Page 29

Chapter 28

Aria

" A ria!" A heavy fist hammers on my front door, and I nearly drop my wine glass. The sound of my mom's voice catches me off guard. After ignoring her for weeks, I should have known this was coming. "You open this door right now, young lady!"

I roll my eyes, looking around at my messy house, the basket full of dirty laundry, the sink full of plates. Paperwork is scattered across the living room floor from trying to catch up on work despite being on leave.

"Aria!" I hear her yell my name once more. "I know you're in there."

"What do you want?" I shout back, leaning my forehead against the door before unlocking it. My mom's deep blue eyes burn into me as soon as the door swings open, and I fear she may hit me.

As usual, she's dressed in a fitted suit, her hair tied back tight enough to flatten out her wrinkles, or maybe that's the heavy makeup. I'm not sure anymore.

"No calls, no messages. You’re slacking at work. If it wasn't for Ewan coming to ask us for help, I'd have no clue you were spiralling. I should have known you weren't cut out for this field."

My eyes widen, and I clench my fists, ready to pull her expensive handbag off her wrist and smack her with it. "How dare you? I'm fine."

"Look at you," she says, reaching out and flipping my knotted, greasy hair. Her eyes trace down my slim frame, clothes hanging off me. "You look like a drunk. And what in God's name is that smell?" She covers her nose with her palm, looking around the house as she walks up the hallway, stopping at the kitchen. "What's gotten into you?"

She needs to leave–Tobias is minutes from video calling me, and I haven't even set up my laptop yet.

Silently, I stare at the floor, feeling her burning glare on me. I know Mom well enough to know she will stand here, waiting until I dive into a deep hole of emotions and reveal myself to her.

She sighs, taking off her glasses and folding them closed, setting them on a takeaway dish with a grimace. "I'm going to run you a bath. I'm not leaving you alone like this."

"No! Mom, you need to go now before..." I trail off and chew my lip to silence myself.

Knitting her brows together, she regards me with a confused look. "Before…?"

"I just… I'm tired and I need to sleep."

"Well, you need to wash first." She looks me up and down with a tight-lipped smile. "I'll change your bedding while you hop in the shower."

On instinct, I grab her wrist with an iron grip, spinning her with my teeth baring. "I said no! You need to get the fuck out of my house and stop acting like Mom of the Year. We both know you're only here because Dad forced you."

Frowning deeply, she looks from my still-bandaged hand grabbing her to my twisted face. "Let go of me, Aria," she demands calmly. "I'm not a threat to you."

My brain explodes, and I let her go, stepping until my back hits the wall between my counter and table, eyes wide with fear. "Ewan is the threat. Mom, I need to protect Jason!"

"What? What in the world are you talking about?"

I shove past her, my heart racing as I quickly dig through the dirty washing for a hoodie, throwing it on and running out my front door with my mom yelling after me.

I don't dare stop, my bare feet slapping the pavement as I sprint as fast as I can, stumbling a little from my alcohol intake. The rain should be making me shiver, cold in the middle of November, but I feel nothing but the dread that Jason is in terrible danger.

Do anything necessary to save him .

The thought keeps running through my mind as I fall to my knees numerous times, the streetlights aiding me in the darkness. I feel a painful constriction crushing my chest, and I slow down my run to catch my breath, leaning my palms on my knees.

Tobias is going to lose it that I'm not there to take his call, and my phone vibrating in my pocket continually makes me cry softly at my guilt. I wipe under my nose before pulling it out and turning it off. Everyone can wait until I finish my mission–everyone needs to step back while I save his life.

Eventually reaching Ewan's front gate, I inhale a few deep breaths, my clothes completely soaked through. My hair is matted to my face, and I'm sure I have a bit of glass in the soles of my feet.

I'm scared. The repercussions of trying to rescue Jason can be worse for me, but he's my priority. Tobias has made it clear Ewan shouldn't be anywhere near me, that he is capable of anything, so why the hell would I leave Jason with him?

I crouch under his living room window, peeking in to see the TV on, Ewan sitting on the couch wearing just a pair of dark boxers, his phone pressed to his ear. If I open the front door quietly enough, I might be able to sneak in and out without being noticed.

I gulp down a lump, the taste of vodka on my tongue making me gag. I whimper, crawling over to the front door with stones digging into my knees, mud now covering my bare legs and hands.

I stand, reaching for the handle, stopping in my tracks when the lock turns and the door swings open. Ewan, in complete shock, stares at me, his gaze dropping to my bloody feet and back up to my face.

“Don’t call the cops. She's here,” he says to someone and hangs up. He opens the door fully and holds his hand out to me, as if I'm so fragile, a simple touch could break me.

“You're okay.”

I'm not. I'm not okay.

“Come inside. You're safe here.”

