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I took in the two men, both with personalities of day and night. One of them could very well be the traitor. They had a lot more to gain than someone from the Stormhold family itself. After serving this family for generations from the sidelines, who wouldn’t want that kind of power? To become an associate of the Alacteon and take over the Twins, something no one has ever dared to do.
“I’m leaving,” I muttered.
“Please, not so soon, Ms. Esteal,” Karl stepped in front of me, adding charm to his tone. “I would love to take you out for dinner, if you’re free this Friday night.”
“I’m free,” I replied. “But I’m not interested in you.”
My words made Lucien Greigewood chuckle and made Karl Ford’s eyes flash with determination, like suddenly I was a challenge that he wanted to win.
“Bella, there you are,” Arkane called out from somewhere behind me, and soon, he was by my side, eyeing Karl and Lucien with a hard glare, while the latter grinned. “What are you doing here?” he asked me.
“I was just leaving when these two gentlemen decided to strike up a conversation,” I said, already walking away, leaving Lucien and Karl behind, but Arkane kept up with my steps.
“Are you bothered by the way my family is treating you?” Arkane’s brows furrowed. “I apologize if they meant any disrespect.”
“More like exhausted and bored. I’d rather sleep or read.”
His lips twitched. “Of course, you would. I’ll ask Mikhail to drop you off.”
“That’s fine,” I muttered, my gaze sweeping the area. “I can find my own way back home.”
“I know you can.” He slid a small smile my way. “But I brought you here, so I insist.”
I stared into his eyes, not sure what I was searching for. Reassurance?
“Fine.” And with that, I left the party without looking back.
Only halfway on the road did I realize Arkane and I didn’t make any promises to see each other again. Would he even contact me after Karl sent him the file?
Yes, I could still jump into his house, but that didn’t seem right anymore.
Maybe taking some time away would be a good thing after all.
CHAPTER 19
BELLE
My sisters didn’t even bother questioning me when I returned home. It was like I wasn’t even gone. But I could see the worry in Ella’s eyes and the frustration in Ari’s face at my silence. It wasn’t like I didn’t want them to know what I did. I just wanted to keep them far away from that world.
I spent the next three days reading and sleeping like I told Arkane I would. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since that day at his house.
It was so good to be in bed all day that I didn’t even bother going to work or taking a Valerian job. Now that I think of it, I hadn’t taken a Valerian job since the night I met Arkane.
Maybe it was time I did.
Right at midnight, I slipped out of my apartment and chose to walk in the cold, drizzling night. My feet still hurt, but it was healing, and a mere injury wasn’t going to stop me.
Tonight’s job was a Ricky Matthews, a local gangbanger and a thief who, for the most part, executed his crimes without any bloodshed until last week, when he decided to open fire.
A laughing, drunk Ricky exited the Gator Club, bidding goodbye to his friends before he walked away, and I followed him all the way into a dark alley.
“Ricky Matthews. You die for the murder of young Gissele Jacobs.” My blades made a quick, clean swipe at his throat. His eyes bulged as he choked out gasps, holding his hands to his gaping throat as blood poured out in streams. It lasted for mere seconds before he fell face-first on the pavement. He didn’t have the time to register my presence or my words before he lost his life.
I threw my knives into the water and washed my hands on the nearby shore with only the light of the silver moon dancing on the waves.
For the first time in forever, the loss of his life didn’t bring me any joy. Not like it usually did, but I at least felt good knowing I’d rid the street of one less evil.
The emptiness took me back to the time I joined the Valerian Organization, something that wasn’t ever supposed to be a part of my life, but it happened anyway.
