Chapter 16 Evie #2
“All right. Get what you can, Evie. I’m going to Asher and see if he knows of anyone asking around about us.
” Rook pointed to Aiden. “He’s staying with Evie.
I will be with Regan. Hero sticks with Harper wherever she needs, and you three will start hunting down the list of Andersons Evie found and see if they lead anywhere. ”
Everyone broke apart, heading to leave or back to the bikes. Aiden grabbed my arm, nearly dragging me into my office.
“Wow, Aiden, I love this caveman side of you. Should I trip and fall to my knees? Again.”
He pushed me back until I fell into my chair and glared up at him.
“Enough, Evie,” he said under his breath, pulling me aside, his voice low enough that no one else could hear. “Does this have anything to do with what you’ve been digging around in lately? Do you think this could be connected?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t see how it would have any connection to anyone now. Especially anyone who knew what I was doing. The only people who know are you and Asher. And honestly, he doesn’t know much, so unless you’re out running your mouth, no one else should know what I’m doing.”
His jaw ticked like he wanted to snap back at me, but he didn’t say a word. I grinned, loving that simple things seemed to be getting under his skin more now.
“Is that it?” I asked. “Are you out running your mouth to everyone? If only there was a way to shut you up.” I brought my hand up to my mouth, placing my two middle fingers over my lips.
The identical fingers he had put into my mouth that night in the woods, making it impossible to talk back.
“If only there was something . . .” I mumbled, letting my fingers pull at my bottom lip until my mouth fell open as I looked at him.
His hand flexed, his knuckles turning white as he clenched them into a fist.
No part of me worried it had been him now. He knew exactly what I was doing.
“Evie,” he warned, his eyes glued to my lips.
“Yes?”
“That’s enough.” His words were barely a whisper.
I laughed—sharp, humorless. “You think you can command me to stop?” I took a step closer, my chest heaving, barely able to contain the storm rising inside me.
“And you actually think I’d fucking listen?
” My blood pounded, adrenaline sparking white-hot beneath my skin.
“I don’t care what you think, Aiden.” I shoved a finger into his chest, punctuating every word.
“I don’t care about your warnings. I don’t care about the threats. ”
His jaw clenched, but I didn’t stop. “Maybe it’s connected, maybe it’s not. But that doesn’t change a damn thing for me. I’m not going to roll over and stop because you think I should. And don’t pull this protector bullshit—I’m not your responsibility, Aiden.”
His expression darkened, something dangerous flashing behind his eyes.
“You absolutely are my responsibility,” he said—the twitch of his jaw and the way he moved to crack his neck sent a shiver through me . . . not from fear, but from something deeper, something tangled up in too many years of knowing him. But I shoved it down, furious at the implication.
“You don’t get to decide that,” I snapped.
“I’m not the one who decided that. Your brother is.” His hand shot out, gripping my wrist tight enough to make my pulse stutter. “For once in your life, can you stop being so damn stubborn?” His voice was lower now, rougher, almost pleading, but it only made me more reckless, more furious.
I yanked my arm back, eyes burning as I glared at him.
“You don’t get to control me, Aiden. Not now.
Not ever.” I could feel the fire burning in my chest, my frustration boiling over.
“And for once in your life, can you stop treating me like I’m fragile?
I’m not scared of whoever is threatening me. ”
“Because you have me watching over your fucking shoulder every minute of every day!” he yelled, the outburst making me step back. He reached out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back in. “We don’t know who this is, Evie. I can’t keep you safe when I don’t know who the threat is.”
I tore my arm free, my skin buzzing where he’d touched me, breath hitching as I fought to pull myself back under control.
“Maybe you should stop trying to protect me from everything. I have to do this, and one stupid text isn’t going to stop me.
That could have been from anyone there that night.
It could be some random guy who has a crush on me for all we know. ”
Aiden’s nostrils flared, his body rigid as he stayed frozen in place. For a moment, I thought he might walk away, let this argument drop, but instead, he lowered his voice.
“If you don’t stop . . . you’ll force me to stop you.”
I didn’t move, my eyes meeting his only inches away, my heart pounding in my chest. “A new threat?” I asked with a grin. “I’d like to see you try.”
Before I could say anything else, his phone buzzed, breaking the tension. He glanced at the screen, jaw tightening. “We’ll talk about this later tonight,” he muttered, turning away and heading for the door.
I watched him go, anger bubbling inside me. I wasn’t going to stop. Not now. I was finally finding a sliver of information about my parents.
And if Aiden thought he could keep me from digging deeper, he was wrong.
I already had a lead and like hell was I not going to follow it because of him.