Page 31 of Kortlek

T he diner has a rather cozy ambience.

Dimmed lights, quiet chatter, and great food. Cove’s sitting next to me, one hand on my thigh, mindlessly drawing patterns while drinking beer with his free one. The touch causes a hum of satisfaction to slip past my lips as I finish the burger, pushing the plate a bit away from me and taking a big gulp of the iced water.

The music is playing softly, loud enough to mute out the conversations, but not too loud so people can’t talk without yelling. The inner design is rather homey, too. With dark oak wood on the floor, matching the tables and chairs.

The walls are filled with family pictures, achievements, and good reviews that were handwritten. The lamps in the corners give off a very old vibe, though it fits the rest of the place perfectly. My eyes are glued on a specific picture of a young girl.

She’s happy.

She’s six years old with a big grin on her face. She holds a big, black sharpie in her hand, with her big brother next to her. His entire shirt is covered with the sharpie, drawn on something that should look like a cat, but looks like a monster from terrible nightmares.

The children in the pictures are Arlo and me.

A small smile tugs on my lips as I stare. It used to be so simple. I’d wreak havoc, and Arlo would scold me, then high-five me in private when our parents weren’t looking. It serves as a reminder that no matter what, I’ll always have Arlo in my corner.

Sure, we disagree on many things, but at the end of the day, I know he’d give his life for me. I’d do the same, and the bond I have with him can’t be severed. Slowly, I turn my attention to Cove.

He’s scrolling through his phone, a passive look on his face.

I learned this morning that his temper started flaring up again. When he came back to New York from Rome, the first thing he did was get into a fight at the airport. He was already furious at me for ditching him in Italy, and then supposedly a man looked at him in the wrong way, and well — that’s the main reason it took him so long to reach Arlo’s place.

He had to get bailed out.

He notices me staring and puts his phone down. His hand moves from my thigh to underneath the chair, yanking me closer to him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his side. The moment I inhale his scent, my mind’s more at ease.

“Everything alright, bunny?”

I nod.

“Do you think I can do it?”

Cove doesn’t need to ask what I’m referring to — he knows. Slowly, he takes my chin between thumb and index finger, tilts my head upward, and gives me a stern look. I’m sucked right into the bold, hazel void that I never want to leave.

“You can do it, and you will do it,’’ he says, voice dropping low. “I’ll be right there. You won’t have to do anything on your own if you don’t want to. But if you choose to, I’ll gladly listen to your commands. I’d like nothing more than to keep you hidden away and deal with it myself, but I know you’d never forgive me for that. The ball’s in your court, bunny.’’

“When I saw Wyatt in the basement when you fought the last time,’’ I paused, my throat tightening. “I froze. I allowed the fear to get to me, and I panicked. If he had cornered me elsewhere, with no one around, I don’t think I would’ve found the strength to fight off the fears.’’

His jaw clenches, anger flashing behind his eyes. I know it’s not directed toward me — it’s directed toward Wyatt. Whenever his name is mentioned, which is a lot these days, Cove always tenses. He hasn’t let me out of his sight since we returned from Italy, nor has he taken any drinks or foods I offered him.

That one’s on me, honestly.

The nightmares have returned the closer we get to finally dealing with Wyatt. Each night, Cove’s holding me, letting me soak his shirt with my tears. By morning, I’m a trembling mess, struggling to differentiate between dreams and reality.

“I know, bunny,’’ Cove says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “But I also know that you’re a very powerful individual. He caught you off guard once; he will not do it again. This time, I’ll be right there in case you need me.’’

It’s been a whole week since I returned, and Rose hasn’t been spotted anywhere. Arlo did deep digging through the security footage, and it’s definitely been tampered with. The people he had in front of the building are fucking useless, to say the least.

However, they remember a man leaving the building with a big suitcase.

Suitcase big enough to carry a person inside. Rose’s a short girl, on the slimmer side, too, and it wouldn’t be impossible to knock her out and stuff her into the suitcase. The morons didn’t pay any attention to the man, what he looked like, what he wore, or what kind of car he was driving.

The fact that we haven’t found her body is a good sign.

I know that she’s alive.

Cove’s words ring in my ears. Wyatt’s only bargaining chip is Rose — alive, at that. Without that, he knows he’ll never get to me, and he knows that by killing her, he’s practically putting a bounty hunt on himself.

“Do you have any plans on what you want to do once he’s brought to your knees?”

I lift a shoulder. “Maybe. Although, I’m not sharing. It’s too early, and I don’t want to jinx anything.’’

Cove nods. Softly, he takes a strand of my hair, the white part, and twirls it between his fingers, then tucks it behind my ear, his touch lingering on my cheek. He’s staring deeply into my eyes, making me forget for a moment that we’re in a public setting.

“You know,’’ he murmurs. “I don’t think I’ve told you this — but this hairstyle suits you. It looks very beautiful on you.’’

