Page 32

T he clothes come off me with ease. Once everything but my underwear is off, I quickly steal one of Cove’s shirts. It’s a plain white shirt, cotton, and it reaches just above my knees. He’s one big boy, and it never quite hits me just how big he is until I wear a piece of his clothing.

He’s leaning against the door frame, arms folded in front of his chest. His biceps look too good — I want to munch on them. It makes me sound like a creep, but I don’t care. It takes a lot of willpower for me to flicker my eyes upward and meet his gaze.

A knowing, teasing smirk is on his lips. His right eyebrow lifts, amusement on his face. He pushes himself off the door frame, taking a couple of big steps until he stands in front of me. He places his index finger under my chin and tilts my head upward.

I get lost in him, yet again. I don’t think I can count how many times this has happened within the past two months. Yet, all the fears I had seem to vanish. His chest moves up and down, and he licks his bottom lip, stealing a glance at mine.

Without saying a word, Cove picks me up and carries me over to the dresser. He sits me on it, his hands caressing my knees. His fingers move inward, going under the shirt. The simple touch sends a jolt down my body as he brushes his lips against mine.

“Cove?”

I don’t intend for my voice to sound so delicate or soft, but I don’t prevent it, either. Cove’s eyes snap to mine, pupils dilating a little. His fingers move toward my inner thighs, stroking them carefully, getting dangerously close to the flimsy pair of underwear.

“Yes, bunny?”

His lips graze mine, electricity shooting up my body. An involuntarily moan slips me and Cove chuckles, shaking his head. His lips leave a hot trail from the corner of my lips, all over my jaw, and reaching that sweet spot below my ear.

I grip his shoulders to steady myself as he pushes forward, closing any distance left between us. His soft lips suck on my skin, causing me to bite my lip. He’s barely touching me, yet I’m a mess already. His hands grip my thighs, parting my legs further.

Cove’s fingers trace the hem of my underwear, teasing, enjoying how a simple touch provokes goosebumps to tug all over my skin. He smirks against my neck, biting down on it. I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access.

With ease, he pulls the fabric, and it snaps. Cove tosses the ruined pair of underwear to the floor, this thumb brushing against my sensitive flesh, touching me everywhere but where I need him the most. The excitement builds in my stomach, my juices dripping down onto the dresser.

“Stop teasing me,’’ I whine, “please?”

A throaty chuckle comes from Cove as he pulls back, looking at me with a devilish smirk. He captures my lips, his free hand grabbing the nape of my neck, pulling me closer. Immediately, my lips part, his tongue sliding into my mouth.

Cove Steele tastes like the best aphrodisiac. Every time we kiss, each time he touches me, whenever he looks at me — it’s enough to set me off. I never knew what true desire and love felt like until I met him.

The deep gaze that he gives me brings a sense of comfort, a sense of safety. Cove Steele is what home feels like, and I never want to leave. If he wanted, I’d let him lock me up and never see the light of day again because it would mean I’d be with him forever.

The obsession runs deeply in my veins. He’s the only thing keeping me grounded, the only thing I’m looking forward to seeing in this fucked-up situation. Cove is mine. There’s no way I’ll ever let anything take him away from me, no matter what.

I’d risk it all for Cove.

Because I can see in his eyes that he’d blow up the world for me.

He breaks the kiss, panting. He leans his forehead against mine, resting it there with closed eyes. His jaw is clenched, his hands coming to my sides, holding me tightly. The small moment of vulnerability from him makes my heart skip a beat.

And another one.

Then another one.

I cup his cheeks, and he melts into the touch, his shoulders visibly relaxing. He releases a shaky breath, then opens his eyes. For a moment, neither of us speaks. We soak in the intimate moment, staring at each other.

The affection fills his eyes, and a soft smile appears on my face. My hands go under his shirt, softly stroking his sides. Then, I remember the tattoo that he has, and my mind starts questioning it. He notices the shift in my expression and cocks his head to the side.

“What is it?”

“The tattoo… what does it mean?”

Cove steps back and leaves me feeling empty without his touch. He looks away, clearing his throat. My brows narrow, then my eyes widen, and my mouth drops open. He’s avoiding eye contact like the plague, and apparently, the small stain on his white wall is far more important than looking at me.

Because Cove fucking Steele is blushing.

Light pink shade dusts over his cheeks and the tip of his nose. He clears his throat, shifting in his spot. He puts his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, his Adam’s apple moving up and down while he’s trying to avoid looking at me.

I can’t hold it in. I start laughing, hopping off the dresser.

“Now, I need to know. What does it mean? Tell me!”

A grunting noise comes from his throat, and he steps back. I take a step forward, and he takes two steps back. A wide grin splits on my face, and this is the most amused I’ve been in a while. He looks mildly uncomfortable, the rosy color deepening.

“No,’’ he croaks out.

“Pretty please?”

He shakes his head furiously. “Absolutely not.’’

“Why?” I groan, still chuckling. “Is it something embarrassing?”

“No, it’s—’’ he gets cut off mid-sentence when his phone buzzes. He pulls it out from his pocket and then straightens his posture. He accepts the call, placing the device on his ear, eyes locked on me.

