All Chapters of A TALL HORNY STRANGER : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

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

33CONSIDERING ARIALuca’s answer came quietly, almost thoughtfully.“Because whoever organized last night’s attack underestimated two things,” he said. “My brother’s ability to survive… and my ability to notice patterns.”My breath caught slightly.For all their hostility toward each other, there was something oddly sincere in the way Luca spoke about Nico. It wasn’t affection, exactly—but it carried a certain recognition of his brother’s strength. I had seen that in flicks, you know. Where they might be some kinda enmity between two brothers. But at the end, they could shove it down and work together to achieve a common goal. However, they would have to Dave their darkness Sooner or later. And I didn't know how much damage that was going to to. I wasn't even sure if I needed to be around to see that. I just hoped that it didn't escalate more than expected. I didn't have any siblings so I really didn't know how that felt. Most if the friends that I had, they really didn't talk muc

35INTERVIEW ROOM ARIA'S POV The words were firm, leaving little room for argument. But I wasn't going to take that and swallow it. No, I was already involved in everything that was going on so what the hell was the need of putting me out? So, argument was exactly what I had in mind.“No.”His brow furrowed slightly.“No?”“If Nico and Luca are about to meet,” I said, “then I want to know what happens.”“That’s not a good idea.”“Why not?”“Because the last time those two were in the same place, people ended up dead.”“That happened at a mansion full of armed men,” I pointed out. “This is a police station.”My father didn’t look convinced.“Aria—”“You said yourself someone else might be involved,” I continued. “If that’s true, then whatever they say to each other could matter.”He hesitated.I could see the internal conflict in his expression, the part of him that wanted to keep me safely removed from the chaos colliding with the part that knew I was already involved whether he lik

37GENUINELY AFRAID ARIA'S POV A cold silence settled over the room.Even from behind the glass, the weight of those words was unmistakable.Then Nico spoke again, his voice quieter now.“You’re saying the attack wasn’t about revenge.”“No.”“Then what was it about?”Luca leaned back slightly, studying his brother with a calculating look.“It was about destabilizing the city.”Nico’s eyebrows drew together.“That’s dramatic, even for you.”“Think about it,” Luca said patiently. “Two Valentino brothers controlling half the underground economy disappear overnight. What happens next?”Nico didn’t answer immediately.But the answer was obvious.Chaos.Territory wars.Violence spilling into every corner of the city.Someone could rise to power while everyone else was busy fighting.Finally, Nico exhaled slowly.“You think someone is trying to replace us.”“I know they are.”“Who?”Luca opened his mouth——and then stopped.Something had caught his attention.His gaze shifted past Nico, to

39THINGS WE DON'T KNOWARIA'S POV Luca didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he studied Nico’s face carefully, as though measuring how much truth he could reveal without losing control of the conversation.Behind the observation glass, I felt my own thoughts racing in uneasy circles.More important than either of us.The phrase kept echoing in my mind.I had spent my entire life believing I was exactly what I appeared to be—the daughter of a police chief, a medical student trying to build a future far removed from the violence and corruption that surrounded men like Nico and Luca.Nothing about my life suggested there was some hidden significance attached to my existence.Yet Luca spoke as though someone out there believed otherwise.Inside the room, Nico tapped his fingers once against the metal table.“You’re stalling,” he said.“No,” Luca replied calmly. “I’m thinking.”“That’s new.”Luca smiled faintly at the insult.“You always did mistake caution for weakness,” he said.“And yo