Page 38

C ove puts a fresh cup of tea in front of me. I sniff a little, wiping my eyes with the back of my palm. I stopped crying a while ago, but the ache still lingers in my chest, and the overwhelming sensation of guilt doesn’t seem like it’ll disappear anytime soon.

I bring the cup to my lips, savoring the taste, and then put it back on the small coffee table of Cove’s living room. He sits beside me, and I immediately lean my cheek on his shoulder. His arm wraps around me protectively, giving me a soft squeeze.

“How do I fix this, Cove?”

He sighs. “Well, apologizing works. Though, in your case, you’ll probably end up doubling down even more and worsening the situation. I’d say give Arlo time to cool off, then give it a shot.’’

I hate when he’s right.

“Do you think it’s true?” I ask, glancing up at him.

“What is, bunny?”

A small knot forms in my throat. “I did say he’d pick Blair over me. Do you think that’s true?”

“Not really, no. I think he’d save one and give his life for the other. But that was a low blow. You know that Blair has no one else but him, right?”

“Stop making me feel more guilty,’’ I mumble.

It’s true, though.

I’ve never seen a mutually obsessive relationship as the one Arlo and Blair have. Back when they met, Blair was possessive of him to the point he couldn’t leave the apartment without her. It was justified. She was terrified of being abandoned, and he had no problem showing her that he’d always be there.

It wasn’t until a year and a half ago that she started finally living a life of her own, without having Arlo by her side all the time.

“I’m sorry,’’ he apologizes, and I snort.

“Do you think Blair will hate me for what I said?”

“Who knows? And also, who cares? You’ll always have me.’’

Cove leans back into the couch, and I straddle his lap, nuzzling my face in the crook of his neck. He chuckles, his hands wrapping around my waist as he pulls me closer. My eyes close on their own accord, and I allow the silence to relax me.

Being in his presence, being held by him, erases all of my worries. The guilt is still there, and the thoughts of how to fix what I ruined try to resurface, but a single squeeze from Cove shoves them to the back of my mind.

I turn my head to the side, softly tracing random patterns over his chest, feeling his muscular body under my fingertips. He doesn’t protest, and I continue, mapping out his body with my touch, trying to memorize every single curve.

His phone buzzes, and I discreetly take a quick glance at the person who texted him. My left eye twitches at the name on the screen, and he quickly types in a response. It lasts for a few minutes, texting back and forth before I finally clear my throat.

He locks the phone, tosses it aside, and looks at me as I sit up, looking at him.

“Who was that?”

He raises an amused brow. “Why are you asking when you already saw?”

“That Eva girl,’’ I mutter.

After the night in the club where I saw the girl for the first time, I did some light stalking. She doesn’t have any social media, so I had Arlo look into her. She’s harmless, really, though I don’t like her. She’s too close to Cove for my liking, and I don’t want him giving attention to anyone but me.

“Yes, it’s Eva,’’ he drawls out.

“Did you forget my little warning? I will kill her if my hand’s forced.’’

“Then I won’t force your hand,’’ he kissed my forehead softly. “You have nothing to worry about. Eva and I never had anything going on, and every other girl that I did have regular sex with was dealt with the moment I shoved my cock in your mouth at Kortlek.’’

I hum.

“What? You don’t believe me?”

“Oh, no, I do,’’ I shrug. I do trust him. He knows better than to lie about such matters. Besides, I stalk him regularly as well, and I know that he’s not seeing anyone on the side. Between fighting, spending time with me, and the whole Wyatt situation going on, he barely has any free time.

“Then what’s the issue?”

His hands come down to my ass, giving it a firm squeeze. I bite the inside of my cheek, unsure of how to tell him what I’m feeling. It’s pathetic and stupid, but ever since I was young, I always wanted the relationship Mom and Dad have.

I want someone I can call my own without the fear of them leaving me the moment things get hard.

Cove’s eyes narrow at me, then he sighs softly. He takes my chin between his fingers and brings my face closer to his, the softness of his lips brushing against me causing me to melt under his touch.

“I’m not going anywhere, Aria,’’ he murmurs, his hot breath fanning my lips. “I’m yours. Until my last, dying breath. Even in the afterlife. I’m yours, forever and always. Nothing will ever change that.’’

I manage a stiff nod, and he slowly kisses me.

My arms wrap around his neck, fingers tangling with his hair and gently tugging on it. He groans, tongue slipping in my mouth. He tastes every inch of my mouth, softly sucking on the tip of my tongue. The passionate kiss intensifies when his fingers slide under my shirt, caressing my bare skin.

“Bunny,’’ he murmurs against the kiss. “Eva’s coming.’’

Immediately, I break the kiss with a frown as I look at him. “Excuse me? Why?”

As if on cue, the doorbell rings. I make no attempt to move, and soon enough, the door opens and closes. I hear her shrug off her coat and take off her shoes before she steps into the living room. She pauses, taking in the scene of me straddling Cove’s lap, and clears her throat.

“Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,’’ I nod.

Eva raises an amused eyebrow, though she doesn’t say anything else on the topic. She strolls into the living room, sitting across from Cove and me. I get off his lap and sit next to him, mood ruined and a sour expression on my face.

“What is it, Eva?” Cove asks through a grumble. He’s not too pleased, either.

“I could’ve texted you this, but just in case, I didn’t want to. You know, evidence and all of that.’’

“Spit it out.’’

She rolls her eyes. “Karl Brown — Wyatt Chambers has a warrant.’’

I immediately straighten up and look at her, resting my elbows on my knees and leaning in. She shoots me a look, then focuses on Cove, whose expression isn’t too different from mine.

“What? When did this happen?”

“A few hours ago. The cops were able to tie him to Jackson’s murder. There were some compromising messages between the two, and from what I was able to find out, one of the Vipers sold out Wyatt.’’

My mouth parts. “Wait, so they snitched on him?’’

Eva nods, eyes on me. “Yeah. So, where is he?”

I turn to look at Cove. Arlo wouldn’t have killed him, and Cove definitely didn’t. Last I saw him, he was tied in the basement of the warehouse, though he’s probably somewhere else now. Cove flickers his eyes to me.

“Somewhere they won’t find him.’’

“Is he alive and well?” I ask.

“Alive? Yes. Well? Define well.’’

My brows narrow. “As in, no injuries that could kill him.’’

“Oh, yes, then he’s well,’’ he shrugs.

My attention goes back to Eva. “What about the other members of the gang? We took out some, but there’s more than half left.’’

“By now, most have heard that Wyatt’s wanted by the police. Some likely fled the city out of fear of being connected with Wyatt. Others will probably run soon.’’

“Cove, can you find them?”

Cove thinks for a moment. “I won’t be able to get all of them, but at least twenty? Yeah. Why?”

A wide grin spreads on my face.

“How about a game of Kortlek?”