Chapter 10
I wokeup at five in the morning, wondering why I couldn’t fall back to sleep. It was Sunday, and I could sleep in. I should sleep in. But no, my body had other ideas.
I couldn’t believe I stayed up past midnight texting with Bullseye. I was lonely, crazy, or bored. Perhaps all of the above. I didn’t recognize this strange person in me. Actually, I sort of recognized her. She was a version of myself I hadn’t connected to in a long time. This version didn’t have worries or fears weighing her down. This version was the girl who went fishing by herself and talked to fish before she released them back into the waters.
One incident changed that, scarring me forever. After my mom died, I was afraid of a lot of things. That fear suppressed my emotions, and I think I forgot how to find that joy again. How could someone forget to be happy? Happiness should come easy, right? I was happy when my little patients smiled at me after a difficult procedure. I was happy knowing Dad was safe and at peace. I was happy that I could take care of Kaylee and not leave her alone in this cruel world.
But your soul is missing something.
I supposed I could never truly be happy if I were always on guard, scanning the horizon for any incoming threat. Being prepared was better than being attacked unexpectedly.
On that fateful day, I experienced two extreme emotions. That day had started out bright, beautiful, and full of hope. I had worn a new yellow shirt with pants to the party with my mom. My dad was out of state at a dental conference. By the end of the day, I was severely injured, and my mother dead.
Mom had exceptional talent, and I wished she got to live a longer life. Grandpa used to take her along on all of his business trips. All she had to do was look at a document, and she’d memorized everything on it, including account numbers. The information was used to blackmail his enemies.
She was both an asset and a threat because she knew a lot of confidential information. Only a few people knew about her ability. They just assumed that Grandpa adored his daughter and wanted her by his side. Over time, the work exhausted my mom mentally and emotionally. She didn’t want to memorize numbers to hurt others, even though they were her father’s enemies. She didn’t have many friends. Her close friend was Kaylee’s mom, Angela.
I often wondered how life would be for my mother if she had used her skills for something outside the crime organization. She could’ve been a rocket scientist. She could have created something innovative to improve the world. Yet she was trapped in a corrupt society that abused her ability.
I didn’t want that for Aimee.
Why didn’t Mom leave The Triad earlier?
You don’t abandon your family.
Duty. Family responsibility. As an only child, her duty as the daughter of a ruthless triad leader was to support her father. If she left him, he would die. She was an asset not only to him but to the entire organization. An inexplicable honor system demanded a brotherhood and sisterhood amongst the members.
My chest hurt, and I placed a hand over it.
Stop making yourself sad.
I didn’t know why all these memories came flooding back at this moment. Were they reminding me I’d gotten distracted from my goal?
Releasing a sigh, I returned my thoughts to the two men who had started me down memory lane—Bullseye and Arrow. Two men. Gosh, having two men occupy my mind was surreal.
Bullseye made me remember my inner joy. He had an easygoing personality and a sense of humor, making me want to go fishing again. Arrow’s magnetism and intensity tugged at my deepest desires. It was as though he understood my pain, sorrow, and secrecy without me having to tell him anything. To know that someone had that ability to see straight into my soul terrified me.Even I didn’t want to look within myself sometimes. In some strange way, it made me feel less lonely, knowing he could see me in a way no one else could.
I was torn between two men. Guilt nibbled at my conscience. What should I do?
Something was wrong with me. I was struggling between two men, one of whom could be a creepy serial killer pretending to be some nice guy. Maybe Bullseye was acting out a character in the same way I was learning how to do the pimp roll. Maybe he was married and cheating online. Or maybe he was trying to scam me out of money like those women I’d heard about on the news.
Ugh.
I needed a chat with the girls. Their insight into this ridiculous dilemma might help me. They”d scold me if I told them I was interested in someone I met online. Hell, I’d scold myself.
I had to meet Bullseye. I had to know what he looked like. Comparing the two would help me choose. Was Bullseye as handsome as Arrow? Did Bullseye have the magnetism of the gray-eyed wolf? Arrow’s soul-searching eyes made me think of an alpha wolf who knew his way around a dangerous terrain. I shivered, imagining his eyes on me.
Take a walk and clear your head.
The park near my apartment would be perfect to clear my head. It wasn’t big, and no one would be there at this early hour. The fresh air would help me decide on my next step.
I climbed out of bed and looked outside. It was still dark on this early December day. The apartment was in a nice and quiet area just outside of Providence. After washing up, I walked by Kaylee’s bedroom. I hoped she was having fun in Texaswith her classmates. They’d be back next week. I was so proud of her. She was definitely not awake right now. That girl would sleep all day if she could.
After sending her a good luck text, I dressed in a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and a puffy coat. I tucked my phone into my coat pocket, stepped into my sneakers, and headed to the nearby park.
