Page 25 of Wicked Heat

“Well, I don’t think so,” Aria says. “Especially when you consider everything.”

I cross my arms and glare. “Everything?”

She starts to pace. “Just hear me out, okay?”

“Fine. Whatever.” My head is about to explode. I don’t have it in me to keep arguing.

“He’s a bad boy, right? I mean, that’s his rep. A guy who lives hard and drives fast. Fucks around just like most guys with his looks and his money, but he’s never been in a relationship. Not really. Maybe one. But she died, so we can’t ask for her opinion. And you know the rumor is he killed her.”

I gape at her. “What are you? His biographer? And there is no way he⁠—”

She holds up her phone. “I’ve been poking around online. There’s a lot about him. But it’s all very surfacy. Guy doesn’t seem to like doing interviews.

“Oh, like that’s the mark of evil. Guess I’ve got horns, too,” I say, “because I can’t stand being interviewed either.”

“Why are you defending him?”

“I’m not. Why are you trying to vilify him?”

“I’m just laying out the facts.”

“Whatever.” I’m too mentally exhausted to argue. “Lay ’em out.”

“Right.” She starts to pace, her hands moving as she talks. “The guy’s got a bad boy reputation. And the whole world knows there was bad blood between him and Stark. And since the world is always more interested in scandal than in hugs and puppies, it’s probably fair to think that most folks still assume that Ash isn’t a Damien fan. Right?”

I shrug. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

She twirls her hand as if egging me on. “Just go with me, okay?”

“I’m going. Get on with it.”

She nails me with a very Aria look before plunking her butt down on the coffee table in front of me. “Let’s say he had nothing to do with the kidnapping.”

“Excellent. Can I go now?”

“Isn’t it still possible that he got his hands on those vids? Hell, maybe whoever made them went to him. Offered them up, knowing they’d fuel whatever coals still burn.”

“Coals?”

“You can believe all you want that Ash is rah-rah Daddy Damien now, but at least keep an open mind. Ashton Stone is smart, right? And that means he’s smart enough to play the dutiful son when he really wants to tear it all down.”

I shake my head. This conversation is just too much. “Why are you working so hard to make me distrust him?”

“Me?” Her blue eyes go wide. “Why are you so keen on defending him? The man was right there in that parking lot, probably standing where he could see your face when you first scanned that QR code today. You are not a stupid person, Bree. At the very least you have to suspect him.”

“Ash isn’t stupid either. And it would be nuts to be on site like that. To approach me like that.”

She nods slowly. “You’re right.”

“Thank you.”

“He’s smart enough to pretend to be stupid. To hide in plain sight. To do the unexpected.”

I consider banging my forehead against the wall, but since that would require getting up, I just stare at her. “You are trying way too hard.”

“I’m not. You’re just not listening.”

“Oh, I’m listening. I’m just hearing gibberish. And again I say, if he needs money, he’s just going to ask Damien. There’s zero reason to stick me in the middle of it.”