Oh…heat slams into my face. “I… yeah, I did scream, but not for the reasons you think.”
Tasha blinks and takes in my appearance. My swollen lips, my messy hair and the many love bites Cyan left on my neck.
Her eyes widen in disbelief. “You… you were screaming because ofthat?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t in danger.” I’m dying inside with mortification, her expression is comical, considering the unhinged stories of her sex life she’s told me over the years.
“Fine. I’ll behave,” she mutters. Collin releases her, though not before he plucks Trevor out of her hands.
She turns and looks straight into his eyes; hers blazing. “I’ll take him back when I leave.”
“Sure, honey.” Collin leans in and takes a deep breath. “I’d love to give you a bat.”
Tasha’s eyes flare with pure murder. “Look here, pretty boy… it’s Ms. Diamond to you. Keep your cheesy lines to yourself, or that bat will eventually crush your cheesy balls.”
She turns away, shutting him down completely. Grabs my hand and starts tugging me across the room as if she owns the place. I sigh. This is going to be one hell of a conversation. “Aria, where are we going?” Tasha asks.
I point to the closed door on the right. We step into the library, and the moment the door clicks shut, she drops my hand and whirls to face me. “Explain how you went fromnot even datingto being fuckingengaged to the Capo Bastone of Boston.”
My heart sinks.How do I tell her I met Cyan months ago?“Sorry I made you worry, didn’t know how to tell you. Afraid that you’ll… want nothing to do with me.” I say under my breath.
Tasha sighs, her tone softening. “Ari, I’ll never abandon you. You’re my best friend. I was so worried. You know me… I don’t freak out easily. But your actions? That’s not you.” Her words scrape against a bruise I’ve been pretending doesn’t hurt. My aunt cutting me off left a crack in me I haven’t admitted to anyone… and the thought of Tasha doing the same makes my stomach shrivel. Losing the people I love terrifies me.
I inhale, pushing down the torment clawing at my ribs. “Thank you, Tash… after how my aunt reacted, I feared you’d do the same.”
Tasha’s expression shifts, frustration melting into protectiveness. She steps closer, placing a hand on my arm.
“That’s the thing, Ari. I might get angry, but I’ll never leave you behind. Just don’t shut me out again. I hate not knowing what’s going on with you.”
“I won’t, I swear. Just… let me gather my thoughts.” This is why I didn’t take her calls; I couldn’t figure out what to say. Even now, I can’t tell her everything. It’s best to stick as close to the truth as possible.
Tasha Diamond always sniffs out a lie, and that’s what makes her one of the best divorce attorneys in Boston. Sometimes I think she’s part bloodhound. ‘Tasha, I met Cyan the night I went out with Hayden.”
“So, you’ve been secretly seeing him since then?” Her voice cracks with hurt.
“No! I only met him, found out who he was, and he scared me. I wanted nothing to do with Cyan.”
Tasha crosses her arms. “That’s why you acted weird when you came home! I knew something was off. But why didn’t you tell me? You know I would’ve gone to battle for you. No one messes with my sister while I’m around.”
Gratitude stings my eyes. “I know, Tash. Besides, it was just one encounter.”
Tasha lifts an eyebrow. “Okay, but now you’re engaged. Explain.”
“Remember when I texted about going out with a guy named Ethan?”
“Yeah, the teacher-trainer your Aunt Cathy set you up with.”
“I saw Cyan at the restaurant. He came to our table to say hi, and that’s when Ethan dropped his truth bomb, He’s a cop, not a teacher. On our way home, he acted like a judgmental ass because of me knowing Cyan. I didn’t like his attitude, so I decided not to see him again.”
“Prick,” she snaps. “Ari. Back to your explanation. How the hell are you and Cyan now a thing?”
“What I’m about to tell you, Cyan doesn’t know. The week I was working at the Boston office, Ethan approached me at the office, and he brought friends from the FBI. They want me to be an informant.”
Tasha’s expression darkens. “He tried to use you. To spy on a mobster? Motherfucker,” she snaps, then gestures to my ring. “Please don’t tell me you’re here because of that idiot, Ari. If Cyan finds out...”
“No! I told Ethan and his FBI friends hell no. I wanted no part of it.”
“Good. Girl, you are never dealing with shit alone again.” She points at me. “If they ever come near you, you call me. Don’t speak to him without a lawyer present. Got it?”
