Chapter 9
ARDEN
As I sit across from him in the grubby diner booth, my thoughts are all over the place.
He’s talking so much, and I almost can’t believe what I’m hearing. How dare he make assumptions like he knows me. This life has never been about anything more than survival. Maybe with a little vengeance sprinkled in.
It’s how I clawed my way out of the pit I grew up in, how I help Lexi give Zoe a better childhood than either of us ever had.
And coercing me into doing his dirty work? It’s low, especially for someone who acts so high and mighty. He oozes arrogance; every inch of him is insufferable. He’s a complete asshole.
But he’s also right. I stole from him. And I can’t help wondering what he meant when he said I took something personal too.
That watch wasn’t an heirloom. The knife looked new. I should be focused on his extortion, but I’m stuck contemplating whether it’s the knife or the cross.
I know I have to say something. Give him some sort of answer. Do I really have a choice? What will he do if I say no?
“Can’t you just have a hacker break into his files or something? Why do you need me?”
His eyes meet mine again, and the way my heart flutters into my throat makes me want to scream. Why does he insist on eye contact?
“Well, no, actually. It’s not like in the movies. I have a colleague who can make everything disappear, but he needs an access point. Something already on the network. The easiest way is for someone to be there in person… maybe grab his phone. We just need his cloud files.”
I nod at him again. Filing the information away while my chest tightens.
“Just don’t fuck him.”
I bark out a laugh. “What? I don’t just —”
“That was not a joke,” he cuts in.
The annoyance in his voice grates on me, but my curiosity wins. “Well, since you’re so worried about it, who’s the guy?”
He leans in, letting the silence stretch, clearly enjoying my curiosity. This man loves suspense. Finally, he grits out, “Luke Holloway.”
“Oh….” I reply. Trying to keep the heat rising up my neck at bay.
His jaw twitches. He has to know what that name does to people.
“So let me get this straight,” I say. “First Jaxon Wilde, now Luke Holloway, and you’re telling me I can’t fuck either of them? Am I allowed to look, or is that off limits too?”
Locke seems to note my sarcasm but still gives me a flat glare. “Please be serious for once.”
“Hey, I just want to know the rules.” I say, lifting my hands in mock surrender.
His expression stays flat. “So, we’ll leave tonight.”
“Uh, hello? I still haven’t agreed.” I study him, noticing his expression change. His eyes look darker. His grin is sharper than it was a minute ago.
“Well, you could always go to jail. You’d look great in orange.”
I freeze for a fraction of a second. Suddenly my pulse is hammering in my ears.
Zoe… Lexi… I can’t leave them. Not like this. My hands press against the edge of the booth, gripping harder than I realize, trying to anchor myself.
His eyes don’t waver, and it’s infuriating. Every inch of him radiates the arrogance I hate and fear all at once. He’ll see through me if I flinch. I can’t let him win that easily.
I swallow hard. My voice comes out quieter than I’d like, steady but wary. “So that’s it? If I don’t go with you, you’re calling the cops?”
He leans back, eyes glinting like he’s already won a game I didn’t know we were playing. “You committed a Category B felony. That’ll get you somewhere between one and twenty years. Don’t forget the $15,000 fine.”
My stomach is twisting into knots. I don’t have a choice. He’s taking me, or I’m going to jail.
“How long will we be gone?” I ask. “Lexi will be working. She needs childcare.”
“Lexi… the roommate? So, you’re not the one with the kid? Huh. You give off that vibe.” He cracks a smile that’s just as infuriating as everything else about him.
I’m not in the mood to ask what the fuck that’s supposed to mean, so I continue, “Absolutely not. I’m the cool aunt. But I’m also the babysitter. I really need to know how long we’ll be gone.”
He studies me, eyes lingering on mine. “A month? Two? It’s hard to say with this type of job.”
“Oh, perfect. I’ll just tell my best friend to pencil me in for ‘indefinite disappearance.’ She’ll love that.”
“A couple of months or twenty years. Take your pick.”
I scoff, sliding out of the booth. “You’re unbelievable.”
I don’t wait for a response. I stand, toss a few crumpled bills on the table, and walk out into the warm evening air.
I don’t look back. He may think he’s won, but I’m not done playing.