Chapter 8

KADE

“And I will never hate you, Adrian.”

I stood by the door, watching as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

As a trained security personnel who has undergone several high-risk operations requiring psychology to solve problems, I have never come across someone like Aria Hale.

I didn’t understand her when she was a little girl grieving her mother, and I still don’t understand the woman kissing her cheating husband now. 

When I heard her crying after her cousin Cassie left, I expected her to call it off. Officially.

I was surprised she didn’t.

Not after the last dinner they shared, where she finally called him out on his bullshit.

So imagine my shock when I saw him sitting in the chess room, cross-legged like he owned the place, less than forty-eight hours after she kicked him out.

She walked past me without a word and headed for the stairs.

Adrian, the fool, was still standing there, dumbstruck, her lipstick print burned into his left cheek like a mark of ownership.

If I didn’t find the entire thing ridiculous, I might have laughed in his face.

“Why are you over there smiling, you stupid fool?” he snapped.

It only made my smirk widen.

He was frustrated.

He was never used to not being in control.

I turned on my heels and followed after Aria.

When I knocked on her door, she was sitting at the edge of her bed.

“What is that one thing you wish you could just do, if you didn’t live this life?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but I caught it.

“Uh…”

“Do you ever just want to run away?” She raised her head and stared me dead in the eye.

How do I tell her that I’ve been running all my life? That I’ve never truly belonged anywhere because I always leave?

It was the reason I left all those years ago.

“Aria…”

“Relax, Mr Wolfe. I’m not asking you to elope with me,” she said, chuckling.

Mr Wolfe.

Shivers ran down my spine.

There was something about the way she said my name that made my chest tighten.

I couldn’t understand how one woman had such an effect on me.

If she asked right now, I’d drop everything and leave with her.

Or maybe I wouldn’t. Because too much is already at stake.

If only she knew.

She pulled the hairband from her wrist and tied her hair into a ponytail.

“I want to retire. I feel funny.”

Her hands by her side curled into fists.

I nodded.

“Do you need anything?”

“Just water.”

I poured water from the jar into the glass and handed it to her.

She took a long sip and returned it.

That’s when I noticed it.

Her pale, trembling hands.

I don’t know how she manages to fool everyone in this house. She is not as strong or intimidating as she pretends to be.

It’s almost sad.

They are all at war with someone who has less than a year.

I hate that she’s alone.

I want to be that person.

But I also know the consequences.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

I grabbed her hands and covered them with mine. They were cold against my skin.

“You’re cold.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll get you extra blankets.”

“I didn’t ask.”

I ignored her and went into her closet anyway.

She followed.

“I said I’m fine,” she said, stepping in front of me, eyes sharp. “I want to be alone.”

“I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay. That’s part of my duty.”

“I hired you. I pay you. So you do as I say. If I say leave me alone, you skitter into your hiding place.”

Her mouth was set in a thin line.

“Aria…”

“I’m not doing this with you.”

“What’s going on with you and Adrian?” I finally asked the one question bugging me. “I asked earlier and you shut me down.”

She scoffed. “Why do you care? He’s my fiancé. Whatever we do is none of your business.”

“Your safety is my job description. So technically, you are my business.”

“You’re crossing the line, Kade. I can have my father fire you this instant and you’d be begging for work anywhere. Don’t test me.”

“But you won’t.”

I met her gaze.

“I’m not scared of you, Aria.”

“I would be if I were you. Now get lost.”

She grabbed the blanket from my hands and walked out.

When I returned to the bedroom, she was already in bed, eyes closed.

But I knew she wasn’t asleep.

She never is that fast.

I stopped at the door.

“Adrian Parker is not the man you think he is. He is worse. He’s not just a fiancé. He’s a threat.”

I opened the door slowly.

And left.

The next morning, the butler handed me a tray of breakfast and her medication.

I took it and walked to her room.

I knocked softly. Twice, like she’d instructed.

“Come in,” her soft voice came from inside.

I opened the door.

She was still curled up in bed.

Her skin looked even paler in the morning light. It was almost like she didn’t belong in her own body.

I placed the tray down.

I’ve always wanted to know what exactly is wrong with her.

But everyone keeps their mouths shut.

The doctor called it “confidential. With consequences for breach.”

I never understood why.

As her bodyguard, I should know.

She was a bright child once. Then her mother died and everything dimmed.

But sick?

When did that start?

I don’t trust anyone in this house.

And I only hope she doesn’t either.

But more importantly…

Aria Hale was playing a game.

I just didn’t know the rules yet.