“Oh? Just my hair is beautiful, and I’m not?”

He rolls his eyes with a deep, throaty chuckle. “You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And you’re all mine, bunny.’’

“Isn’t it funny how you just… decided that?”

“Let me be frank with you,’’ his hand drops from my cheek and rests on my thigh again. “From the day you confessed your feelings to me, I wanted you. Fuck, bunny, you were like a goddamn vice. I couldn’t get enough of you, yet I couldn’t have you, either. It was pure fucking torture having to be near you and not be able to touch you. I don’t think you’ll ever realize just how much I fucking love you and how much I’d burn this world for you.’’

My lips part ever so slightly, my heart pounding loudly. The honesty in his voice and the raw emotions on his face bring out the deepest affection out of me. Cove changed me in more ways than I can count, but I am not the only one who’s changed.

A year ago, Cove wouldn’t be caught dead speaking about his emotions and feelings so freely. A year ago, he wouldn’t even be speaking at all. Just like I changed, he changed with me. My perfect, twisted, dark paradise all in one person.

“Cove,’’ I whisper, placing a soft kiss on his jaw. His hand tightens around my thigh, threatening to leave a mark. “I don’t think you need the confirmation, but for what it’s worth — I’m yours. All yours. I have been for a very long time.’’

“I know, bunny,’’ he whispers back. The raspy voice makes something twitch in the pit of my stomach, the arousal slowly building within. “Back in Italy… When I told you to marry me, I meant it. The first thing I’m doing once Wyatt’s been dealt with is putting a ring on your finger.’’

I nod.

“You better,’’ I laugh softly.

His proximity, his scent, and his entire being are something I never want to lose. Having him so close to me brings out my deepest, most sadistic tendencies that he’s accepted wholeheartedly. If I’m a monster, he’s the demon.

I’m not sure when exactly the switch in me happened and when I accepted this change, but I love it. He makes me feel alive; he makes me feel worthy and capable. Most importantly, he makes me feel free. He’s the reason I know I’ll make it out of this alive, because he’ll be here, waiting for me.

The man of my dreams.

The moment’s over when I hear someone clear their throat behind us. Cove tenses slightly, and I turn around. A wide grin spreads across my face, and I jump out of the chair, wrapping my arms around my uncle, hugging him tightly.

“There’s my favorite troublemaker,’’ he laughs, kissing the top of my head, slowly releasing me from the embrace.

Uncle Niko is mom’s younger brother, and the best uncle a person could ask for. Growing up, he was my number one supporter in any mischief I had planned, including the time when I snuck into his car when I was around eleven.

He was going on a mission, and let’s just say I witnessed all the gory details. I should’ve been scared, but I was more excited than anything else. Mom and Dad were not. I was grounded for a month. Niko was grounded for four months, and he was prohibited from spending time alone with me for years after that.

“And who’s that?”

Niko’s eyes snap to Cove, and his brows narrow dangerously. He straightens up, glaring at Cove, who is very much unbothered. He sips on his beer, the bored, dull expression I’m used to lacing his features.

“He’s… Cove.’’

“Oh, Cove,’’ Niko mutters. “How could I forget.’’

I sit back next to Cove, and Niko takes a seat across from us, arms folded in front of his chest. I suppress a laugh as he tries to intimidate Cove. Slowly, his attention shifts back to me, and the smile reappears on his face.

“You said it was an important matter,’’ Niko says. “Is everything alright?”

I shake my head.

“I need your help. More specifically, your husband’s help.’’

A frown attaches onto Niko’s face, and he nods. “Alright, you need Lucas. What’s this about?”

“A friend of mine was… kidnapped.’’

Niko’s smile immediately vanishes, and he straightens up in his seat, glancing around the diner briefly, before settling his eyes back on me. “Go on.’’

“I don’t need you to find her; I can do that on my own. However, I need Lucas to do something else.’’

“What is it, Aria? Spit it out.’’

“Lucas is still hacking, right?”

He nods.

“How good is he?”

“The best,’’ Niko praises his husband, and I roll my eyes.

“I need him to disable cameras.’’

Niko’s suspicion shows on his face. “Where, exactly?”

“Attica Correctional Facility.’’

“You want him to disable cameras in a fucking prison?!” Niko whisper-yells, shock and mortification written all over his face. He swallows thickly, then snatches the beer from Cove’s hand, gulping it down. “Are you fucking insane?! More importantly, why wouldn’t you ask Arlo? Didn’t he do something like that for Blair?”

I take a deep breath. “Attica and some random prison in the wild aren't the same. Can he do it or not?”

Niko ponders the question, finishing Cove’s beer. “He can do it. But why? Who do you want out?”

Suddenly, Cove’s interested too. I didn’t tell him about this because I didn’t think it through. The plan was in the spur of the moment. Rose can think of it as an apology for dragging her into this whole mess.

I take a deep breath.

“Jason Maddox.’’