Alex’s jaw tightens. “You think you have a choice? You’re mistaken. Either you do this, or we arrest you.”
“W-what? I have broken no laws.”
“You have,” Alex smirks. “Accessory after the fact. That’s enough to put you behind bars, and when we bring Cyan down, do you really think he’ll protect you?”
A shrill beep cuts through the van. Lia glances down at her phone, reading the message before cursing under her breath. “We have a problem. Your driver just discovered you’re missing. He’s already contacted Cyan. Our agent saw him on the phone. Cyan is tracking you now.”
Ice floods my veins—funeral dates.“How is that possible? I left my phone in my desk drawer!”
Lia’s eyes flick to mine. “ Did Cyan give you anything? A gift?” Panic coils in my chest. I shove back my sleeve.The bracelet.
“Get rid of it. If Cyan can track it, he’ll be on us,” Alex snaps.
“I can’t! It doesn’t come off.”
“Fuck...” Alex swears.
I grab the van’s interior handle. Panic surges through me, a tidal wave of dread. “Stop the van. Let me out. Now.”
“We can’t stop here. This isn’t the best part of town,” Ethan says.
“I don’t care. It’s better Cyan finds me here than with you.”
Ethan curses and pounds on the divider. “Stop the van. Now.”
The driver slams on the brakes; the van jerks to a halt; the driver opens the back doors, and I scramble out, heart hammering in my chest.
“We’ll contact you,” Agent Lia says as I step out. “Look out for the purple sticky note at your desk. Think about what we said, Aria. Call Ethan if you need anything. We’ll be in touch.”
I don’t acknowledge her; don’t turn back as I walk away. The van’s tires screech as it speeds off, leaving me alone on a dimly lit street I don’t recognize. Where the hell am I? The sun has already set, and a crisp evening chill snakes through the air.I glance around and realize I don’t recognize the area. Warehouses. Empty streets. This isn’t good.
A single streetlight flickers weakly overhead, casting long, distorted shadows.The bus stop sign ahead is a small mercy. Checking the schedule twenty minutes until the next bus. My phone, useless, is sitting in my desk drawer. I’m so stupid. So fucking stupid. I could kick myself twice for meeting Ethan. This was a huge mistake. Should I keep walking? The neighborhood is too quiet, too deserted.The only person I’ve seen is a man bundled in layers, muttering to himself on the sidewalk. He doesn’t even glance my way. He’s not a threat. But I’m on edge.
I curse under my breath. How the hell did I let myself get roped into this mess? Then movement catches my eye to the right. Two figures step out from a warehouse entrance—coats too expensive for this part of town.Immediately, my instincts flare.
They don’t belong here. Neither do I. They start toward me. The taller one angles my way as they close the distance.
“Well, hello there.” My hands tighten into fists. Please, bus, show up, and where the hell is Cyan? I thought he was tracking me. I stare straight ahead, willing them to ignore me. However, I’m not that lucky; it seems my luck has officially run out. The taller man positions himself directly in front of me, blocking my view of the street.“What, you got no manners? Didn’t you hear me talking to yous?” His accent is thick—East Coast.
I swallow hard, keeping my voice even. “I’m just waiting for the bus. Not looking for trouble.”
A sneer curls his lips. “We’re trouble? Yous think you’re better than us?” I shift, trying to step around him, but he moves with me, cutting me off.
The second man speaks up. “Leo, she’s not worth it. We need to be in and out. Your father said… draw no attention.”
Leo—now I have his name. “Shut the fuck up, Davide. This bitch needs to be taught a lesson.” A flash of silver catches my eye. A knife. My pulse skyrockets. This is bad. “Listen, bitch. Yous so much as flinch, and I’ll gut you like a pig in the street.”
Davide glances around, nerves obvious. “Come on, Leo, let’s go. If Cyan finds out we were in his territory without permission, it’s our heads.”
They know who Cyan is. I use it, forcing steel into my voice. “Cyan MacBrady will kill you for touching me.”
Davide stills. “Leo, let’s go.” He sounds agitated now. But Leo isn’t listening. His hand lashes out, grabbing my arm and dragging me closer to him. “Leo,” Davide presses, “if she’s telling the truth, Cyan knows her. Th—this could turn into a problem.”
Leo’s grip tightens. The inhuman gleam in his eyes sharpens as he presses the blade into my side—just enough to sting. “That’s why we can’t leave her. Yous’re an idiot, Davide. The chick knows our names. What do you think will happen when she tells him?” My eyes widen in fear.
Davide doesn’t look convinced. “Leo… your father…”
“Shut the fuck up, Davide. This bitch needs to be taught a lesson. How dare she threaten me? Besides, we still have hours before our flight. Either I fuck her or I’ll be fucking yous. Now do as I say. Go wait in the car.” Davide flinches but turns, heading for the car. Leo smiles, all teeth and yanks me roughly by the arm. “Move, bitch.” I stumble, but he doesn’t care, dragging me toward the nearest alleyway.
