When I didn’t move right away, Aiden shoved Kira further inside and grabbed my arm. I tried to tug it back but he pulled harder. Dragging me inside the house, he slammed the front door shut and locked it.
“You just can’t mind your own business, can you,” he spat, thrusting me closer. His fingertips dug firmly into my bicep.
I gritted my teeth. “Let go."
“Aiden, please,” Kira sobbed, arms wrapped around herself. “She doesn’t have to be involved—”
“She wouldn’t be involved if you didn’t text her.” His eyes narrowed on me and he pushed me into the living room to the left of the door.
My foot caught on the stained rug on the floor but Aiden tugged me upright and shoved me onto a worn sofa adjacent to the covered front window.
The home was small and sparsely furnished with second-hand everything. From mismatched dining chairs at the small, plastic table in the kitchen, to an old tv.
Aiden whirled on Kira next, and she flinched and cowered as he raised his voice. “We would be on the road by now if you didn't fuck around!”
“I’m sorry, I'm sorry,” Kira whimpered.
“No, you aren’t. You’ve been putting this thing off for weeks,” he growled.
As he cornered Kira against the wall, I reached slowly for my phone in the right pocket of my jeans. It was the only thing I had on me after leaving the apartment so fast.
With the screen poking halfway out and hidden beside my thigh, I hastily scrolled through my contact. Keeping an eye on Aiden, I selected Dad’s number and haphazardly sent off my location before shoving the phone back into my pocket.
“I wanted to escape the city with the woman I love,” Aiden continued, voice growing softer as he gripped Kira’s face, forcing her to look at him. He brushed a lock of her hair from her bruised cheek with the end of the gun, smiling faintly. “I’ve loved you since the moment we met... Do you not love me?”
I curled my fingers into the edge of the sofa. Stuck between a feeling of fear and frustration as I watched.
Stepping in would only make it worse.
Kira sobbed but nodded quickly. “I do love you, Aiden. Of course, I do.”
Aiden paused to read her face and then pushed away from her. A muscle ticked in his jaw and he jabbed a finger at her.
“You’re lying,” he breathed. “I can see it in your fucking eyes.”
“I’m not.” Kira tried for a smile as she approached him, taking his hand in hers. “Just, let Lily go. And then we can leave—”
He struck her across the face and she staggered back, holding her cheek and panting. Her red hair hung messily around her face.
I was already on my feet, taking a step toward her, when Aiden pointed the gun at me.
“Sit. Down.” His eyes flared as he clenched his jaw.
I raised my hands slowly and backed up, swallowing the lump in my throat, I kept my chin up despite my shaking hands. When my calves bumped into the sofa, I hesitantly sat down again.
Aiden growled in frustration. The weight of the situation was quickly setting in as he dropped his arms to his sides and began to pace across the living room. He had two hostages. There was no getting out of this for him.
“Fuck!” He kicked a small side table, sending it crashing against the wall beside Kira’s legs. But she remained in the corner, too scared to move. Aiden dragged a hand over his face as he paused in the middle of the room. “I need to think.”
I needed to buy us time. At least until Dad arrived.
“What if you went on your own?” I suggested carefully. “Kira and I won’t say anything. No one needs to get hurt.”
“You don’t fucking get it,” he scoffed and then gestured to Kira using the gun. He took a step towards me. “I’m not going anywhere without her. I love her. We’re meant to be together.”
“I do get it,” I said calmly. “But you also can’t force someone to love you. Or doing things they don’t want to do.”
Aiden flashed an unsettling smile. It was one intended to hurt. “What would you know? Dean gave up on you.”
