Page 86 of Tainted Gifts
"I studied under your father for quite some time. If you need some help, let me know."
She seems honestly surprised by that. Did Aria not tell her I worked with Clay? Simone is her best friend. She really doesn't give a damn at all. Fucking full blood.
I refrain from sulking like some surly teen right now.
"You worked with my father?" she asks, turning toward me again. "I'm surprised I never met you."
I'm not. Clay Jude was one smart as hell father. He knew how I was. More than likely, he knew she was just as bad. Together, we would have given him one massive ulcer.
"I assumed Aria had told you. I suppose she forgot to mention it since it had nothing to do with Jason Ericson."
Pity mixed with a knowing glaze falls from her eyes, but she tries to mask it. It's too late though. She knows as well as I do that full blood is way out ahead of me as far as Aria is concerned. One look from Simone just told me more than Aria has since I met her.
So much for not sulking.
"She'll come around, Kellan. She will." She sighs and looks around, acting as though there's more she wants say. Then her shoulders drop as she gives up on such an effort. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah," I mumble, dropping my eyes to the dirt beneath me.
I didn't even realize that I had been plucking the grass free just as Simone was doing. I've left a bald spot on the ground below me with my absentminded habit.
As she walks away, I stand again. I'm tired of these games. Simone's right. Aria's mine. I've just got to fight harder for her. I have to stop handing her over to him. He wouldn't dare hand her over to me.
My eyes scour the landscape for the beautiful creature I seek, but I don't see her. There are so many United officials here now. You'd think one of our people died. What the hell is going on?
I grab a guy by the arm as he starts to pass, and his eyes meet mine. "What's with all the United officials?" I ask, trying not to sound as irritated as I truly am.
He offers me an incredulous look, one of condescension and agitation.
"Have you not heard about the guy who tried to kill an informant?"
I shrug, showing how confused I am. "Yeah... and?"
He rolls his eyes. "The commander was here. That could have become an attack on his life. We've set up a perimeter in case there are others like the one the commander killed. We'll be staying through the night to see if we can catch a break and find out who this guy was linked to."
Unbelievable. This was supposed to be a pit stop, and now it's turned into an overnight drama fest. Commander Arrogant is just going to slow us down.
I hustle through the brigades of men working tirelessly to find anything at all to help them start a track. I'd be the best to do it, but I don't feel like fucking around. I want to get Aria out of here. Maybe I can talk her into taking her vacation, even though we definitely won't go north.
There's a couple of guys leaned up against a pole, enjoying a smoke break as they chuckle over meaningless jokes.
"Have you seen Aria Banner?" I ask when I reach them.
One nods, blowing out a veil of smoke that makes my nose turn up. "Yeah," he murmurs, "She's with the commander on the far side."
Of course she is.
"Thanks," I grumble, walking away again as I shuffle in between the militant men who are singing their commander praises.
I'm surrounded by suck-ups.
Then I see her. She's standing at his side like she's his trophy, and his arm is possessively draped around her shoulders. I wish I could tear that arm off and beat the fuck out of him with it.
That almost brings a demented smile to my face, but I wipe it away quickly, trying to dissuade myself from any violent recourse. I could shred a full blood too easily. I wish he'd give me a reason. Oh that would be so fucking awesome.
She leans into him, acting as though she's his instead of mine. It's frustrating and downright maddening. I prop up against a wall that is far enough away to evade their attention - though it's not like either of them give a damn where I am.
Several of the very prominent and stuffy men smile warmly at the girl they would have killed without hesitance just a few days ago, had they ever known what she was. Now they stare into the violet eyes to see the secret she no longer hides.
