Chapter 40

He sat across from her, stuffing burgers and slices of pizza into his mouth like a starving animal.

Ariel folded her arms beneath her chest, watching him in disbelief. He hadn’t even offered her her to join him, let alone a thank you—just focused on devouring the food in front of him.

“So—” Ariel began, but he raised a finger, cutting her off.

Ariel paused, looking visibly pissed. She had just bought food for the psycho after he insisted she pay him for saving her life. The audacity.

She had rolled her eyes at his demand, yet here she was, watching him eat like a man who hadn’t seen food in weeks.

Finally, after finishing half the meal, he wiped his hands with a tissue and cleaned his mouth.

“What were you saying?” he finally asked, lifting his head to look at her.

Ariel scoffed in disbelief. How did I end up in this situation again?

“I got sacked from my job, and I have no money,” Micheal said flatly. “Don’t be annoyed that I tried to get something out of you—it’s really not my way.”

He gave her an apologetic look and rubbed his stomach. “I was really starving.”

Ariel slammed her fist on the table, and he jerked upright, startled.

“Can you be serious now?” she snapped.

He nodded quickly. “Yeah, ask. I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

“Why are you following me? And why help me?” she demanded.

Michael was silent for a moment, then met her eyes.

“I wouldn’t say I’m following you,” he said slowly. “More like… you keep showing up in my business.”

Ariel stared at him, stunned. “What?”

He leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but deliberate.

“Take Shahzad, for instance. I was supposed to finish him off—but then this brave cop swooped in and nearly got herself killed. All I did was save her. Then, about that photo of the lady—I overheard some talk at a bar I frequent. I knew you were on the case, so I figured it might help.”

He shrugged. “And James? I did a little digging. That guy’s a psycho. Sleeps around like a stray dog, and his so-called devoted girlfriend had no clue. I saved your ass every time, you should just thank me.”

Ariel’s jaw tightened at the mention of James. Devoted girlfriend, huh? If she’d known back then, she would’ve ripped him apart before dumping him.

“And what about today? At the bar?” she pressed. “Was that another coincidence?”

“No,” Michael said seriously. “I came to save you this time.”

He lowered his gaze for a moment, his tone dropping. “I told you—I quit my job. Had to, after finding out some things.”

Ariel studied him. One minute he was a reckless psycho, the next he was this dangerous, guarded man who made her wonder if he was really who he claimed to be.

She rose from her chair. “Since you won’t tell me who those guys were or what they wanted,” she said with a faint, sharp smile, “I’ll find out myself.”

She turned toward the exit, and Michael was quick to follow her. He was almost at her side when someone burst through the restaurant door, panting heavily. Ariel froze.

“Nat? What are you doing here?” she asked, startled to see him.

Nathaniel exhaled, relief washing over his face. He looked like he’d run a mile.

Michael stopped in his tracks, lowering the hand he had extended toward her, quietly observing them from a distance.

“I heard you got attacked. Are you okay?” Nathaniel asked, concern on his face

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Ariel said, nodding.

“I also heard there was someone else with you. Was he a cop? Did he save you?” Nat asked, his tone tightening slightly.

“Yes, he—” Ariel trailed off. She turned around to point at Michael, but he was gone.

“He was just here,” she murmured, confused.

Nathaniel glanced toward the exit, spotting a man slipping out through the other door—head low, back turned.

“Let’s get out of here first,” he said softly, smiling at her.

She nodded, and they left together in his car.

“He just left like that,” Ariel muttered once they got home. “What an ungrateful psycho.”

Nathaniel chuckled lightly, though something in his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ve been talking about him the whole ride.”

Ariel blinked. “Oh.” Then she sighed, dropping into the chair. Her stomach growled loudly. Watching that lunatic eat had left her starving.

“I’ll get you something,” Nathaniel said, heading to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, he returned with a bowl of cereal and milk.

“Take this first. I ordered something else already.”

She nodded and began eating.

“Now,” Nathaniel said with a faint smile, “are you ready to tell me who the guy was?”

“Don’t you want to know who those men chasing me were first?” she said between bites.

“Of course, I do.”

Ariel smirked, leaning back. “You’re not jealous, are you? Please. I could never like a guy like him.” The thought alone made her grimace, and she quickly shoved it away.

“What about the men that attacked you?” Nathaniel pressed.

Ariel set her bowl down. “I have no idea who they were—but they knew you. They sent me a text, luring me out.”

“A text? Can I see it?” he asked.

She handed him her phone. Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed as he read the message, his brow furrowing.

He recognized it immediately. His hand clenched around the phone, knuckles whitening. Why the hell were they after her?

“Do you know them?” Ariel’s voice broke his thoughts.

He looked up and forced a faint smile. “No, I don’t. Probably some criminal from an old case trying to mess with me.”

Ariel sighed. “I thought it was related to the case. That’s why I went.”

“Next time,” Nathaniel said, his voice dropping into a firm tone, “you don’t go alone. It’s dangerous, Ariel.”

She smirked. “Alright, boss.”

The doorbell rang. She stood up quickly. “I’ll get it.”

While she was gone, Nathaniel’s phone buzzed again. A message. He looked down—and froze.

It was a photo of Ariel from earlier in the restaurant. Taken secretly.

His grip on the phone tightened, his jaw ticking.

Ariel came back carrying a food package and set it on the table. Nathaniel rose abruptly.

“I just got a call from Mrs. Jones,” he said quickly. “She needs me at the office.”

Ariel frowned. “Is it a case?”

He shook his head. “No idea. She didn’t say much over the phone. I’ll go find out.”

He gave her a quick smile before heading out—but that smile vanished the moment he stepped outside.

Inside his car, he slammed the door shut, his face hardening. His hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white. Without hesitation, he shifted gears and sped off into the night.