All Chapters of The Devil’s Bargain: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

At exactly eleven o’clock, the electronic lock chimed.Aaron stepped inside, bringing the midnight chill with him. He was surprised to find the living room lights still on, and a small, slumped figure huddled on the sofa.“You’re not in bed? What are you doing out here?”Zoe looked up. There was no anger in her expression, no bitterness. She simply glanced at the wall clock, then back at him, offering a faint, weary smile. “I was waiting for you to celebrate with me. It’s my birthday. It’s eleven o’clock—I guess it’s not too late yet.”Aaron froze.Her birthday?He suddenly recalled her hesitation that morning.So that was why?A sharp pang of guilt pierced through him. Uncharacteristically, he felt the urge to explain himself. “Actually, this afternoon...”“Have a drink with me?” Zoe stood up and walked over to the home bar, pulling out a bottle of red and two glasses.“You’re still recovering,” Aaron frowned.“It’s fine. Just a little.”Zoe poured the wine and handed him a glass. He

Aaron wasn’t happy about it, but he knew his friends well enough to realize that if he didn’t cooperate, they’d probably just restrain him.He shifted Zoe’s head to his other arm and rolled up his shirt sleeve.As the fabric cleared his bicep, it revealed a white gauze pad stained with dark crimson blotches. Ryan frowned, carefully peeling back the dressing to inspect the damage.What Aaron had dismissed as a “minor scratch” was actually a deep, jagged knife wound, nearly six inches long. It had been crudely stitched and barely sanitized, causing the wound to weep blood with every significant movement.Ryan looked up, his expression one of pure disbelief. “Are you kidding me, Aaron? You’re gambling with your life. If this gets infected, you’re looking at an amputation. Is that the plan? To lose the arm?”Caleb’s brow furrowed. “What happened?”Aaron looked down, his voice flat and indifferent. “Got careless during the arrest.”Ryan let out a frustrated sigh and reached for his medical

After fifteen minutes of futile effort, Martha finally surrendered. Her herbs weren’t being sorted; they were being systematically destroyed. She glanced at the clock, saw it was nearing noon, and seized her chance to clear the porch.“Alright, that’s enough. You two are as clumsy as a pair of giants—stop before there’s nothing left. You boys stay here and relax; I’m heading down to the local market to pick up some things for lunch. Zoe, take your friends inside to wash up.”That was all the encouragement Aaron and Caleb needed. They stood up in unison, practically volunteering before she could finish her sentence.“We’ll go for you, ma’am!”Aaron pulled out his phone and opened his notes app. “We need to pick up some personal supplies anyway. Just tell us what you need, and we’ll get it all.”Martha looked at the two tall, eager men in front of her and felt a swell

Zoe let out a sharp scoff, silently marvelling at his total lack of shame. But despite herself, her eyes drifted back to the lush green field he was pointing at.That field would be perfect for flying a kite this afternoon. Or tonight…“Hey! Eyes on the road!” Aaron shouted, lunging forward to grab the handlebars just before the moped careened toward the cliff edge.He managed to jerk the bike back, but luck wasn’t on their side. The front wheel struck a large rock dead-center.“Shit!” Zoe screamed as the handlebars whipped out of her hands. The world tilted violently as the moped went down.In that split second before they were thrown, Aaron’s instincts took over. He pulled her flush against his chest, wrapping his body around her like a shield. Zoe squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact. Great. At this speed, my face is going to be a souvenir on the pavement.Aaron kicked off the ground with all his strength, forcing their momentum away from the rocky path and toward the gra

Aaron took the change of clothes and headed toward the bathroom. He was more than ready to strip off the grime and blood of the day.But as he approached the door, he heard the rhythmic spray of water hitting the floor inside.The wooden walls of the old cabin weren’t soundproofed. Aaron could hear every splash against her skin, the soft hum of a melody Zoe was singing to herself, and the rustle of her movements.A vivid, uninvited image flashed through his mind.He bit his lip, his throat tightening. He swallowed hard before stepping back, leaning his head against the opposite wall and closing his eyes, desperately trying to find his focus.A few minutes later, the door creaked open.Zoe stepped out, trailing a cloud of warm steam. She was wearing a set of Martha’s old clothes—oversized and frumpy, yet they did absolutely nothing to hide the curves beneath. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, and her face, scrubbed clean of any makeup and flushed from the heat, looked breathtakingly you