on that last word. She can’t honestly think that. “You know I’m not going to see anyone else.”
“I wouldn’t blame you.”
“Stop it. You, and the things we do…God, what we did yesterday…that’s better than any random fuck I could ever find. A trillion times better. Hell, an infinite number better. I promise you, I’m going to be alone. All alone until I come over later.”
She sets her purse down and rummages through it. “Here’s a key. In case I fall asleep. I’ll try to wait up.”
“I get a key?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like a key to my apartment?”
“Yes, please.”
“I’ll have one made tomorrow. Even though I know you only want it for my bathtub.”
“Can’t get anything past you, can I?”
“No.”
“I love you, Aiden. Be careful, please, and then come see me.”
“I’m just going to walk a little. I’ll be fine. And you know I love you, too.”
“I do.”
She kisses me one more time, and then I watch her walk out. I wait a few minutes to make sure Tieny and Theo are good to close up, and then I hit the streets. Sometimes I have a target it mind, but on other nights, like tonight, I just go looking for trouble. It usually doesn’t take me long to find it—or for it to find me.
I’m near Dupont Circle when I see him. One of the guys who said that shit to my mom outside of the bar. Perfect. The reason for my rage is going to feel my rage. I look around, trying to see if my shadow is with me tonight. I haven’t been able to see him or her on the other nights I went out, and I’m pretty sure whoever was messing with me has given up, but I still look. Nothing appears out of the ordinary, so I keep moving. Time to have some fun.
This guy’s such a self-righteous idiot that he doesn’t even bother to look around. If he did, he wouldn’t see me, but I’d still like some sort of challenge. I don’t need it, but it keeps things interesting. I occupy my time with thinking about what I can do with him as we both leisurely stroll along.
He finally stops at an apartment building and I make my move. The baseball cap I threw on is low on my face, so he can’t see me clearly, and neither can any of the cameras that might be watching me as I move behind him. My gun is at his back, as I throw my arm around him, acting like we’re old friends.
“Make any sudden movements, and I’ll shoot you.”
“My wallet’s in my pants.”
“I don’t want your money,” I tell him with a laugh. “It’s time for you to pay for your sins, and I’m the judge, j
ury, and if you’re lucky, maybe the executioner, too.”
“Please, no.”
“We’ll discuss this when we’re in your apartment. Now move.”
He finally gets the fact that I’m not going to just walk away. By the time we’re inside his apartment, he’s shaking. He should be. I slam him against the door while I pull my mask down. There’s a good chance Ellie will invade my conscience, and I’ll let him live, so I need to protect myself.
I spin him around and start to stalk towards him. There’s no other word for what I’m doing—it’s more than walking. I’m literally stalking my prey. My lips curve up in a smile as he tries to throw little things at me. Books, papers, even a candlestick. This is going to be so much fun.
I put my gloves on slowly as I continue to dodge things, and then catch the remote for the TV when it comes my way. He realizes too late that I’ve trapped him in a corner. I turn on the TV, and find a horror movie, turning up the volume as far as it will go. “Now it’s my turn to throw things,” I say as I pull a knife from my pocket and open it. He puts his hand up, and that’s exactly what I want. He lets out a blood-curling scream as my knife lodges deep into his hand, and the wall.
“Please. Whatever you want. I’ll do it. Please.”
“I want you to stop terrorizing women.”
“I-I don’t.”
“I saw you outside that bar earlier,” I tell him as I pull out another knife and turn it back and forth in my hand. “I heard the disgusting things you said.”
“That woman—she deserved it.”
This time he has no time to react as my knife flies through the air, pinning the ear on his other side to the wall. He’s probably going to pass out soon, so I need to work fast. I’m done talking, anyway. I’m already fighting my urge to kill him, and if he talks again, I will.
I walk over and pull the last toy I brought with me out of my other pocket. I had to travel light since I didn’t bring a bag with me. This particular item is something I bought for my mom. She always leaves it behind, and tonight is the one night I’m actually happy about it.
I power the mini Taser on as his eyes go wide. I want to go for his crotch first, but I know he’ll pass out if I do, and where’s the fun in that? He tries to put his other hand up to stop me, so his palm gets to be first in line. His whole body shudders, but it’s not nearly enough. I move on to his stomach next, keeping it there a little longer. He isn’t even screaming now, because his body is going into shock. My time’s almost up, so I finally do what I want, and hold the Taser to his crotch until he slumps over.
I really like my knives, so I pull them out and let him fall before I leave. I turn down the TV so the neighbors won’t come storming over, push my mask back up under my hat, and then I’m out. A fun time was had by all. Well, by me at least, and now I can go home and kiss my girl.
* * *
Ellie
“You can look now,” Faith tells me through my comm. I had to look away when Aiden impaled that guy’s ear to the wall. I don’t know what happened next. Yes, I’m squeamish about blood and guts. I own it, and I overcome it when I have to. This time I had Faith here to watch while I covered my eyes.
I look down and see Aiden walking casually away from the building. And then I look up, and see our guy. “He’s climbing up my side, Faith.”
“On my way.”
I swing over from my perch across the way, expecting to surprise him. I’m the one who’s surprised as he turns to slam me into the wall next to him. Damn it, that hurt. I can feel my cheek split inside my mask, but I ignore the pain and start fighting.
