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A TALL, HORNY, STRANGER
ARIA "You know we have to leave, Aria." I frowned at my father. "No, we don't. You can, but I won't." He shook his head as if he had heard enough of what I had to say. "Well, I have made my decision, daughter." "Dad, we've only been in Stonehaven for a month and you want us to leave because you got another transfer letter? What about my new school? My friends? You just expect me to dump them and leave?" "That's how it has always been. We leave to where I'm transferred to." "No, dad. It's beginning to look like we're running." "From what?" he asked. "You tell me." We were in the dining room and my dad was getting ready to go to work. He as a cop, a detective to be precise. With the the First Division in Stonehaven, and the only one at that. He gulped down the remaining of his coffee and tossed some breed into his mouth. I watched him masticate. "I have nothing to say to you, Aria," my dad finally answered me. "Better go get your things packed. We leave tomorrow morning." I went to my room all right but I didn't lift a hand to pack my stuff. I left them where they were because I was sure I would stay. Why the hell did we always have to leave? I didn't want to, not yet at least. He could go wherever it was that wanted to claim him, but I would stay and complete high school in Stonehaven. Stonehaven was just a suburban town in the United States of America. We were used the summer in those parts. Nothing much happened, and we literally knew each other if one had the chance to peel off that antisocial skin. They way we moved from place to place, I lacked connection. I had no roots, no long time friends to call my own and he was okay with that? I needed to talk to someone at that point. My new best friend came to mind and I picked up my phone and called Emma. The background was noisy. Music was blaring off speakers. "Where the hell are you?" I sat up in bed and asked. She was someplace having fun while I was sulking at home? "At a party. I was just about to call you. We haven't started but we're kicking off soon. Where the hell are you?" Trust Emma to throw my questions back at me. "I'm at home." She chuckled. "Oh, you're going to miss out if you ground yourself in your room. Come to Beaver's Inn right now. I've got some friends I'd like to introduce you to." "I'm leaving tomorrow, Emma." "What?" "My dad got his transfer letter." She paused for a spell. Then said, "Okay. Come to the party and we'll talk about it, good?" "Good." "Call me when you get here, sweet. Jeez, that guy is handsome." If an handsome fellow was the last thing I would remember about Stonehaven, then I had a party to attend. *** "What kind of a place is this?" I raised my voice so as to be heard over the loud music. Emma was by my side wearing a tank top and bum shorts. As for me, I opted for black leather pants and body-hugging sleeves. "A clubhouse." "What's the party about?" I asked. "It's about catching fun. One of my friend threw it. You'll meet him soon." Emma always had numerous friends to introduce me to. I wondered if it was her way of playing matchmaker. The place was well packed with people. Some of them, I recognized from school. They smiled at me, nodded their heads to the music, and walked off. She took me to a red couch. There, we were alone, then she asked what I wanted. "We've got drinks, sweets, dessert, condoms if you like dicks, cakes and smokes too." "I'll take a light beer." "Smirnoff then," she chose for me. "I'll be right back." Just as she left the disc jockey changed the music and began playing by A Bar Song by Shaboozey. Everyone went apeshit. Everyone but one man. And that was because he had just stepped into the building. My jaw dropped. He was the most handsome man I had ever set my eyes on. He was tall and lean, had dark hair, and I noticed a tattoo at the side of his neck. He looked around the place with a cold dark stare then his eyes landed in my direction. I felt my stomach churn with need. Why did I suddenly need him at first sight? He took intentional strides towards my red couch. I wondered the amount of power he had in those hips and how they would sound against my ass if he happened to give me a doggy fuck. Emma brought me my bottle of Smirnoff and an opener, interrupting my train of thought. She looked at the man who had just stopped before us and said, "Thought you'd never show your face." "I didn't want to," he said, his voice loud dangerous. "Until I heard all the noise and thought there might be some lady here willing to fuck. Who is your friend?" His eyes studied me carefully as Emma said, "This is Aria. Aria, meet Nico." I got to my feet and offered my hand. "Hi." He took it and planted a kiss on my knuckles. I swear, my insides turned into jelly and I felt some residue escape to my pussy. No one needed to tell me that I was wet already. "Sexy," he drawled, which only seemed to worsen things for me. "Please don't ask her if she wants to fuck, Nico. She's off the charts. How long will you be staying?" "I'll leave once I get my... sex partner," he said, his eyes still on me, and he didn't even let my hand go. If Nico was the one putting all those sexual images in my brain just so that I could get interested, then he was doing a really good job. "Your friend seems ready for me, though," he said to Emma. "What?" I asked, wondering why he had said that. There was a smirk on his face as his eyes fell to my breasts. When I looked, I saw that my nipples were hard and visible through my outfit. "Fuck. Excuse me," I said, plucked my hand from his, and ran off.FAULTSARIA'S POV The words were delivered so quietly that they almost sounded like a warning.I felt a cold shiver run through me.Because Luca didn’t sound like a man bluffing.He sounded like someone who already knew something terrible was about to happen.My father’s voice hardened.“You’re wasting my time.”“Am I?”“Yes.”Another pause.Then Luca spoke again, this time with a hint of something darker beneath the calm.“If you keep him locked up,” he said slowly, “then when the next attack happens, you’ll be the one responsible for leaving this city defenseless.”The hallway fell silent once more.Inside the room, my heart pounded as the weight of that statement settled over me.The next attack.Not if.When.Whatever game was unfolding around the Velden brothers… it clearly wasn’t over.And somehow, without realizing it, I had stepped right into the center of it.The silence after Luca’s last words lingered in the hallway like the faint tremor that follows an earthquake—subtle,
