Behind me, footsteps crunch closer. Beau whistles low. “Damn, baby. That was kind of hot.”
Jackson exhales, voice softer now. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m sorry,” I breathe, still catching up to what just happened. “I didn’t mean to put you in danger. I just wanted to prove I could handle this life. I figured if I fixed the problem on my own... maybe you’d trust me more.”
Jackson shakes his head. “You didn’t put us in danger. They were coming for you no matter what. We’re just glad we made it in time. Call that detective. If he’s serious about protecting us, now’s the time to find out.”
I pull out my phone and dial. “Detective Abbot?” I say when he answers. “It’s Aria. From the bookstore. Something happened, and I need to know… If we deliver what you want, can we count on you?”
His voice is steady. “Like I said. You give me what I need, and I’m on your side.”
“There were two men. The same ones who threw the brick. They attacked me. The guys showed up. They’re... dead now.”
He pauses. “Where did this happen and where are you?”
“Behind the store. We’re all still here.”
“I’m on my way. Don’t touch anything. I’ve got a plan.”
I hang up and turn back to the others. Jackson pulls me into his arms again, and I let myself breathe.
“It’s going to be okay,” he whispers. “We’ll face whatever comes next together.”
Beau nods, voice firm. “No matter what. We’ve got each other’s backs.”
And in that moment, surrounded by blood, blades, and the people I trust, I believe him.
Chapter 10
Aria
The night around us is quiet as we stand in the back lot, the cold creeping in from the shadows where the bodies of the two men lie still and lifeless. I glance at the guys all of them standing around the bodies, expression unreadable. Beau, Jackson, Nolan and Liam are all lost in thought as we process the aftermath of what just happened.
“Hello?” The word catches me off guard, and we all turn toward the sound. Rounding the corner from the alley is Detective Abbot. His gait is slow he always seems one step ahead. His eyes scan over the scene as he approaches.
Abbot nods, his eyes flicking over to the bodies on the ground, then back to us. “Got a situation here, huh? I didn’t think it would be a one and done attack.” He takes a beat before looking at Jackson, his expression unreadable. “Got something for me?”
Jackson rolls his eyes and reaches into his back pocket. Grabbing his leather wallet. He slips five one hundreddollar bills from inside and into the detective’s outstretched hand.
Abbot doesn’t even blink, sliding the cash into his jacket with one smooth motion. “Good,” he says, the folds his arms across his chest. “Now, let’s talk.”
“You two have apparently moved here and created new identities,” he says, glancing at my men, “Because the all-points bulletin doesn’t use the names you gave me. So, I’ve been thinking, I can help you stay and live under those new identities.”
The detective’s face is serious as both Jackson and Beau listen intently to the details of how this will all work. “We’ll take the bodies. Burn them, make sure they’re gone. When I get back to the station, I’ll tell them I was called out for a fire, and when I showed up, you found these two dead.”
Jackson nods slowly, as if he’s already picturing the scenario in his head. “That works,” He murmurs. “But the issue is how are you going to prove it is us?”
Abbot gives him a sharp look, then shakes his head slightly, as if he’s already figuring out a way around that. “Standing here looking at you two now,” He says his voice low as he looks between the guys. “I see what we’re gonna do.”
Beau raises an eyebrow, prompting him to continue. Abbot steps forward, a touch closer to the bodies, his voicelowering even further. “Clothing is replaceable, right?” He says, and without waiting for either of their responses, he motions to their vests. “I want both of their vests off of their bodies. Take them home with you, burn them, cut them to pieces. I don’t care. We are going to take both of your vests and you will put them near the bodies, as if they tossed them off before the fight with whoever burned them to death. The vests are key, it gives us your real identification quickly.”
Both guys shrug out of the vests like they honestly have no attachment to them. I guess its easy to give them up again when you already lived without them for over a year. “Now, there’s one thing we still need to take care of before moving the body. Who’s got the strongest stomach here?” Abbots gaze shifts from one man to the next. “Someone’s gonna need to pull the teeth. I have tools in the car.”
There’s a long, tense moment as the men look at each other, their expressions unreadable. Then, three of them, Beau, Jackson, and Nolan, all points to Liam.
Liam looks between them, his face slowly contorting into something of a grimace. “Oh, yeah, thanks guys,” He mutters, clearly not thrilled at the prospect.
Abbot smirks slightly, though it’s not really amusement, it’s more like a silent agreement. “After this is all said and done, when I get back to the station I’lltell them the story we’ve agreed on. That I found the two individuals who’ve been on the run for a year from Florida. They’ll buy it, with my high up position in the station they have no right to question me. I’ll even cover the entire case so no one gets suspicious. No autopsy for two reasons. One, because you two are escaped murderers and no one gives a shit about you, and two, because we already know the cause of death. After we burn them there might not even be enough body left for a report. The teeth have to go because there is no guarantee they will burn or be disfigured in the fire. After that I will make a call to the Florida police and inform them they can close down the all-points bulletin. Then you will officially be free, and no one will be looking for Wren or Sawyer anymore.”