We both get in some good hits before Faith lands on his other side. He leaves me alone to fight her for a moment, and while she’s distracting him, I attach the extra line to him. He tries to pull away, but Faith’s extra sharp knife easily cuts through his own line, and then he’s flying towards the ground, only landing safely because we let him. His time’s not up yet, but it will be soon.
“Well that was fun—not,” Faith says, when we’re back on the roof. “I’m going to have some bruises tomorrow.”
“Me too.”
“What are you going to tell Aiden?”
“We were sparring, and got a little too into it?”
“Gotcha. Where’d you park your bike?”
“The parking garage a few blocks west.”
“I’m the other way. Be safe.”
“You, too.”
I get my bike and manage to make it back to the townhouse before Aiden. I was pretty sure I would since he had to get back to the restaurant on foot while I was jumping from building to building. I wince when I look in the mirror, seeing all of my injuries for the first time. Besides the cut on my cheek, I also have bruises on my stomach and arms. At least they look like they came from a fight, so my lie will be convincing. I just wish that both of us could finally be honest with each other about what’s going on with Aiden. It would make things a hell of a lot easier. I acted like I thought he was going to see another girl earlier in the hopes that he’d come clean, but he didn’t.
I get in the shower and turn the water to as hot as I can stand it. It feels good, washing over my skin as I rest my head on the wall. I stay in until I start to look like a prune, wrapping myself in a towel as I tend to my cheek. I kept it out of the water, but I clean it now, thankful that it won’t need stitches. Thank God for Society training and butterfly bandages. I debate taking one of Audrey’s super pain pills, knowing I’ll be hurting in the morning. In the end, Aiden makes the decision for me.
“Hey Doll, you okay in there,” he says through the door.
“Yeah. I’m good. I didn’t know you were here.”
“You were in the shower, and well, we’re not at the joint shower place again yet, so I figured I’d just wait for you.”
“Thank you for waiting.” We both know I don’t mean just now.
“Nothing to thank me for. I’ll be out here when you’re done.”
I slip on my sleep shirt and open the door. “I’m done.”
“Jesus, El. What the fuck happened to you.”
“Faith and I got a little overzealous when we were fighting.”
“Fighting?”
“Sparring.”
“I thought you were tired.”
“I was. I am. But we haven’t been working out like we usually do, so we figured we should get some practice in.”
“Does she at least have a few bruises, too?”
I laugh, and then wince. “Yeah, she does.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Can I get a rain check on the sexy times?”
“Of course. Do you still want me to stay?”
“Of course. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Nothing to make up for. It’s enough that we’re here together.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Do you mind if I take a shower?”
“No. Go ahead. I picked up the stuff you like when I was out earlier. You know, shower gel and razors, and stuff.”
“Moving me right in, huh?”
“I didn’t…I wanted you to be comfortable…I mean, yeah.”
“Good. I’ll have to step up my game. All I got you was Lush bath stuff.”
“You say that like it’s not enough. A Lush bath is a little piece of Heaven.”
“I’ve seen you in one, so I’ll concede, but we are getting you more stuff for my place.”
“No complaints here. Now go take your shower so I can cuddle on you.”
“On it.”
I hear the water turn on, and I have to fight the urge to join him. I know I’m not ready, but the thought of all that water running over his sexy body? Yeah, there may be a change of plans when he comes out of there. If I can stay awake that long.
Chapter 11
Aiden
Ellie looked so cute sleeping on her side when I got out of the shower. I didn’t want to wake her, but I know we both sleep better when she’s curled up next to me. I gen
tly moved her, being careful not to touch her anywhere that would freak her out. That’s easier said than done, but I managed it. And then I fell asleep, too.
I wake up to both of our phones ringing. It’s barely light out, and I can’t have slept more than three hours, but I’m immediately awake. Military training doesn’t just disappear. I reach for my phone as Ellie does the same. She wasn’t military, but she is Society. Their training is probably more intense than mine was. Not that I’ll ever admit that.
“Hello.”
“Aiden, it’s Jake. You need to get to Walter Reed.”
I nearly fly off the bed. “My dad?”
“No. It’s your mom. Because of your dad, they took her there, though.”
“What happened?”
“A bomb was placed in her car. She got out in time, but she sustained some injuries in the blast.”
“Your mom told you?”
“No. I was there.”
“What?”
“I had a bad feeling about tonight, and those protesters, so we followed her home. Whoever placed the bomb had a lot of patience. They waited until she was in the driveway before detonating it.”
“But you said she got out.”
“Isa was scanning the area, and picked it up. She called your mom, and told her to jump out as fast as possible once she stopped. She’s alive, man, but she wasn’t conscious when they put her in the ambulance. We’re here, and my mom got us clearance to be told about her condition, but the doctor hasn’t come out yet.”
“Thank you, Jake. Tell Isa, too. I owe you both. I’m on my way.”
I throw on my clothes and run down the stairs. Ellie’s waiting by the door. “Give me your keys. I’ll drive.”
“Thanks,” I tell her.
I know she’ll get us there just as fast as I will, but she’ll do it safely. I spend the entire ride thinking about how I should have been thinking about my mom. I don’t know how my enemy knew to go after her before I was even done with the guy from the bar, but somehow he did. Either he’s clairvoyant, or the guy was a plant. Son of a bitch. I know without a doubt that it was option number two, and I played right into his hands. Not again. Never again.
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