Page 17 of Death

Chapter 4

Ijut backward to get away from him.

Ari. An old figment of my imagination turned real.

So, I’m not crazy. I’m not losing my mind at all. He saved me, again.

But why?

“Who are you?” I ask him, my breaths clouding in front of me. “What do you want?”

Ari lowers his arm to his side. “What is owed to me. Nothing more.”

“And what’s that?”

His eyes focus on me for a second too long. “We should talk,” he says. “Somewhere private.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Tell me. Now. Who are you and what do you want?”

“This isn’t the place.” He shifts toward the curb as a black car comes to a stop beside him. “Get in.”

I scoff. “Yea— no.”

He raises a brow. “Tannis…”

“No.” I twitch in confusion. “You don’t get to say my name like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like we know each other!”

“But we do!” He smiles. “We met last night right over…” he points at the corner two blocks away, “there.”

I don’t bother looking. “And in my bedroom?” I ask. “When I was thirteen? How about then?”

Ari’s smile morphs to a smirk. “And when you were four?” he asks. “Moira turned away for a second at the dry cleaners. Another second and they never would have found you again.”

I swallow hard.

“And when you were nine?” he says. “You fell out of a tree and broke your arm — but it could have been a lot worse.”

I say it as I think it. “If it weren’t for you.”

He gives the slightest of nods as he leans down and opens the back door. “Please, get in the car. I’ll answer every question you have.”

I force my knees to lock. I don’t want to go with him. Every instinct in me says it’s a bad idea. You don’t get into a car with a stranger. You don’t put your trust in someone who hasn’t earned it.

But, hasn’t he?

Maybe?

If he wanted to hurt me, he would have by now.

Right?

Dammit, Tannis. Don’t be stupid.

Ari tilts his head in amusement as if he can read my thoughts. “Would it help if I told you I’m taking you home?” he asks.

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