Humiliated And Angry

Jericho’s POV

I reached out again to grab for her, but Aria was gone before I could make contact, rushing after the men. Dumbfounded, I could only gape at her, trying to understand her motivation. Instinctively, I began to follow her, calling out again. But like Aria, I’d forgotten to account for the positioning of my pants, movements restricted. Managing to catch myself before I could fall on my face, I looked after her again.

“Aria!” I barked, but she was gone, leaving me with my pants down in that alleyway, feeling like an idiot.

Humiliated and angry, I reached down to pull up my jeans, gritting my teeth. I was pissed off at the interruption, but I was also irritated with Aria.

She didn’t need to go after them. Doesn’t she realize I won’t let anything happen to her? She’s supposed to be stronger than this.

Obviously, she couldn’t be that concerned about Knox if she remained working for him. I’d seen her knapsack, which meant she was still doing the runs on his behalf. Aria hadn’t returned to me like she’d promised, and Knox hadn’t harmed her in two centuries. She remained a single female in Amestris, while so many had mysteriously vanished. Aria had been doing something right, just like Lora had said.

Because she knows how to play the game.

I considered the idea that perhaps she was playing me, too.

She couldn’t, even if she wanted to. She was trying to let me go, but our bond was too strong.

Still, Aria had to know that playing both sides like this was only going to lead to trouble, even if I was fully aware of what she was doing. I had seen dread on her face, the two of us being caught as we were. I had to follow her, just to ensure she was safe.

But if I went after her when she had specifically asked me to keep my distance, I ran the risk of antagonizing her again—and running into Knox.

That’s not a bad thing. I’ll kill that son of a bitch with my bare hands.

As long as it didn’t endanger Aria. I had the benefit of immortality, a fact that Aria didn’t let me forget. She did not. When I met up with Knox, it would be on my terms, not because I was following Aria around and chanced on him accidentally.

Around and around, I did this dance in my head. Aria needed my protection, but providing it would anger her and possibly put her at risk.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, but I thought of a reasonable solution.

Fumbling in my pocket, I reached for my cell phone, dialing out to Silver. Based on how we had sectioned the map earlier, I surmised he would be closest.

He answered immediately.

“Is there trouble?” he asked quickly.

“Potentially. I need you to get eyes on Aria,” I told him, buttoning my jeans. “She’s headed in your direction, but keep your distance, and don’t get caught.”

He tried to hide it, but I heard him suck in a breath over the speaker.

He’s worried he’s being dragged into a lovers’ quarrel.

“Don’t interact with her unless she’s in trouble,” I continued, not bothering to set him right. He was my underling, not my confidant. He was being paid well to do what he was told. “And if there is any trouble, contact me at once.”

“Yes, sir.”

I disconnected the call, sliding my phone back into my pocket, and smoothed out the front of my black shirt, rolling my shoulders back to alleviate the tension mounting at the shoulder blade.

Aria’s words replayed in my mind suddenly as I ambled toward the street again.

“Then let’s just get out of here. Let’s forget about Amestris and start over somewhere else. We can go back to Van Zanth.”

Oh, that invitation was so tempting, so real. If only Knox had just been clean about the way he’d handled my business, I would have snatched up my mate and taken that stolen sedan from Fabrice all the way back to Van Zanth without a second thought.

I’d gotten almost all the answers I’d sought since that strange postcard had arrived. I still didn’t know who had sent it or why, but it had given me my memories back and, most importantly, Aria. The idea of leaving Amestris to Knox might have played out in different circumstances.

But it wasn’t just about me, not anymore. Selling women, crimes against children—I couldn’t abide by those terms. And I wouldn’t let the events surrounding my burial go uninvestigated.

Maybe there’s still time—

A shadow fell over me, cutting my thoughts off abruptly. I raised my head, stopping in my tracks as a figure loomed at the end of the alley, a few feet from where I stood.

The appearance startled me, but not more than the blazing irises boring into me, legs spread apart in a fighting stance. My gums throbbed in anticipation; my form poised to shift.

Our eyes locked, and my pulse quickened apprehensively as I sniffed the air for an ambush.

And what the hell is this now? Where did you come from, and what do you want?