Page 58 of His Last Will

“It’s okay, just go grab it inside. You probably left it on the table.”

Aiden checks the perimeter. “Fuck it, I’ll just buy a new one.”

Stepping up to him, I kiss his cheek. “It’s fine. I’m a big girl. I can handle a few minutes alone. Just go quickly.” I can’t help but smile at his protectiveness—more like possessiveness, the crazy bastard.

“Absolutely not,” Aiden says, the tone brooking no room for argument as his arm comes around my waist.

Two of Anthony’s guards approach us with Anthony following a few feet behind. Aiden turns and addresses Anthony, “Do you need something?”

“Yes, I need to talk to you. Alone.” Anthony nods his head toward me.

Pulling me even tighter, Aiden shakes his head, “No. We were just heading out. Not only do I not want to, but I am not leaving Ari alone after everything that’s happened.”

Anthony glances over at Tony and they share some unspoken communication before he signals to his guards.

Large hands grab Aiden’s arms, which forces him to release his hold on me while they wrench his arms behind his back as they start dragging him back into the venue. Aiden is screaming for them to back the fuck off, but they just keep moving. Another guard comes up to help control the situation as Aiden tries to find an escape.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I reach for Aiden, but another guard comes up to my side and stops me.

“You wait here; I’ll return your precious fiancé soon.” Then he turns to Aiden. “Stop fighting. I’ll have Tony wait with her.” The look on Aiden’s face is deadly, but he turns and growls out, “Let’s get this over with.” These guards will pay with their lives, I have no doubt about it.

Tony looks about as concerned as an already gutted fish, pulling out his pack of smokes and lighting one up. He steps closer to the building and leans against it before telling me good luck. What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I roll my eyes and ignore him.

A black town car pulls up, and I walk to the back seat. The door opens as I approach, and I am confused because if Gage is driving the car, who is already sitting in the back?

“We meet again, Arianna. But this time, I am going to win.”

Before I can scream, the man from the night outside the arena steps out of the car and covers my mouth with his other hand at my neck, pressing a needle deep.

Dizziness and nausea consume me as black fills the corner of my vision.

My muscles feel weak, and I am falling against this man. I try to move my arms to push him away, but it’s not working.

Aiden. Aiden.

He’s my last thought as the darkness claims me.

SIXTEEN YEARS OLD

Sitting on the iron bench in the garden, surrounded by‌ blooming rose bushes and fireflies, I look up when I hear footsteps coming closer.

“Still crying over my stepbrother, Ari?” Aiden asks, a hint of annoyance breaking through his otherwise stoic voice.

I wipe the tears from my cheeks and glare up at him. Brodie left this morning for boarding school, like he does every fall. Junior year was beginning next week. But with each summer ending, knowing he is leaving and still doesn’t know how I truly feel, the pain cuts deeper.

And yes, it’s my fucking fault I am a coward who can’t admit how she feels to the boy she loves. But I would rather sit here and stew in my ignorance-is-bliss mentality than risk losing him.

Longing for your best friend to notice you as something more is awful.

It wouldn’t be so bad if…

I didn’t also secretly harbor confusing feelings about the man standing in front of me, and that makes it even worse. Brodie’s stepbrother is completely off limits.

Despite how much I want to deny it, Aiden is sinfully hot. The embodiment of every bad boy on TV that girls can’t help but drool over because, let’s face it, the bad boy is always hotter.

Tall, dark, and handsome was a sentence made for him. The tattoos staining his skin, the dark curls framing his face, and the eyebrow piercing were a lethal combination. And the smug bastard knew it.

But Brodie was my best friend, and that meant something. I was waiting…