The Set-Up
The silence was electric. Kayden's index finger, resolute and deliberate, cut through the tension and landed on Nelly's name.
"Nel… Nelly?" Aria's whisper was one of stunned amazement.
Her own gasp was a shadow in the empty air between them. There was no one else. No friends, no crowd—just her and Kayden on the edge of an unfolding truth.
Aria's chest tightened. "You want to die, don't you?" she sneered, turning steel her words.
Kayden met her glare with a harsh, mirthless laugh. "I showed you who it is. Don't you trust me?"
Aria shook her head, seething. "Nelly's been my best friend for years. Ten years of fidelity. And you expect me to just toss all that away because you told me something? With no evidence?"
For the first time, a flicker of something passed over Kayden's face—something indcipherable, threatening. "That's sweet," he breathed, his voice nearly submerged in his own thoughts.
Aria spun, ready to turn and go. "Then this is over."
"It was a setup," Kayden exploded, his voice low, enough to catch her in mid-stride.
Her heart stuttered. She turned, confusion setting its features stony. "What?"
"It wasn't your friend," he continued, his tone calm but cutting. "Her profile was used as a cover. Breadcrumbs led me to the real culprit."
Aria's frustration boiled over. "Then why accuse her in the first place?"
Kayden's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "I wanted to see how you'd react."
Aria scoffed. "You're insane. Who was it then?"
"I'm not saying it here," he responded suavely, his voice dropping to a close whisper. "If you want to hear, I'll send you the location. Meet me there."
She breathed in shock. A secret rendezvous? With him?
Aria trailed after him as he walked towards his automobile. "What do you mean, meet you there? Why in private?"
"Don't you want to know the truth?" he asked without facing her.
"I do, but this—this feels like a game."
Kayden finally glanced over his shoulder, his eyes sharp, unreadable. "You've already underestimated me, principessa. And we've barely begun."
He slipped into his car and drove off, leaving Aria standing in the night, her heart pounding against her ribs.
The Deal with the Devil
Hours later, Aria lay out on her bed, her phone held at arm's length as if it were an antagonist. Her brain chased herself in crazy circles. Why am I even thinking about this?
The phone beeped again.
I know you were waiting. Meet me at Clifford Road.
Aria cursed softly. Fingers flying, she typed: There are no houses there.
The reply flashed back immediately.
I know. Be there in five minutes.
Aria threw the phone on the floor. "Five minutes? The fuck?" She sat up, yanking on her jacket with jerky movements. "I will kill him."
She nearly collided with Emory at the door.
"Out?" Emory asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aria didn't break pace. "To a friend's house."
Emory smiled to herself wistfully as Aria disappeared. "It's a start."
Her car skidded to a stop on an empty stretch of road, overhung with thick clumps of weeds. The only light came from the lone, piercing headlamp of a motorcycle.
The motorcyclist killed the engine, ripped off his helmet, and pushed loose black hair back over his eyes. Kayden.
"You're late," he said, voice threaded through with challenge.
"I said it wasn't possible," she said belligerently.
"Get on," he ordered, nodding toward the bike.
Aria blinked at him. "Are you kidding me?"
"The road ahead is only big enough for a bike. Your vehicle would not fit. Get on."
She glared at him. "If you try anything, I'll kill you."
He laughed—low, warm, genuine for once. "Love, I couldn't do anything with you if I wanted to."
She hesitated, but the flicker in his eyes told her: this was not a decision. He held out a helmet.
"Sit tight, but don't touch me," he told her as she sat on the back.
"Why?"
"Just don't."
The motorcycle roared to life. A sudden hump in the road shook her forward, and before she could stop it, she collided with his back. Kayden groaned in pain.
"Fuck!"
Aria reined back immediately, surprised. His grip on the grips tightened, but he didn't explain.
By the time they pulled into their destination, the sky was plummeting into total darkness. A new, huge house loomed in front of them, dark and foreboding.
Aria dismounted the bike, shedding her helmet. "What is this place?"
"A house," said Kayden, entering it.
She followed behind begrudgingly, catching a hurried flash of him pushing two pills into his mouth and scrubbing at his wrist. Angry red welts marred his skin.
Her brow furrowed. "What in the name of the devil is wrong with you?"
He allowed the question to slide, claiming the couch arm in predatory fashion. "Let's begin."
Her tolerance was exhausted. "You mentioned that this wasn't a private gathering."
His lips curled into a wicked smile. "I changed my mind."
Aria crossed her arms. "What are you playing at?"
"I'm not playing," he said, standing to close the distance between them. He came into the room like smoke, heavy and consuming.
He stood close, speaking in a low tone. "You gave me anything I want. Now I'm going to give you an idea of what that is."
Aria's heart was pounding. She took a step back, but he followed, closing the distance inch by inch.
"Are you scared, principessa?"
"Of you? Don't be a fool. If you don't tell me what you want, I'm gone."
Kayden's laughter was cold, humorless. "Go? You can't go even if you try to, love."
His voice hung there like the click of a lock turning.