Cross’ POVThe night was thick with silence, broken only by the faint hum of neon lights flickering above the alleyway. Ariana stood a few feet away from me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face cast in shadows. The dim glow illuminated her sharp features, and I could see the fire burning in her eyes—anger, fear, and something else she wouldn’t admit to.“Talk to me,” I said, my voice low but firm.Ariana hesitated, her gaze flickering away briefly before locking back onto mine. “What else do you want me to say?”I stayed silent, letting her continue.“He saw me that night at the bar. He recognized me.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she pressed on. “And now he’s blackmailing me, Cross. He’s holding it over my head—saying he’ll go to the precinct, tell Aaron, tell everyone that I was there. That I was involved.”I let out a sharp breath, my fists clenching at my sides. Bruno. That slimy bartender had crossed a line he couldn’t uncross.“And you paid him off?” I asked, al
Last Updated : 2025-01-11 Read more