CHAPTER 431

ARIA’S POV

Ever since that night when Aria stormed out after the candlelit dinner, she has been avoiding me like the plague. I’ve tried to give her space, respecting her decision to pull away, but it’s eating me alive not knowing where she is or what she’s doing. I can’t ask Dave or her brothers either; they would just brush me off or make things worse between us.

So, I’ve been in the dark, pacing in circles, worrying that she might have ventured into something dangerous. I know Aria, and she doesn’t sit still for long. She’s bold and stubborn, and with the number of enemies we’ve accumulated, I can’t rest. It feels like she’s surrounded by threats, and I’m powerless to protect her from them.

Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to stay focused on the mission at hand; finding Ethan, Connor, or anyone who might have survived the jet crash. I’ve thrown every resource I have into the search, but we keep coming up empty.

Each day that passes without news feels like another weight on my chest. I ca