Chapter 15
Dylan
Light rain had just begun to fall when Amara ducked her head into the cab. I slid in behind her and risked another glance over my shoulder, but the sidewalk was empty save for a few stragglers from the bar. With nothing better to do on the long drive home, I pored over the details of the recent events in my head. The white-haired duo – definitely dragon shifters – had something to do with Don and, by extension, Amara.
I risked a glance at her. Amara sat dead still beside me, her gaze fixed firmly out the window. The city lights flashed by and cast fleeting shadows inside the vehicle, shrouding her eyes one moment and illuminating them the next. The only movement was in her hands; delicate, shaky fingers nervously twisting the ring on her finger.
She had recognized the woman, and the flash of fear in her eyes when she saw her was genuine. If Amara was part of their scheme why would she be afraid? She had also given her father the location of my last mission, meaning she was still working with Don.
I glanced at her again, my mind racing to put together the pieces. Her behavior didn’t add up. She had seemed genuinely afraid at the club, if only for a moment. If she was involved with the dragon shifters it didn’t make sense for her to react that way. And why were the dragon shifters planning to murder her? What role did Don Leone play in all of this?
My thoughts were a tangled web of suspicion and confusion. I needed answers, but more than that, I needed to keep Amara safe. There was an urgency to the sensation, like Amara was miles away and in terrible danger, rather than sitting quietly at my side. It was a new feeling, one I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. She was more than just a part of my mission now.
My dependence on self-isolation battered against the spot Amara had filled in my life. How could I reconcile the two? How could I keep her safe without letting her too close?
The cab hit a bump in the road, jolting us slightly. I noticed Amara’s fingers pause their nervous twisting before resuming with renewed fervor. I turned my head slightly, studying her profile. She was tense, every muscle in her body coiled tight.
I considered reaching for her, lacing my fingers with hers. Instead, I turned my gaze to the window and watched the streetlights sweep by.
Only after traipsing back into the apartment did I face Amara again. In the faint light her face was pale and drawn, and she stared back at me with wide eyes. I flicked the lights on and we both winced simultaneously at the gory state of the living room.
“Oh.” I surveyed the red mess of the floor, slamming the door shut behind me. “Right.”
Everything was exactly as I had left it, right down to the soiled carpet crusted with River’s blood. My clothes, I realized quickly, were in a similar state and I gingerly peeled my jacket off and dropped it at my feet. Amara eyed the blade strapped to my forearm with a grimace.
She stepped over the trail of blood that stained the floorboards, tugging on a strand of hair. I spotted my discarded second blade lying on the floor and quickly toed it under the sofa and out of sight.
“All right,” I mouthed, making sure she could read my lips clearly. “How do you know the woman at the club?”
Amara shifted uncomfortably and pulled out her cell. She typed slowly and I tried to be patient, straddling the arm of the sofa and watching her intently.
“I don’t know her.” The automated voice spoke, and Amara looked at me pointedly. “I’ve never seen her before today.”
I studied her face, searching for any hint of deception, but all I saw was unease.
“But you recognized her.” I pressed. “What’s the connection between Don Leone and that woman?”
Amara’s eyes flashed with frustration. She typed quickly, holding up her phone for me to read. “I told you, I don’t know her. I saw her on my father’s territory, but I’ve never interacted with her.”
I shook my head, unconvinced. “That’s not good enough. Why were you afraid of her?”
Amara’s brow furrowed and she scowled, typing faster. “Why is it so important? And what business do the Leyore dealers have meddling in Leone affairs anyway?”
A flicker of frustration added bite to my words. “It’s important because that woman is a new player and we need to know whose side she’s on.”
Amara shook her head, nails tapping on her cell as she typed. “This marriage was supposed to secure peace between us, there aren’t supposed to be sides anymore.”
“Don’t try to act innocent.” I got to my feet, stepping closer to her and prodding a finger at her chest. “We were right to be suspicious considering you are playing spy for your father.”
Amara brushed my hand away, rolling her eyes before typing again. “And what a great spy I’ve been, considering I still know nothing about the Leyore gang.”
“You’re right on the money there,” I hissed, with an edge of cruelty to my words. “You’re a terrible spy.”
My gaze fell on the blade still strapped to my forearm. I removed it from its sheath, inspecting the sharp edge as I spoke. “Do you really think you can fool everyone? I should turn you over to Jordan and the rest of the Leyore gang now. Let them deal with you.”
I saw her swallow hard, clearly unnerved by the threat. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but I needed answers. Desperation clawed at me, making me bolder, harsher than I meant to be.
"Tell me everything," I demanded, my voice cold. "Who is she? What is your father planning?"
Amara took a step back, her hands trembling as she typed on her phone. “I don’t know! I swear, I don’t know anything about her or what my father is planning. I’m just as lost as you are.”
I closed the distance between us in an instant, fisting the blade in my hand. The sudden movement startled her and I felt a pang of guilt. I wanted to protect her, not scare her. But I couldn’t let my guard down, not yet.
"You're lying to me," I pressed. "You must know more about that woman."
Amara shook her head, her lips trembling slightly as she typed on her phone. “I’m not lying! I saw her once, outside of my father’s mansion. She spouted some cryptic bullshit and then I followed her to the club. That’s all I know.”
I snorted derisively. "You expect me to believe that? You're working for Don, and you’re feeding him information about my activities."
Amara ground her teeth as she fervently typed a response. “Do you really think my father would trust me to handle the job? Do you think he doesn’t know how obvious that plan would be?”
I felt a dark, bitter laugh escape my lips. "Maybe he does know how obvious it would be. Maybe he used you as a diversion, knowing we'd suspect you. Did you ever think of that?"
She stiffened suddenly, her brow creasing as if she’d come to some kind of realization. She shook her head slowly. I saw the conflict and fear in her eyes. She was terrified, and I knew I had pushed her too far. But I needed to know the truth.
“Then what is his plan?” I demanded, frustration boiling over. “Why would he put you in the middle of this?”
Amara inhaled sharply, her eyes flitting around the room as if the conversation was suddenly too much for her. Her hand fisted around her cell, gripping it to her chest, and her mouth settled into a hard line.
“Amara.” I tried to shake her shoulder but she pushed me away. I ran a hand through my hair instead, trying to move my lips slowly. “Just tell me, do you have any idea who that woman could be or what your father’s plan is?”
She typed furiously, the automated voice crackling through the speaker as she turned the volume up presumably to ‘yell’ at me. “I don’t know! I’m just as confused as you are!”
I let out a frustrated growl, turning away. “This doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered, more to myself than to her.
Amara was typing again with trembling fingers, the automated message carrying her words. “If you think I’m lying then just turn me in already.”
Her eyes were glistening when she looked up at me, the automated voice rattling on. “Why haven’t you done it yet? And why are you so concerned about this woman?”
I felt my patience snap, a storm of suppressed emotions bursting forth as I whirled around to face her. “Because I want to keep you safe!” I yelled, the admission tearing through me.
Amara froze, her pupils dilating like a dying star. For a moment we both stood there, the weight of my words hanging between us.
“I just want to keep you safe,” I repeated, my voice softer but no less intense.
The declaration seemed to twist something inside Amara. Her expression shifted from surprise to something softer, more vulnerable. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears, and she looked away, struggling to compose herself.
“I mean – ” Realizing the weight of my confession, I tried to backtrack. “There are dangerous things at play here. It’s not safe –”
But before I could say anything else, Amara stood on her toes and kissed me.
Her lips were warm and insistent, and with no words left to convey what I was feeling, the blade slipped from my hand as I pulled her closer and kissed her back.