I glance down at my phone and blink when I see the time. 9:27 P.M. My pulse jumps a little. That’s it. It’s go time.
I stand up and look around at the guys, “Wow! It’s almost 9:30?. I guess the time got away from me during the conversation. None of us have had dinner and I'm starving. I think pizza sounds delicious and it's a quick fix. Sound good?” I say, stretching my arms and forcing my tone to stay even. I’m shocked at how easy the lie rolls off my tongue.
Beau looks up from his conversation, immediately standing. “That sounds great. Let me grab my—”
“No!” I say almost too urgently. “No need for that,” I cut him off with a smile, forcing it to look genuine again. “Stay here. Catch up with the guys. You seem happy right now.” I glance at his face, meeting his eyes. “I’ll be fine. It’s just a pizza run.”
He hesitates for only a second. He tilts his head like he wants to argue, but then he nods and slowly sits back down. I can tell from the look on his face that he’s thinkingreally hard about what he should do right now. It’s fine, though. I’ve already made my decision.
“Alright.” Jackson adds, looking me over. His eyes soften and he leans his head on the back of the couch. “We love you. Be careful, okay?”
I nod at him, biting my lip before I finally say, “I will. Love you both too.”
I grab my keys and wallet from the table beside the door and make my way into the cool night. I feel a mix of nerves and adrenaline settle in my bones but I'm just ready for all of this to be over. There’s no going back now. My heart is beating faster than usual, but in a way, it feels empowering.
I take a few deep breaths as I start my car and grip the wheel trying to calm myself enough to drive. I pull out of the driveway careful not to hit one of the bikes and the engine hums low under me, almost like a warning. I keep telling myself I’m not worried. I am taking matters into my own hands when the world around me doesn’t make sense. Sounds like a normal Aria move.
The town square comes into view as I drive. The streets are shockingly empty aside from the glow of the streetlights. From the road I'm on now, the bookshop is only a few miles away. The nervousness in my chest only grows with each passing minute.
I park a few shops down from mine, far enough that if someone’s watching the bookstore, they won’t notice my car. My hands have finally stopped shaking, but my heart still pounds like a war drum in my chest. I’m close now, so damn close to finally ending this. To taking control.
I lean my head back against the seat and let out one last breath. The air is cool and crisp, but there’s a heat rising in me that dulls the chill. I run my fingers over the weapons strapped to my body. Two knives at my hips, sharp and ready, and the comforting weight of my gun beneath my jacket.
Slipping out of the car, I close the door softly and melt into the shadows. I move fast but silent, heading toward the back of the bookstore. I know this place like the back of my hand. There’s an alley beside it, cluttered with boxes all the shops leave for trash pickup. It’s the perfect cover.
I crouch low behind them, positioning myself so I have a clear view of the back lot. Every second drags. The concrete presses cold against my knees, and the sharp edge of night air bites at my neck, but none of that matters. All I can think about is the plan. And the people who think they can use fear to control us.
They’re about to learn a hard lesson.
I check the time again, ten minutes after ten. Too long. This was supposed to move quickly so the guys wouldn’tget suspicious, but now I’m stuck in the dark, my patience thinning with every breath.
I try to breathe, to stay grounded, but my thoughts are spiraling. What if they’re not coming? What if this was a setup?
And then, it happens.
A sudden weight slams into my back. A hand clamps down over my mouth, and I’m yanked to my feet with brutal force. I choke on my own breath as panic surges. I thrash instinctively, reaching for my knife, but I'm blocked with solid, unyielding strength. My heart races, pounding louder than the silence around us. I'm dragged into the back lot, and I can’t break free. Whoever has ahold of me is strong as fuck and I’m trapped. This might be the end, and I never got to prove to my guys that I would keep them safe.
Then I see him.
A man waits in the dim glow of a distant light. His smile is grotesque and twisted. My blood runs cold. He takes a step closer to us and my muscles lock. I need to figure out what to do. Where can I run? How can I get myself out of this situation?
“Well, well, well,” he drawls, voice oozing with malice. “We figured your little boy toys were too smart to show up. But you? You’re perfect bait.”
My stomach sinks like a stone. This isn’t about me, it never was. They want Jackson and Beau. I walked right into their trap, and now I’m the reason they’ll come. The thought of it turns my skin ice cold, but I can’t let him see it. I won’t give him the satisfaction.
His eyes darken slightly, “You think they’ll come for you?” he taunts. “Or maybe we’ll have our fun first, like our brother did with Wren’s sister. Maybe we will even have time to kill you before they get here.”
His words hit like a gut punch. Wren’s sister. I know exactly what he’s talking about now. This isn’t about money. This is revenge…it's payback.
I swallow hard and force myself to stay still, even as every nerve screams for me to fight and run. But then cutting through the tension like a razor comes a voice.
“Get the hell away from her. You're here for us, so let's handle this like men and keep it between the guys.”
It’s Jackson. Low, deadly, and controlled.
The man holding me stiffens and turns just as Jackson steps into view, flanked by Beau, Nolan, and Liam. Jackson’s calm, but I can see the strain behind his eyes. Beau’s jaw is tight, muscles flexing beneath his vest.
“She has nothing to do with this,” Jackson growls. “This is between us.”
