Part 12 (1/2)

”That is funny. Wish I could have seen Ace's face.”

”Well, rumor is, it was his men, a pocket no longer loyal to Cain, who were surprised when they'd made to steal the cargo.”

”If this is true, it's a problem. A big one.”

Fly nodded and drank his water.

”Any word on what Cain thinks?”

”Nope. That man keeps it all locked up tight,” he said, pointing to his head.

”You don't have to tell me about that. Let me know if you find out anything else. Especially about my cousin.”

There was no love lost between Ace and I. We'd been fiercely compet.i.tive since we were little, with me having the upper hand only because I was the Alpha's son. But now that he was going to take over, I didn't think he gave a s.h.i.+t about me. Which circled me back to Xander's words. He'd make me Alpha of Rage, enemy to my pack, all because of Aria.

”I'm ready.” Aria stood with the overstuffed bag slung over her shoulder looking tiny in an oversized, faded gray sweats.h.i.+rt and tight black jeans with a pair of very worn high tops on her feet. Cute and distracting as h.e.l.l. I s.h.i.+fted gears, thinking about all the things I would do to her when we got home.

But Xander's words taunted me. Who would keep her safe from me?

”Let's go then.” I took her bag and we left, using the truck rather than my bike.

”You're stressed. My grandfather helping, that's a good thing, right?”

”It is. That's not what's bugging me.”

”What is it then?”

I shook my head. ”Just let me think.”

She watched out the window. ”If it's about what he said, the future, I'm not...it's not something I'm thinking about. I came to find you because I wanted answers. Not a...” She paused for a moment. ”Mate.”

”It's not that simple, Aria.”

Her glare burned a hole into the side of my head. ”Well, I'm sorry to make your life so f.u.c.king complicated, Zane. Why didn't you just let him take me if I'm such a ha.s.sle?”

”You're not a f.u.c.king ha.s.sle. There's just so much more.”

”Well, it would sure help me understand if you'd, I don't know, tell me?”

I cast a quick glance her way, warning her. ”This part doesn't have anything to do with you.” I was telling the truth. At least partially. The ambush had nothing to do with her. It just wasn't all I was thinking about.

”Well how about you enlighten me on the parts that do have to do with me? You and Xander were talking like it was some kind of code!”

We pulled up in front of the house, and I parked the truck. ”No, we weren't, but he's right. You were raised outside of the packs. You would have been educated otherwise. Can you just give it a rest, Aria? I have a f.u.c.king headache.” And I was d.a.m.n tired of this.

”Well, you're not the only one with a headache. What the h.e.l.l happened between us sitting down at the table with Xander and now? I thought we were on the same page.”

”For Christ's sake...”

”No, not for his sake but mine. You're right that my mother didn't do a great job educating me in the way of things. That's why I'm here, to learn. To understand. I thought you'd help me do that.”

I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead. Too much to figure out and I did not need this on top of it.

”I guess I was mistaken!” She opened her door and swung one leg out.

”f.u.c.k this!” f.u.c.k being the good guy. Before she straightened, I was at her side, taking her by the arms. ”Fine. You want me to educate you? All right. You got it. But we'll do this my way. And the first thing you'll learn is f.u.c.king obedience.”

She opened her mouth to retaliate but it took one shake from me for her to shut it.

”Inside. Let's go.”

As I said it, I saw two of Xander's men in the distance. I pointed at them. ”Out of my sight. That was the agreement.” They glared at me, their gazes, although not as angry when they turned to Aria, were unreadable. But they did as I'd said and moved. Aria watched them, but I was focused on her. I stepped up to her and pressed her against the car with my full weight. Her heart beat faster, drumming against my chest, telling me she was afraid. Good. ”See, Aria, that's obedience.” I spoke quietly, wanting her to feel me rather than hear me. ”Now let's get you into the house so you can start to learn it, too.”

”Zane, stop.”

I marched her up the stairs, wondering all along if Xander was right. If I'd hurt her.

”What are you doing? Let me go.”

”This is what I meant by my way. You think you'll understand? That understanding will make any difference? That's fine. I get that. You're stubborn. But like I said, we'll be doing it my way.” We reached the front door and I unlocked it, pus.h.i.+ng it open, holding her with one hand. ”Still want this?”

”Why are you so angry?”

”Because Fly was right, kissing you - h.e.l.l, f.u.c.king you - it's gotten me everything I never wanted. Everything I've been trying to steer clear of.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and I felt like s.h.i.+t. What the h.e.l.l was I doing? She was the one good thing in this. I couldn't deny the part of me that believed she'd be better off without me, but I was too selfish to allow that part to win.

”And it's the one thing that I can't walk away from. Everyone's got their one thing, right? That thing that cripples them. Well, I guess you're it for me. You're that one f.u.c.king thing, Aria.”

Chapter Fifteen.

Aria In his own really f.u.c.ked up way, he was trying to tell me he had feelings for me.

”Well, you're that one thing for me, too, Zane. Always have been.”

I stared up at him while he stood fighting whatever battle it was he fought inside himself. When his black eyes met mine, I held my breath, waiting.

”Your choice. You want me to take you to Xander, I will. But if you say you want to stay with me, then you take me as I am. What happened in my office, that's not a one-time thing, Aria. Can you handle that?” He didn't wait for me to answer. ”I hope for your sake you can. And I can't tell you everything that's going on. Not now. Maybe not ever. You deserve better, but birthright stole that from you. Just like it stole it from me. We're f.u.c.ked, Aria, you and I. But you can be less f.u.c.ked without me. Your choice.”

”I don't want to be without you. Period. Get that through your thick stupid head.”

He studied me. After a moment, he nodded. ”Okay. One night. After I'm done with you tonight, you can change your mind. You can tell me to take you to him and I will. I'll leave you alone.”

”I won't want that, ever.”