WHEN THE DEVIL WALKS IN ARIA“I need to give a statement,” I added quickly.That part wasn’t a lie.He hesitated, as if he wasn't sure if letting me do that was going to be a good idea. He probably didn't want to get into his superior's bad books. Then he finally nodded.“Have a seat," he offered. I did.Heart racing.Minutes felt like hours.Then—“Aria?”I looked up.My father.Standing there.Looking very unimpressed.Of course, what made me think that I could easily have my easy around here without him knowing?“Well,” he said slowly, “this is unexpected.”I forced a small smile.“I told you I wanted to be involved.”“And I told you no.”“Good thing I didn’t listen.”His jaw tightened.“Come with me.”I followed him down the hallway, the tension thick enough to choke on it. Once we were in a private room, he shut the door.“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” he demanded.“Yes.”“No, you don’t.”“I’m giving a statement.”“You’re trying to see him.”That wasn't a lie so I
WHEN THE DEVIL WALKS IN ARIA “I need to give a statement,” I added quickly. That part wasn’t a lie. He hesitated, as if he wasn't sure if letting me do that was going to be a good idea. He probably didn't want to get into his superior's bad books. Then he finally nodded. “Have a seat," he offered. I did. Heart racing. Minutes felt like hours. Then— “Aria?” I looked up. My father. Standing there. Looking very unimpressed. Of course, what made me think that I could easily have my easy around here without him knowing? “Well,” he said slowly, “this is unexpected.” I forced a small smile. “I told you I wanted to be involved.” “And I told you no.” “Good thing I didn’t listen.” His jaw tightened. “Come with me.” I followed him down the hallway, the tension thick enough to choke on it. Once we were in a private room, he shut the door. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” he demanded. “Yes.” “No, you don’t.” “I’m giving a statem
A THREATARIAI stared at my phone, heart pounding.And one thing became painfully clear—This wasn’t just Nico’s war anymore.Luca had just made it mine.***I didn’t sleep.Not even for a second.Luca’s voice stayed in my head long after the call ended—calm, amused, like none of this was real danger to him. Like I was just another move on a board he’d already mapped out.We’ll see.The words replayed over and over.By morning, my eyes burned and my head throbbed, but my mind was sharp.Too sharp.I sat up in bed, staring at my phone.One question kept circling—How did he get my number?I hadn’t given it to him.Emma didn’t know him.Nico wouldn’t—My thoughts stopped.Would he?No.I shook my head immediately.Nico had protected me. Again and again. He stepped in front of a car for me. He fought his own brother for me.He wouldn’t hand me over.But then…Someone had.A knock on my door broke the spiral.“Aria,” my father’s voice came. “You’re awake?”“I didn’t sleep,” I replied.Th
28THE WARNING ARIAHe didn’t need me to say Nico’s name because he already knew who the hell I was asking after.“He’s in custody.”“For how long?”“That depends.”“On what?” I asked. “On what I can prove.”The answer made my chest tighten. My father was like dog after a bone. But he was also law enforcement and everyone was a criminal in his eyes except proven otherwise. And he was going to do everything it took to bring his suspects to justice. “You’re going to build a case against him," I said. “Yes.”“And if you can’t?”His gaze stiffened at once. As if that was a scenario he didn't even want to think about. “Then I’ll find another way.”That didn’t sound like justice.It sounded personal.“You hate him,” I said.“I don’t hate him.”“You do.”“I don’t trust him.”“That’s not the same thing.”“It is when someone puts my daughter in danger.”I flinched slightly.“He didn’t put me in danger,” I said.My father raised an eyebrow.“The house. The attack. The chase. The warehouse.
PROVE IT ARIA The question hit harder than anything else tonight. So I hesitated. I didn't want to give him ams answer that wouldn't satisfy the both of us so I had to think of one that would. And that hesitation was enough. His expression went dark immediately, and he knew that my answer was going to be in the affirmative. “How involved?” he pressed. “It’s not like that.” “That’s not an answer, Aria.” I looked away. Because I didn’t have one. Or maybe I did… and I just didn’t want to say it out loud. My father let out a quiet, frustrated breath. “He’s not a good man.” “You don’t know him.” “I know enough.” “You know a case file,” I shot back. “That’s not the same thing.” “I know what kind of world he operates in.” “And what about yours?” I challenged. “You deal with criminals every day. Does that make you one?” “That’s not the same.” “Why? Because you’re on the ‘right’ side?” “Yes,” he said firmly. “Because I don’t break the law to get what I want.” “And you
21ESCAPE AT NIGHT ARIAThe cold night air hit my lungs like a shock.For a moment, I just stood there outside the mansion, gasping for breath as if I had been underwater for hours. The distant wail of sirens grew louder with every passing second, flashing red and blue lights reflecting faintly ag
14SUV MANARIAAnyone could feel the hard tension between them.Years of distrust compressed into one moment. And we were already in that moment. My father crouched slightly so they were eye level.“If you think this stunt buys you goodwill—”“It wasn’t for you,” Nico cut in smoothly.The words w
INTO THE DARKARIASilence.Then —A slow clap echoed from the top of the stairs.“Sharp,” Luca murmured. “Very sharp.”He took one step down.Every officer tensed.Nico shifted forward instantly.“Don’t,” Luca warned again.The word held more edge this time.“Or what?” Nico challenged.Luca’s smil
7LET ME STAYARIA"How long is that?" I asked, when I began to feel my heart beat slow. "Longer than any you have ever had," Nico said. I knew he was going to say something that would sound like a gloat. Men like him always wanted to prove to women that they couldn't get pleasure from any othe







