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Chapter1
Aria
For the longest time, I simply settle into my favorite armchair and watch Chase getting dressed. It’s surreal having him here. I’m free to watch the muscles of his back tighten and move as he tugs on his shirt. Learn the way he does his buttons from the bottom up. Admire the way his slacks hug his lean waist, knowing I’m the one who gets to enjoy what’s tucked behind the zipper. It’s almost…normal.
When nothing about this is normal.
I try to clear my mind as I take a breath. I can understand why Chase would find me going back about as distasteful as I find him bankrupting Wild Heart for my sake. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to pose the option of going back to the club. But what choice do I have? My brother owes money. And I won’t see him again until that money’s paid back.
Even while silently putting on his clothes for the day, Chase’s façade remained fixed. I can’t tell if he’s upset or thinking about what I said.
“Sorry,” I say.
He turns to me, his lips transforming into a small smile. “I get it. It just doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He does up the final button, covering up his sculpted, scarred chest. “God knows what I’ll do if it was you on the other side.”
“I’m not exactly family, per say.”
“You could be.”
My heart leaps straight into my throat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Chase smirks. “I’ll leave that one to your imagination.”
He goes back to his preparations for the day. Midway into tucking in his shirt, he stops and furrows his eyebrows. He has something on his mind.
“Maybe—”
I instantly lift my hand. “The police can’t get involved,” I remind him. “It’s why I was reluctant to even talk to you about it.”
Chase doesn’t seem all that offended, instead he keeps his thoughtful expression, his hands slowing as he adjusts his waistband. “They probably wouldn’t be of much use, anyway. They’re still sorting out an issue at the precinct.”
“Issue?”
“I do have one person in mind though,” Chase carries on. “My partner, Zayn. He’s dependable and knows how to keep his mouth shut. We don’t have to tell him everything, but we’ll have another set of hands and eyes on our side.”
My eyes widen. I don’t want to involve the police, even if it’s an officer that Chase supposedly trusts to keep quiet. I don’t want to risk anything and rock the boat with Night Fang. They’ve already sent me a finger. Next time it could be Peter’s head.
A knot forms in my stomach. I don't want to involve anyone else in this dangerous situation, especially not a police officer who could jeopardize everything I’ve worked and hashed out to keep Peter alive. And yet, despite the anxiety that Chase can see on my face, he seems sure of himself. Confident this is the right move.
And I don't know what else to do.
I open my mouth to voice a protest, to tell him about my concerns over meeting Zayn, but Chase interrupts me before I even get a word out.
“There was a mole in the precinct,” he says with a sigh. “I’ve been holding off on telling you since it concerns Night Fang, and it’s why I wasn’t willing to go to the police about it on my end.”
“How does this help with Zayn?” I ask, uneasiness sliding down my spine.
“Zayn is helping me find the mole. Along with the police chief.”
I bite my lip, unsure of what to do. Chase clearly trusts Zayn. Part of me can’t believe I’m even considering doing this. But it’s not like I have a lot of other options. It’s either meet with Chase’s partner and hope we have some kind of plan or…I don’t know.
And as I sit here, curled up in an armchair getting nowhere, my brother’s life is at stake.
I sigh. “Fine. I’ll give Zayn a chance.”
Chase smiles. “Aria, I promise that things will work out.”
“Hopefully,” I say, trying to draw a smile up and failing.