It was cold and dark at six in the morning, with the crisp chill nipping at my face. A peak of light glowed on the horizon, ready to wake up the city. The sun had another hour before it could warm up the day.
I tucked my hands into my coat and braced for the cold. The unpredictable New England weather differed from the warmth of California. But I’d spent time in New York with my family when Mom was alive. The Taipans had factions in New York City’s Chinatown. So this cold weather wasn’t new to me. I didn’t mind it. The gloomy atmosphere made me more introspective.
Normally I listened to music during my walk or jog, but not today. I wanted to immerse myself in the city’s dawn as it woke and yawned, preparing for the brand-new day. Providence was a busy city, but not as chaotic as New York or San Francisco. It was a quaint size with all the city amenities, but not as crowded. I preferred solitude over groups of people. Preferring my space and privacy didn’t mean I was antisocial.
I crossed the street to the park. As expected, no one was there. In about an hour, people would be out walking their dogs, jogging, or sitting on the benches with coffee in hand. So I got to steal this quiet moment for myself.
As a self-defense instructor, I’d cautioned my students to be careful when going out in public alone. I’d tell them to avoid impractical times like late at night or super early in the morning when the world was still asleep. I’d remind them to be smart about their choices. And here I was doing the opposite of my instructions.
I didn’t always practice what I preached.
The swoosh of cars passing by became the background music to my ears. Two people exited a café from across the street. My mind was blank, and I was taking in images and sounds like a camera scanning the area. I took a big inhale, filling my lungs with fresh oxygen. As I exhaled, I heard faint footsteps behind me. I’d been trained to sense these minor details. Learning martial arts had taught me to be more aware of my senses.
Maybe the person was just out walking like me. I sped up, and the footsteps increased. What the hell?
Stay calm.Stay alert.
I removed my hands from my coat pocket, preparing for whatever was to come. Nerves mounted as I began a light jog.Then, the person also started jogging. I could hear their movements. Was I freaking myself out for no reason?
I stopped and whirled around, ready to see who was behind me. But I slammed into a brick of a body. The sudden shock and power shoved me backward.
“Are you all right?” Arrow asked, gripping my arm and pulling me to him.
I looked up at his gray eyes. Under the lamppost, they appeared even more animalistic. The gray irises shifted as they stared at me. My heart quivered as though his gaze seared right through my eyes and traveled straight into my heart. The sensation was palpable—something I’d never experienced before. There was this irresistible danger to it. The kind that made me feel alive.
My phone rang, and I stepped away from his grip. Pulling out my phone, I saw Calvin’s name flash on my screen. Had he found Aimee?
“Hi, Calvin.”
Arrow’s face tensed as he watched me.
“Hey, are you free to meet me?”
“Where? When? Do you have news for me?”
“Yup. Meet me at Over the Moon Café.”
“The café in downtown Providence?”
“Yes.”
“Be there in twenty minutes.” I slid my phone back into my coat pocket.
“Where are you going?” Arrow inquired. “I can give you a ride.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I’m just parked over there. Besides, I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
A car ride would save me time. I considered him for a moment.
“Aren’t we friends?” he asked.
“We are.”
“Then accept my friendly gesture.” His stomach growled.
I smiled. “Okay. Let’s get you breakfast.”
“Thanks.” He rubbed his stomach and ushered me to his Bugatti, a different car from the Maserati I’d seen him in.
I only knew the name because Audri’s boyfriend also had one, but his was slightly different. Arrow’s car was worth more than I made in four years combined. This was another reason I kept my distance from him. We lived in different worlds.
He opened the door for me, and I slid in. The interior was even more beautiful.
“Is Calvin helping you with something?” he asked as he drove toward downtown.
“He is.”
“Were you guys in a relationship?”
Arching an eyebrow, I studied his profile, and his jawline seemed tense. “No. Why?”
The tension on his face relaxed. Or was that my imagination?
“Just wondering.”
Was he jealous?
I looked out the window as warmth bloomed in my chest, and a smile crept onto my face.
The sun had risen, casting a warm glow over the entire area. Like the sun, my feelings for Arrow and Bullseye needed to be cleared up so I could move on. I had to get back on track and remind myself why I was in Providence. That temporary fun I had last night with Bullseye had to stop. It seemed surreal and too selfish of me. A little girl was waiting for me to find her, and I was flirting with some stranger.
Bullseye could be a kidnapper for all I knew.
I turned and looked at Arrow. The sunlight cast shadows onto the angles of his face, making him appear almost ominous and dangerous. As though sensing me, he turned and met my gaze.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“Shadows are dancing on your face.”
“Oh yeah? What do I look like?”
“You look like a man preparing for war. A strategic general quietly laying out his attack plans to ensure victory.”
He smirked. “You’re not wrong.”
Oh.What was going on? Who was he going to war with?
Why was he following me?
Before I could ask, he parked the car. “We’re here.”