I'm speechless, all my hair rising as Tobias' words rattle through my mind, every single fibre of me telling me to turn and run. I can't. My feet are glued to the ground, my jaw chattering as my eyes water, feeling my knees starting to shake.

Seeing him in front of me, I feel distraught, as if my mind is against me. Tobias is right, but I don’t want him to be, because he’s Ewan.

I flinch as he tries to reach for me, retracting his hand and lifting them both. “Aria, breathe for me.”

I had no idea I was holding my breath, my lungs burning for air.

"Aria's here?" I hear Jason yell from the hallway, and Ewan quickly grabs the door and swings it half shut so I'm out of view. "Is she coming home?"

"Go to your room, buddy."

"No, I want to see Aria!" I see his small hand on the door, attempting to pull it open. My heart is shattering into small pieces, and as soon as his head pops around to look at me, his pale green eyes connect with mine for a split second.

I fall apart. I drop to my knees, my mouth wide open as I let out a loud sob just as Ewan pulls him away, telling him sternly to go back to his room.

I hear Jason asking if I'm okay, that he wants to see me.

Hands touch my shoulder, my name on Ewan’s lips, before I feel someone soft wrapping around me. They smell just like Ewan.

My body relaxes somewhat, and I sob harder.

"What am I doing?" I cry, staring at the puddle beneath me. My faint reflection makes me sick, the sight of me revolting. "What am I doing?" I repeat just as Ewan lifts me, hooking his arms under my legs and shoulders.

"You're freezing," he says, carrying me through his warm house, the same place I used to call home. My body starts to tremble, the cold painful, every bone in my body rattling in Ewan's arms. "Did you walk here? Are you drunk? Your pupils are fucking huge," he speaks as he sits me down in front of his fire, wrapping another towel around me. "Aria, say something. Talk to me so I know you’re okay."

My blurred gaze traces the room, landing on a huge canvas of Jason above the gray couch. "I need to help him," I blurt out, my face contorting as I look down at Ewan's hand running up my arms to heat me up. I hit them away, hurrying to my feet as I back away from him. "What are you doing to him?"

"What?" he asks, confused, standing slowly with his hands up. "Aria?—"

"Is he hurt?" I panic, my eyes widening as the thoughts run wild in my mind.

"Hurt? No, he's in his room. What's going?—"

He's lying.

"I need to get him out of here, Ewan. Help me. It isn't safe." I walk to him, gripping his forearms with a begging look. Hurry. "Please help me get him out of here."

"You need to stop. I'm his dad. He is safe."

"No, you hurt people and mess with their heads." I start to raise my voice, my lip trembling as I cover my mouth. "You want me to lose everything."

He kneels in front of me as I drop to the rug, rubbing both hands down his face, his tired eyes on my scraped knees. "I would never hurt you, Aria. It's not me you should be worrying about," he says, pushing my wet hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ears, the contact nearly taking my breath away. "This guy, he has his claws dug deep into you, and you're falling into a deep hole. When does Aria Miller ever let anyone run her life?"

"He doesn't."

Settling his hand over mine, he rubs his thumb over my skin. The act is small, but it's massively affecting me in ways it shouldn't.

"I'm worried about you, Aria. To me, you're a strong, independent, intelligent woman who takes bullshit from no one. I need you to remember that when you feel like you're lost." I watch him with tears streaming down my cheeks; my lips move, but no words come out. "And I'm not saying all of this because you mean so much to me. I'm saying it because it's true. A lot of people look up to you, me included."

"But..." My throat tightens, my free hand grabbing his sleeve. "I am lost."

"Are you? Are you sure you aren't just hiding? If you were lost, then you wouldn't know unless you were found. You told me that years ago, remember?" I stare at him, chewing the inside of my cheek. The corner of his lip curls up, and I feel some of the crippling pain lifting from my chest. "You still have clothes here. I'll put them in the bathroom so you can change."

I watch him stand and let out a heavy breath as he walks around the couch, opening a cupboard in the corner, pulling out a fresh towel. Handing it to me, he helps me up from the ground, and I stagger a little, my palm hitting the wall. "I don't like how I feel," I admit, meeting his gaze. "I don't like it. I feel sick all the time. I have butterflies."

"I know. You really need to speak to someone," he says, wrapping an arm around my waist to help me walk without falling, the closeness erasing the dark feelings and thoughts, replacing them with something calm, something that makes me let out a deep, well-needed breath.

"I'm talking to you," I reply, looking up at him. "Can I sit with you and Jason? We could watch a movie?" I ask, Ewan leading me to the bathroom, turning on the light that blinds me momentarily, sitting me down on the edge of the circular bathtub. I wince a little as he lifts my leg, pressing a cool cloth to a cut on my foot. "I just want to see him for a while. I miss him."

