Page 27

Aries

Taylor sits nestled between my legs, her back pressed against my chest.

The second we got back to the hotel room, we headed straight for the shower and because I couldn’t help myself; I sank to my knees and almost got us a noise complaint.

Call me insatiable. I don’t care.

As Taylor’s concentration stays locked on her laptop, combing through footage from the masquerade ball, my hands kneed her neck and shoulders. My shirt hangs loose off her shoulder, giving me perfect access to beautifully decorated skin.

My phone lights up on the bed, a photo of Taylor looking out at the New York City sky, her dress flowing in the wind shines back at me as notifications come in at rapid speed.

Taylor pays no attention. Her gaze narrowed in on the computer.

Resting my arm on my bent knee, I unlock my phone and immediately breathe a sigh of relief as the texts come through.

Resilience Chat:

Andi: Guardian has successfully and discreetly executed the mission.

Noah: Atta girl Andi! I never doubted you for a second!

Andi: No one ever would Mr. Hayes. Aries. Thank you for the insight. A victim is asking us to find someone and she described her being with someone that looked an awful lot like you.

Glancing up from my phone, I brush my hand against Taylor’s face, grabbing her attention.

Her piercing green eyes turn to look at me.

Placing a quick kiss on her nose, I show her the text thread.

“Can I join the conversation?” she asks.

I nod, caging her in with my arms as I log into Resilience on her computer.

Resilience Chat:

Aries: Thank you Andi. I have a feeling I know who you are referring to so I’m going to hand the conversation over to my girlfriend Taylor.

Taylor’s head snaps back to look at me. “Girlfriend?”

“That’s what you are, Hellhound. I told you no going back once you said you were mine,” I say nonchalantly.

“Don’t you think you should ask first? I thought men of your age were supposed to be chivalrous.”

Before she can react, I move to cage her arms in, with my other hand going to her throat and squeezing slightly.

Tilting her gaze to lock on mine, I lean forward so our noses brush. Taylor’s cheeks turn pink, her eyes wide, shock evident on her face. “You don’t want chivalry, Taylor. You want a man that can command the room and go toe to toe with you while giving you everything you are too stubborn to say you need. So no, I will not ask you to be my girlfriend because as far as I’m concerned, you have been mine since you stepped foot inside that compound. I just had to wait for you to see it.”

Taylor bites the inside of her cheek, fighting the smile I know wants to shine across her immaculate face.

Chuckling, I brush my thumb against her throat, squeezing slightly once more. Her eyes flutter, her chest arching into my arm.

Hmm. Something to explore later.

“One more thing. Call me old again and you will feel my hand on your ass for days. I’m thirty six, which is only eight years older than you, smartass. I’m not a fucking dinosaur.”

Taylor erupts in a fit of laughter, and my hand falls from her throat and moves to hug her against me.

A ping from the computer steals both of our attention and we return our focus to the laptop.

Resilience Chat:

Andi: Thanks Aries. Hi, Taylor. I’m Andi, leader of the Guardian chapter of Resilience.

Aries (Taylor): Hi, Andi. Nice to meet you. Thank you for rescuing those women. I saw a few familiar faces from my past. It killed me seeing that they were still stuck in that hellhole.

Noah: Hi Taylor!

Aries (Taylor): Hi Noah.

Andi: Noah Alice Hayes! Butt out before I call Logan and tell her to come get your ass.

Noah: Logan doesn’t scare me.

Logan: Wanna bet?

Noah: Oh fuck. Bye guys!

Andi: Thanks Lo. See you and Gray soon for my next appointment.

Logan: Always. See you soon. Nice to hear from you again, Taylor.

Aries (Taylor): Same to you.

Andi: Sorry about that Taylor. Noah is…Noah. Anyway. You’re welcome, but I’m just doing my job. I have a lot of paperwork to do so I’m going to cut to the chase. I have a victim here that is looking for a woman in a black, lace dress with butterfly tattoos. Is that you?

Aries (Taylor): Is her name Melody?

