Page 72 of Aria

“You need to go to the police,” Devon muttered.

I shook my head, adamantly. “No, it’s useless. Trust me.”

“You can get a restraining order.”

“Do you know how hard it is to get a restraining order?”

“He’s a convicted felon.”

“Even if…” I swallowed, pulling my lips between my teeth. “It’s a piece of paper, Devon. If he wants me, he’ll take me.”

My own words sent a chill down my spine. I paced the room, my hands running through my stringy hair.

Devon finally stood, his balance unsteady. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said.

I stopped and lowered my arms. “I know.”

He moved toward me, bumping into the coffee table along the way. Pulling me into a firm embrace, he rested his chin atop my head.

My worries washed away. I held him closer, nuzzling my cheek against his chest. “Are we okay?” I murmured into his t-shirt.

Devon was silent.

He never did answer the question.

He merely held me a little while longer, and then we made love as if nothing had ever happened.

I was restless that night. I felt cold, despite the warm blanket and Devon’s body heat pressed into my back. Mysterious noises rattled my nerves, causing me to create elaborate stories in my mind of Ian breaking into the condo and shooting Devon in the face, then raping me until I went numb. The sounds were nothing but a whoosh of wind or a creak in the mattress, but my vivid tales played out for hours, until I fell into an uneasy sleep where Ian continued to haunt me.

And when I awoke, I was still so cold.

CHAPTERTWENTY

CHELSIE

It had been a long time since we’d been out together, just the three of us.

Lisa and Julia sat on either side of me in a corner booth, sipping on martinis and shoveling sushi into their mouths. It was Friday night, and the boys were at band practice. It had been two days since my reconciliation with Devon, and while things were still marginally tense, we were steadily getting back into our old routine.

“I can’t believe you quit The Pit,” Julia mused, dipping a tuna roll into her soy sauce. “I wish I was there to see that asshole’s face. You probably put him into cardiac arrest.”

I shrugged, nursing a lemon drop martini. “I didn’t stick around to find out. I took off my nametag and bolted.”

The awkward run-in with Miles flashed through my mind, tickling my tongue as my gaze shifted to Lisa. I hadn’t said anything about the suspicious meeting—not yet, anyway. I wasn’t even surewhatto say.

“I’m going to miss you,” Lisa smiled.

I studied my friend’s pretty features. Freckles stippled her nose and cheeks, as if someone had shaken a paint brush in front of her face. “I’m going to miss you, too. You guys are the only thing I’ll miss about that place.”

“How are things with Devon? I remember it had gotten a little tense at our dinner date.”

I realized then that my friends knew nothing about the altercation with Ian. I’d meant to tell Lisa during our coffee meeting, but I hadn’t wanted to spoil the mood. We’d been having so much fun catching up on life.

Clearing my throat, I chugged down the rest of my martini. The vodka had settled at the bottom of the glass, and I shuddered when it slid across my tongue. “Guys… there’s something you should know.”

My two friends glanced up from their plates. Lisa wrinkled her brow in concern. “Everything okay?”

“Um… no, actually. Not really.” My voice faltered, but I pushed through. “Lisa, you remember Ian, right?”

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