"I don't think that's a good idea. I'll get you dressed and take you to your parents’ house. Tobias will get the wrong idea?—"

"I'm not here for a quick fuck. I'm here for Jason." Interrupting him, I stare him down, watching his pale green eyes close in defeat.

“Not when you're like this, Aria. If you don't want to go to your parents’, you sleep it off in the bedroom, and we'll get you to a doctor tomorrow.”

He pours me a glass of water that I gulp down before handing it back to him. He’s shaking just as much as I am, and I want to hold his wrists and tell him the way I feel, truly feel, but the words and thoughts and feelings are caged.

Ewan helps me up the staircase, the wall lined with family photos of us three through the years. The dogs are at my feet, excited and barking, but I can’t see them. When I think about leaning down, I feel like I’m going to pass out or vomit, or both.

The bedroom we shared for years still looks the same, it only being a few months ago since I left. My favorite bedding is on, the window slightly ajar the way I like it. He tugs the duvet down and fluffs my pillow, settling another glass of water next to the bed.

“I’ll bring you a bucket in case you feel sick again. Do you need anything else?”

I shake my head. “I need sleep.”

He nods. “I’m going to settle Jason down. He might’ve overheard, and I don’t want him to be worried.”

My fingers twist together as I walk towards the bed, sitting on the side. He settles my phone next to the glass, giving me a warm smile before leaving.

I reach over to the table and flip my phone in my hand, wondering if I should turn it on yet. I look around at all the pictures, and my eyes land on a very small one, one we took in a booth years ago when Jason was three. We are all smiling, Jason sticking his fingers up both our noses. We all look happy.

A lump builds in my throat, and I look away.

Holding the power button down, I feel my chest tighten, waiting for the vibrating to stop so I can call Tobias.

With the phone pressed to my ear, I quietly walk down the hallway to the bathroom, taking one step at a time as Tobias answers. "Where the fuck are you?"

"Um...I went to see Jason," I reply quietly, reaching Jason's room, peeking through the space between the door frame.

I hear him huffing in irritation. "Where?"

Whispering, I keep my eyes on Jason as Ewan kneels next to his bed, running his hand through his dark locks. "Ewan's."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" His aggressive tone has me shutting my eyes momentarily, and I open them to look at Ewan, watching his soft features while he tucks in his son, kissing his forehead. "That guy is a snake, Aria. You need to run, right now."

“He’s just looking out for me. I don’t feel good.”

Silence follows, and I pull the phone away to see if he's still there.

"Tobias?" I say his name, tiptoeing down the hallway and down the stairs, the dogs following at my feet.

“How do you feel?” he asks.

“Dizzy,” I reply, my knees wobbling. "I'm leaving now."

"Yes, you fucking are. What else did he do to you? Did he touch you?"

"Of course not," I reply, and he slams his fist down on something.

"Goddammit, Aria, can't you see what he's doing to us? Did he give you something? Did you drink something?"

I lick my dry lips. “Water.”

“Fuck,” he spits. “He’s drugged you, Aria. Get the fuck out of the house.”

"Stop," I whimper. “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Wouldn’t he? You broke up with him, and he’s got you in his goddamn house. You drank some water and now you don’t feel good.”

“Stop,” I whisper, a tear sliding down my cheek because there’s a huge possibility he’s telling the truth. Why would Tobias lie to me?

He continues, each word dragging those dark feelings to the forefront of my brain. "He's the threat, Aria. Remember that. He wants to own you and will do anything to get you there with him. Get the fuck out of that house right now. Run."

"He's the threat," I say, repeating it over and over again, freezing at the front door as I hear Ewan.

“Aria?”

Shivers run through my entire body, and I nearly drop the phone when I hear him say my name again.

My heart begins to race as I hang up on Tobias, and my eyes widen as I turn around. He tilts his head at my stance, furrowing his brows. "What's wrong?"

He planned this; he knew I'd need to come to him to see Jason and made me drink that water. Tobias is right. I need to run.

"Talk to me. What’s wrong?"

Ewan steps towards me, and quickly, I spin on my heels, throwing the door open and sprinting as fast as I can while I ignore him calling my name.

I know he can't follow me with Jason in bed–he's not that irresponsible.

My sock-covered feet pound the floor as I run, hearing Ewan yelling in the distance. I take a left down the sidewalk and cross the street, a car nearly crashing into me and swerving last second.

I fall onto my knees and get back up, falling again, realizing whatever Ewan gave me is rushing through my system, and I’m weak. I don’t think I felt this way before. Did I? This is Ewan who made me like this.

Ewan drugged me.

The burning feeling of betrayal has me vomiting on the ground in the middle of the road just as someone reaches me. Large hands move my hair from my face as I continue to empty my stomach.

Everything goes blurry, and I cry and sob and scream against the concrete until I feel myself slipping away into darkness once again.