“What is it, Arlo?”

The sound of my brother’s name causes the amusement to vanish from me, and a more serious stance takes over. I move forward, trying to listen to what Arlo’s speaking, but Cove steps back again. His eyebrows raise up in surprise, then he sighs and ends the call.

“What’s wrong?”

Cove quickly goes to the dresser I was sitting on top of not too long ago, pulling out some of my clothes that I left behind. He tosses them at me, then goes to change his clothes. I catch mine with ease, putting on a new pair of underwear, a pair of jeans, and a hoodie.

“Wyatt made contact.’’

Cove’s apartment is thirty minutes away from Arlo’s. The drive there seemed to be never-ending. I was in no state to drive, and Cove didn’t want to risk anything, so he opted for his car instead of his bike.

My heart is hammering in my chest as I stare out the window, rain pouring. I tap my foot impatiently and don’t know what to think. My mind goes back to Rose, and I’m praying silently, with all my might, that she’s okay and unharmed.

The longer I think about my friend, the longer the ride seems to be. I’m mentally counting down the minutes before we reach Arlo’s place, and I can’t stop worrying. Cove puts his hand on my thigh, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. He doesn’t say anything, just offers his silent support.

My mind’s in turmoil, especially since I haven’t heard back from Uncle Niko or Lucas.

I called and texted, but it’s been radio silent on their part. I’m not writing them off completely just yet, because knowing Uncle Niko, he’ll want to help — he wants to help. I’d like to believe and hope that they’re just looking for the perfect timing.

Cove parks, and I’m out of the car before he can turn the engine off. The rain pours all over me, but I don’t find it in me to care. I enter the building with the code, then immediately sprint up the stairs. Using the elevator would’ve taken too long.

As soon as I’m in Arlo’s apartment, I find him and Blair sitting in the living room, a laptop on the coffee table.

One look at Blair, and I can tell she’s furious. Her face doesn’t give away much, but the blank stare, the way her hands are clenched on her lap, and the way her body subtly trembles tell me everything I need to know.

Arlo’s not as angry, though he’s definitely not too pleased.

Rose may’ve been brought into the friend group as my friend, but there’s no doubt all of them see her as a close friend, too. He’s staring at the screen, not bothering to look at me as I enter the room. Instead, he turns the device to face me and presses the play button.

Rose’s gagged and tied to a chair with a cloth covering her eyes. Her hair’s a mess, but a deep breath of relief comes from me when I see that she’s mainly unharmed. I inspect her body for any injuries, bruises, or ripped clothes but find none.

I sit on the floor, pulling the laptop closer to me, completely immersed in the video.

Rose’s breathing, and immediately, alleviation is brought to my face. She’s not moving, head hung low, but she’s breathing. It’s not as good as having her back, but it’s a start. Cove’s words echo in my mind, and he was right — Wyatt won’t hurt her as long as he can get to me.

The camera angle switches, shifting to Wyatt.

It’s surprising.

The rest of Arlo’s living room fades around me, and I don’t notice Cove sitting down next to me. Everything except the audio of the video is shoved away, my sole focus on the man whose face is now close to mine, albeit through the screen.

I don’t feel fear.

The paralyzing effect he had on me in the basement lingers, but it doesn’t overpower me. Instead, it serves as a reminder that he cannot control me anymore. He’s lost the grip he had on me for too long, and the power I need to take back comes in bits and pieces, slowly building in me.

Everything is fresh in my head.

Every scream, every manipulation tactic, every lie. Every time he laid his hands on me, then promised he wouldn’t do it again. Every time he tried to isolate me from my loved ones, every time he told me I was worthless, a whore, and that no one could ever love someone as useless as me.

Everything I’m feeling at this moment is an overwhelming amount of anger. The menacing look in his eyes, the twisted smirk that he’s not trying to hide — everything infuriates me. My blood boils in my veins, and I swallow, trying to prevent an outburst.

“I think I’ve given you enough time to think about this whole thing, eh, baby?” Wyatt’s voice rings in my ears. He chuckles, shaking his head. Even through the screen, he’s trying to assert dominance, looking down on me as if I’m some sort of a pest. “You have an hour to meet me at the place where we met. Come alone or she dies.’’

That’s it. The screen goes black, the message ending with his final words. I slam the laptop shut, pushing it away from me and taking a deep breath to try and regulate my emotions. It’s not working, though. The more I try, the angrier I get.

Cove places a hand on my shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze. My hand covers his, and I hold him there, letting his warm touch soothe my nerves. I glance up at Arlo and notice him waiting for my reaction.

“If the message is for me, why did you get it?”

“I’ve been monitoring your devices for this specific reason.’’

I nod, not surprised at all.

“Alright,’’ I straighten up and slowly stand up. “I didn’t bring anything. I’ll need a gun from you, Arlo, and possibly a couple of knives.’’

As I rise to my feet, Cove follows suit. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I turn to Cove. “What do you think? He gave me an hour, didn’t he? I already lost thirty minutes getting here.’’

Cove’s jaw clenches, though his voice remains calm. “No.’’

“No?”

“No,’’ he echoes. “You’re not going.’’

