I may be weak for Aria, but I won’t be like this, confined to this bed, for long.
“Nikolai won’t betray us so long as he thinks Aria is safe,” Jase says.
“Nikolai won’t betray us,” Aria speaks for the first time, her voice hard as she gives her full attention to Jase, daring him to deny what she’s saying is true. “He’ll keep his word.”
“The war between our families is over. We’ll act as one.” Aria’s strength and determination are barely offset by the raw emotion in her voice. The reluctance to accept anything else will be her downfall. But I’ll catch her. And I will bend to her volition as best I can.
“For now,” Daniel speaks up. “Someone from your ranks may want to go their own way, to take men and rally against you, Aria. But for now, Nikolai is on our side. And even if they split off, we can let them. We don’t need to fight for their territory.”
Aria assesses him, her chest not moving as she refuses to breathe. With a single nod, she gives way to what may happen. I’ve seen it before, small factions separating. Generally, it ends with bloodshed, but we’ll handle that when the time comes.
Jase holds her stare for only a moment before nodding once. “Either way,” he speaks to me, “Romano is a dead man. He can hide in his safe house all he wants. I’ll find him. I’ll kill him.”
“Another day and the enemies change,” Daniel comments.
“We can talk about it once you’re feeling better,” Jase says.
“You and Sebastian handle this, plan the attack, but keep me informed.” The ease with which I give up control shocks Jase, if his raised eyebrow is any indication.
“I have other things to attend to.” As I speak, my hand grips the edge of the bed and I wish it was Aria’s hand. I need her close to me. I need to know every piece of us fits back together how it should, how it was meant to all along.
I need her to love me.
That’s all I need.
“One more thing,” Jase tells me, rocking on his heels just as Daniel kicks off the wall, ready to leave us alone. Jase can’t get the fucking hint.
“What?” I don’t hide my annoyance in the curt response. But it only makes both of my brothers smile.
“Do you remember that woman in the Red Room?” Jase asks me and I feel the pinch in my forehead as I shake my head no.
He lets out an exasperated sigh but says it doesn’t matter. “Her sister is the girl we met in the Red Room. Jennifer something. She died and her sister is causing a scene. She’s making threats and calling the cops.”
“Who is she?” I ask him, wondering why the fuck we should care. Plenty of assholes call the cops on us when they don’t know any better. We pay the cops to tell us exactly who and why. And we pay them well.
“The sister of the girl who wound up dead. The one we questioned about the SL stash bought in bulk.”
I peek at Aria, who squirms where she stands, her gaze shifting from me to Jase.
“And?” My heart races, wondering what she’s thinking.
“I figured I’d stop by and see what she knows.”
“And how are you going to get that information?” Aria asks, again speaking up but only to make her presence known as well as her newfound authority.
“Don’t worry, Miss Talvery,” Jase rolls her name off her tongue, “I’ll be a gentleman.”
“I don’t believe you,” she tells him but the hint of a smile graces her lips.
“Do you need someone to come with you?” Daniel asks and it’s only then that I realize how tired he is. How tired they all are.
“I can go on my own – I just wanted you to know,” he tells Daniel and then looks back at me.
It’s quiet in the room for a moment and every second that passes, I wonder if he’s all right. Ever since Marcus told us the truth about Tyler’s death, sadness and despair have clouded Jase’s eyes.
“Are you okay?”
Agony ripples through his dark blue eyes, but he plays it off. He’s always handled hardship that way. “You’re asking me when you’re the one strapped to a fucking bed?”
“I’ll only be here for a day or two.” I keep my voice low and warning. “Remember that.”
Daniel’s chuckle is genuine, but Jase’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”
Shaking my head, I say, “Nothing.”
“Is that all?” Daniel asks Jase and he responds by holding up a finger. He goes on to tell me about the money coming in and how the last week’s been fucked. How another shipment of sweets was stolen. I don’t fucking care anymore. I just don’t care. He can take on the problems now.