Andi: Yes.

Aries (Taylor): Yes. That was me. We were both under the same billionaire a few years ago. She disappeared and I haven’t been able to track her down so I assumed the worst.

Andi: Her story matches with yours. She is currently being treated in the hospital with her father, but she has requested I find and get you two in touch. Is that something you’d be comfortable with?

I watch as Taylor’s chest visibly relaxes, her head hanging low for a moment before she responds.

Aries (Taylor): Absolutely. I will send my number over immediately. Please pass—-

Her fingers come to an abrupt halt, and she looks back at me. Her mouth opens to speak, and I beat her to it.

“Don’t even ask. Of course she can come to Braveheart. We will help her with anything she needs. Her father is welcome to follow. You never have to ask. The answer will always be yes.”

Tilting her head back, she purses her lips and I press mine to hers in a chaste kiss.

“Thanks Ace,” she says before returning her attention back to the chat.

Resilience Chat:

Aries (Taylor): Absolutely. I will send my number over immediately. Please pass along that she is welcome to come to Braveheart any time and I will help her as much as I can.

Andi: I will. We offered her a place here, but if she feels more comfortable with you, we will get her on the first plane to Calgary.

Aries (Taylor): Thank you Andi. One more thing, did the spineless men get their just desserts ?

Andi: Oh Taylor, we clearly don’t know each other. But I can assure you that they got their dessert and then some. Have a good rest of your night lovebirds.

Taylor types her goodbye and exits the chat, the footage of the party playing on her screen.

As we watch the footage, I ask, “How do you feel now that you know they are safe?”

Relaxing in my arms, Taylor lets out a sigh. “I feel fine. It pisses me off to no end that they were still stuck in there. Especially Melody. She is one of the bravest souls out there. She inspired me to be as headstrong and assertive as I am, but then she disappeared. I had hoped she escaped, but a big part of me thought she was eliminated due to her perseverance. The girl I saw in that ballroom was not the same girl I once knew. That girl was broken and defeated. I just hope she takes me up on my offer and comes to stay with us.”

Kissing her temple, I nod. “I know and we will—” My words freeze as I catch sight of the footage.

It’s as if I’ve seen a ghost and I quickly motion for Taylor to rewind. “Quick, replay the last five seconds.”

She does, and I hit the spacebar, pausing the video as a ghost appears on the screen. Anger, vengeance, and fear racing through my body.

Taylor’s brows furrow, and she flashes me a questioning look. “Do you know him?”

“Yes. He is—someone from my past,” I say, not wanting to give away the full truth, knowing she will insist on helping once she puts the pieces together.

“Ace. Are you going to elaborate or just stare at him like you want to kill him through the screen?”

Tapping her side so I can slide out from behind her, I climb off the bed with my phone in hand. “He’s just someone I thought had been dealt with. Nothing for you to worry about, but I would like to get home sooner rather than later.”

I move to grab our bags, placing them on the bed.

“Aries. What are you not telling me?” Taylor asks, standing from the bed, her arms crossed over her chest. Her wet, long dark hair hanging down her back.

Closing the distance between us, I press a kiss to her cheek. “Hellhound. Just trust me and don’t get involved. I have this handled. Now put some clothes on. Can’t have everyone at the airport staring at what’s mine,” I say, and make my way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

As soon as the lock clicks, all the air escapes from my chest. I try to take a deep breath, but it is useless and I fumble for my phone. My hands shake as guilt eats me alive as soon as I see the background again.

I had to. She can’t know. It’s the only way I can keep her safe.

Pulling up Boone’s contact, my fingers fly across the screen as I send a text that I know is going to rock his world just as much as it did mine.

Aries: Clay is alive.

Boone: Please tell me I read that wrong.

Aries: No.

Boone: Come home. Now.

Aries: On my way. Ready the team.

Boone: Already on it. I’m going to fucking kill him.

Aries: Not if I get to him first.

Boone: Does Taylor know?

Aries: No.

Boone: Good. Get home safe.

Aries: See you soon.