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“And you will,” she assures me, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. “But first, you must listen. There are things you need to know, Zane, about yourself and your future.”
I open my mouth to protest, but something in her gaze holds me captive. With a sigh, I nod, deciding to play along for now.
She shuffles the tarot deck with practiced ease, the cards whispering against each other like conspirators sharing secrets. The scent of sandalwood and something darker, more primal, fills my nostrils. The air seems to thicken, pressing against my skin as if the very atmosphere is alive with anticipation. Then, with deliberate movements, she lays out a spread on the table.
“The cards reveal much about the path you’re on,” she begins, her fingers hovering over the first card. “This card represents your present.” She flips it over, revealing the tower. “Upheaval, chaos, and the crumbling of old structures. Your life is in turmoil, but it is necessary for new growth.”
She moves to the next card. “This represents your challenge.” She reveals the moon. “Illusions, secrets, and the unknown. You are struggling to see the truth, both in others and within yourself.”
I stiffen, the accuracy of her words unsettling. “What does this have to do with Aria?”
“Patience,” she chides gently. “All will be revealed in time.” She flips the third card. “This is your future.” The lovers. “Choices, relationships, and union. You will soon face a decision that will shape your destiny. It involves not just you, but those you care about.”
My heart pounds in my chest. “And Aria?”
She smiles knowingly. “She is at the heart of your journey, Zane. Your fates are intertwined. You must confront your feelings for her, and in doing so, you will uncover the truth she hides. Only then can you both find the peace you seek.”
I swallow hard, the weight of her words sinking in. “How do you know all of this?”
“There are forces at work beyond our understanding,” she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. The air around us seems to thicken, charged with an energy I can’t explain. “Trust in your instincts, Zane,” she continues, her eyes boring into mine, “and remember, the answers you seek are often hidden in the most unexpected places.” A chill runs down my spine, and I can’t shake the feeling that her words carry more weight than I’m prepared to handle.
I rise from the table, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. “Ah, thank you,” I say, though the words feel inadequate. I feel like I’m dreaming. Her words echo in my mind, mingling with my own fears and suspicions. If what she says is true, then Aria’s secret is more dangerous than I ever imagined.
This is worse than what Jane did. At least with Jane, our lives weren’t in danger.
“Go to her,” she urges softly. “She needs you now more than ever.”
As I leave Nightshade Remedies, the shopkeeper’s words cling to me like a second skin. My feelings for Aria, the secrets she’s hiding, and the choices that lie ahead swirl in my mind, a tempest of destiny and desire. A nagging voice whispers that by pursuing this, I might be setting in motion events that could change everything.
But it’s too late to turn back now.
I rev up my motorcycle and head back to the guys after checking the tracker on Quinn’s car. She’s at the salon. At least I know where she will be for the next eight hours.
Time to train a greenhorn, and then I’ll deal with Aria.
She won’t be another Jane.
32
QUINN
“All right, rookie, time to run your system diagnostics,” I say, eyeing Logan like he’s a new piece of software I’m about to beta test. “Let’s see if your hardware matches your specs.”
I lean against the barricade with my arms crossed, watching Logan intently. The new guy stands a few paces away, his eyes scanning the crowd at the political rally. He has that cocky air about him, but I can see the focus in his eyes and the way he’s constantly analyzing everything around him. He’s sharp, I’ll give him that.
I’m babysitting since I’m usually behind the computer, tracking shit. This way, I can do what I need to do on my iPad and direct him to what he needs to do.
“Don’t worry, Logan. We won’t bite,” I say with a grin. “Unless you’re into that sort of thing.”
Logan smirks, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “I’ll try to keep my kinks to myself, thanks.”
“Good to know,” I reply, pushing off the barricade. “But seriously, we need to see if you can handle yourself. This isn’t just about muscle. It’s about strategy, quick thinking, and keeping your cool under pressure.”
Logan nods, his expression turning serious. “Understood.”
“All right then, let’s get started. Dash, you’re up,” I call out, and Dash bounces over, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced with focused intensity. We have about an hour before the rally starts, so right now, the other teams are letting the crowd in.
The crowd is a powder keg of opposing ideologies. Mayor supporters brandish signs and chant slogans, while protesters push against the barriers, their angry voices rising above the din. The air is thick with tension, like static before a lightning strike.
