Chapter 4

“Aren’t you going to do anything about this?” Cyrrus frowned at Jason. 

The bartender shrugged. “Sorry, I’m a bit understaffed in here so I can’t go around breaking up every fight.”

There was nothing Cyrrus could say to that. They had completely ignored the fight at the pool table until it became personal, after all.

“And if I don’t interfere in one, I can’t interfere in the others, can I? In the spirit of fairness.”

“That’s right, pansy,” the thug growled, cracking his knuckles. “You stay out of this. I only want the girl.”

Cyrrus clicked his tongue. It struck Aria that this may be her first time seeing her target look displeased since she first made contact with him, so she watched him with great interest.

So even the great Cyrrus Lied could be rattled into losing that fake smile of his.

Yes, she was certain of it now. The smile he always wore was an act. Now the question she had to ask was… Why?

Who are you performing for, Cyrrus Lied? Aria’s lips curved slightly. This was the moment of truth, and she didn’t dare to look away for even a second — so when he turned around, their gazes instantly met and locked onto each other.

Cyrrus smiled again, but this time it was clearly forced around the edges. “Don’t be scared, Aria. I won’t let them lay a hand on you.”

Turning back to the thug, he straightened up and drew his body to his full height.

Aria watched his back. His shoulders were broader than she expected, and his arms had some muscle to them. He was pretty tall, too, about 6’3’’. 

Even so, the thug was half a head taller and seemed to be twice his weight.

That was why Aria was low-key impressed when Cyrrus said, “Let’s take this outside.”

The thug let out a bark of laughter. “Tough guy, are you? Sure, I’ll beat you where your girl can’t see you. Then I’ll come back for her.”

“I won’t let you lay a finger on her.” Cyrrus’ voice was soft… but for some reason, something about it triggered Aria’s senses. She frowned despite herself. 

She was standing behind him, so she couldn’t read his expression. Even so, for a split second, she thought she sensed… a flash of killing intent.

It was a bloodthirstiness she knew too well as a hired killer herself. But did it really come from this cushy pushover of a rich kid?

“Stay here, Aria.” Cyrrus didn’t even look back as he left the bar with the thug. 

After the door swung to a close, Aria waited for thirty seconds before making her move. Behind her, Jason shook his head, going back to polishing his glasses.

Spider was still too inexperienced. He would have to report this to Madam Dahlia.

Meanwhile, Aria looked around for another exit and found a dusty window. With a little maneuvering, she opened it, disguising the creaking under the whistling of the wind. She leaped out of the window, her steps completely silent when she landed on the pavement outside.

She found the two men without much trouble. The night was relatively quiet, so it was easy enough to pick up the sounds of their scuffle and grunting.

Silent as a shadow, she snuck around the corner and found them duking it out around the corner, in a dimly-lit alley. There was a large dumpster by the fire exit, so she hid behind it as she watched their little brawl.

To her surprise, Cyrrus seemed to be holding up decently well for a defenseless pretty boy CEO. There wasn’t much power behind his punches, and his form was utter shite, but he was quick enough on his feet and had a good sense of spatial awareness. Aria nodded to herself when he ducked under the thug’s right hook and gave him a jab in the ribs.

Not too shabby, considering all the beers he had. 

Unfortunately for Cyrrus, the thug had a pint of vodka and roughly seventy pounds over him, so the jab didn’t hurt him as much as it annoyed him. 

“Stop running around, you little pussy!” he roared, swinging his scar-riddled arm at Cyrrus’ head. He projected his move so openly that there was no way Cyrrus would fail to avoid that—

Or so Aria thought.

Perhaps his luck had finally run out. As Aria watched, Cyrrus stumbled and took the blow straight to his jaw.

He hit the ground with a thud. Aria winced. That was definitely going to leave a bruise.

Strangely, the thug looked as stunned as she felt. He looked at his fist and then at the man lying crumpled on the floor, the alcohol dulling his reaction. After a few long seconds, his face spread into a slow grin.

“Not so crafty anymore, are you? You little bugger, I’ll get you for messing with me.” He lifted his foot to stomp down on Cyrrus’ face—

Only to stop when he felt a small hand on his shoulder.

“Huh?” The thug turned around to see Aria by his elbow, her expression hidden in the darkness. A glint of glee shone in his beady eyes. “Can’t bear to see your pretty boyfriend hurt, eh? Tell you what, I’ll let him go if you—”

Whatever he was about to say next was cut short when she grabbed his arm and twisted it around his back. 

“What the f—?!”

Crack.

The thug’s mind went blank for a second. The next thing he knew, he was pinned against the ground with Aria’s entire weight on his back. She dug her knee into his broken arm and leaned down to his face, pressing a cold blade against his neck. 

The steel glinted in the dim streetlight. He gulped, his Adam’s apple scraping against the edge.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“Never show up here again.” Aria’s voice was ice-cold. “Pretend you never saw any of us here. If I find out you blabbed, or if I ever see you again…” 

With a smooth flick, she sliced off the tip of his left ear. He screamed for a second, but she quickly silenced him by smashing his jaw into the ground.

“Shh,” she whispered into his bleeding ear. She wouldn’t want him waking Cyrrus up now. “It’s late. Let’s not disturb the neighbors.

“Where was I? Oh, yes. If I see or hear of you again, I don’t mind removing the rest of your ear. Or both of them at once, your choice. Do you understand me?”

The thug mumbled frantically. He couldn’t speak, because she had shattered his jaw, and he couldn’t nod, because his head was still pressed against the floor.

Anyway, she figured that he got the message.

“Now get lost.” Aria stood up, grabbed him by the shoulder, and pulled him to his feet in one fluid movement. Anyone else passing by would have been surprised by the ease with which she yanked up the heavy-set man who was more than twice her size. 

Beside the bar window, Jason just shook his head again. Spider was really good for nothing but brute strength. 

As the thug hobbled away in terror, Aria turned back to look at Cyrrus. Beating up that brute was well and truly a walk in the park compared with having to deal with Cyrus.

She felt a headache come on already.

What should she do with him now? How should she explain everything to him once he woke up?

Honestly, what was he thinking? If she hadn’t stepped in to save him, he would’ve…

Aria paused. 

Actually… What was she thinking? He was her assassination target, so—

Why did she save him?