“I’m not asking you for permission,’’ I grit out, stepping back.

“For the time being, I agree with Cove,’’ Arlo chips in, walking over and standing next to Cove. The two of them ganging up against me pisses me off, but it’s not the time for me to be angry about that. I have bigger things to think about.

“No one asked for your input,’’ I snap. “You two can’t prevent me from going.’’

Cove and Arlo exchange a glance. Things between them have been rocky since I started this entire thing with Cove, but when it comes to my well-being, they’re always on the same page. As much as I love them for it, right now, I’m too focused on finding Rose.

“You’re not going, and that’s final,’’ Arlo says, and Cove nods in agreement.

“While we’re here arguing about this, time’s running out.’’

“Arlo and I will go,’’ Cove says. “You stay fucking put.’’

“And what happens when Wyatt sees you two instead of me? You don’t think he has someone watching over Rose? He’ll just tell them to kill her then and there.’’

Arlo’s no longer listening. He gathers his guns, ensuring every clip is filled, then hands one to Cove. The two start having a hushed conversation away from me, putting their jackets on. I’m about to start screaming, but a hand on my shoulder stops me.

I glance back at Blair. She shakes her head a little, gripping my shoulder. Her eyes flicker to our men, and she’s silent. She’s waiting for them to leave and for us to be left alone, and my curiosity piques.

Reluctantly, I agree with the boys. “Fine. But if a single hair is missing from her head, you two are as good as dead.’’

Cove approaches me again, kissing the top of my head. He remains like that for a few seconds, then steps back. His face shows nothing, but when he bends to kiss my forehead, some of my worries lessen.

“I promise she’ll be back in one piece.’’

Arlo kisses Blair, whispering something in her ear. He glances at me, a soft expression on his face that vanishes just as quickly as it came. Cove and Arlo nod at each other, and within a minute, they’re leaving, closing the door behind them.

Immediately, I turn to Blair.

“What was that?”

She sighs. “I know how it feels to want to be the one to handle a situation like this. I know because I’ve been through this. So, I’m giving you an hour before I tell Arlo you gave me the slip.’’

My eyes widen slightly, but soon enough, I realize what she’s referring to. If my situation with Wyatt is bad, her entire life story is fucking terrible. It’s heartbreaking to just imagine what this poor girl has gone through, how she was ruthlessly and mercilessly hurt by the two people who were supposed to protect her.

With a deep breath, I open Arlo’s laptop again and rewind the video of Rose and Wyatt. I watch it three times before my eyes narrow. Something’s definitely wrong with the image. It’s not fabricated, I can tell that much; however, Wyatt seems almost… too eager.

He’s not an idiot; he must know that someone would be watching the video aside from me. My mind goes into overdrive as I start analyzing every glimmer in his eyes, every time his lips would curl up in a slight smirk.

“That fucking bastard,’’ I whisper, finally putting the pieces together.

“What is it?”

“He knows Arlo won’t let me go! He knows someone else will go in my stead.’’

“So?”

“So,’’ I swallow, trying to explain as quickly as possible. “There’s a high possibility he won’t even be at the stupid park. He’s trying to lure them out and then use that as an excuse to hurt Rose.’’

Blair nods, shoulders stiff. “Do you have any idea where he might actually be? If this is just a trick to get you alone, you must know where he is. Think, Aria.’’

My hands fly to my hair, brushing through it as my eyes close. I go back, trying to remember every place Wyatt and I frequented. I bite my lip in frustration, hating how easy yet difficult this seems to be. He was never the type to take me to the same place twice, and the place where he lived before he got banished isn’t his anymore.

I freeze momentarily.

“The abandoned warehouse near the woods,’’ I whisper to myself.

It’s a place often used by teenagers who are trying to sneak while smoking weed. The amount of shit happening over there is insane, but it’s the only place we’ve been to together more than three times. It’s isolated, and it takes a long walk near the highway before you can reach the warehouse.

I’m on my feet, moving as quickly as possible and trying to find any hidden weapons that Arlo has left behind. A small scream of frustration slips from me when I find none. My brain’s not working properly, and I can’t think of reasonable places where he’d hide them.

“Wait, take this.’’ Blair steps toward and pulls out something that looks like a metal stick. It’s as long as my middle finger, thick, with a red button in the middle.

“What’s that?”

Blair presses the button, and it extends into a long metal stick, good enough to beat someone to the pulp with it. One side has a sharp end, and it’s a good tool for self-defense. My eyes slightly widen in shock, amazed at the small device.

I take it from Blair, inspecting it in my hands. “Where’d you get this?”

“Your mom got it for my birthday last year.’’

I frown. “Seriously? Why don’t I ever get such awesome presents?’’

Blair blinks. “Didn’t you get a whole fucking island for your eighteenth?”

A snort comes from me. “Yeah, but that’s useless. We can trade if you want.’’

Disbelief is on her face, but she doesn’t comment on it. Instead, she hands me her coat, and I immediately put it on, zipping it up tightly and putting the small device in my pocket.

“Be careful, Aria.’’

I nod. “I promise.’’

“Remember, an hour,’’ she reminds me. “And good luck. Bring our girl back.’’