Page 64 of No Promises, No Lies

Letting out a defeated sigh, I take the hoodie, shrugging it on. It’s heavy, armored and black, the color I’ve come to associate with Aidan. I roll my eyes like it’s an inconvenience, but relax into the warmth of the sweatshirt. Next, I take the helmet and pull it over my head.

Aidan pulls a matching one over his own, disappearing behind a blacked out visor before mounting the bike. The engine rumbles to life under him. He swings his head back, looking at me expectantly. “Get on the bike, Kostalova.”

I look to the stars, swearing under my breath, as I climb on the back of Aidan’s bike.

My already short skirt rides up with the motion and I scoot closer to Aidan so no one can see between my legs. As soon as I wrap my arms securely around him, he takes off, forcing me to cling even tighter as he leans into the first turn.

The sight of the pavement rising to greet us has me squeezing him tight. Once we level out, I feel a reassuring hand graze my thigh. He leaves it there until my body relaxes and the death grip I have on his shirt loosens. Aidan brings his hand back to his handlebars, focusing on the road ahead.

It’s a short ride back to the mansion and before I know it, Aidan’s hitting the kill switch. I’m almost disappointed. He pulls off at the end of my street. I’m off the bike as quick as I am able, nearly falling off in my haste. I pull the helmet off my head and hand it to him before pulling his hoodie off, too.

He watches me and takes the jacket back without a word, putting it on. An expression I can’t even begin to decipher forms on his face.

I rock impatiently on my heels and hold out a palm to him. “My phone,” I huff out when he still doesn’t move.

“Right.” Aidan reaches into his pocket, and slides out my cell. He holds it up to my face, front camera out. I watch my phone unlock.

“Hey...” I reach for it, but he pulls it back, typing something into it. I strain to see around his shoulder, watching as he hits the green call button. His own phone vibrates in his pocket, and he pulls it out before handing mine back to me.

I take it. Displeasure pulls at the corners of my lips, when I realize he just gave himself my phone number.

“Text me when you’re inside the house.”

I roll my eyes.

“Text me Kostalova.” His eyes flash dangerously.

“Why do you even care?”

“Because kidnapped Russian angels are bad for business.” His left eyebrow lifts and he sits back on his bike, arms folded, watching me with an air of expectation.

“Fine.” I grip my cell tightly in my fist and stalk off down the street. I’m fully aware Aidan’s eyes follow me the entire way. I might swing my hips just a little more than necessary just to fuck with him. When I finally reach the gate, I slow down, raising a middle finger to the sky before hearing a bike rev to life and slowly fade away into the distance.

39

UNKNOWN NUMBER

RORY

I’d planned to scale the wall again, but when I attempt to sneak past the gate, I notice the guard house is empty.

According to my watch, it’s barely two a.m. Unusual—but I’ll take it. Anything to avoid climbing the eight-foot wall again in these heels.

Pushing open the gate, I scurry up the driveway before Sasha returns, cringing at every crunch of gravel under my boots.

As expected, the side door’s unlocked. I enter the dark and silent house, but as I start down the hall, an overwhelming sense of unease creeps into me. Nothing appears to be amiss, but the mansion seems darker than usual, and there’s an odd smell in the air. I can’t quite pinpoint what it is, but it just smells… off.

Keeping my heels off the floor, I cross on hurried tiptoes across the parlor to check the back terrace. The lights are out, but after watching for a minute, there’s no moving shadow of a guard out there.

My father has been keeping security light, but this isn’t right. Forbothguards to go missing from their posts?

I stand awkwardly in the shadows of the darkened parlor—unsure of what to do. I should go right up to my bedroom, lockthe door and hide under the covers until morning, but I just can’t seem to move my feet.

The vibration of the phone in my pocket nearly scares me to death; my heart hammers in my chest.Calm down, you’re probably freaking out about nothing…I tell myself as I peer down at the text. It’s from an unknown number.

Unknown: “Home safe?”

It has to be from Aidan, but before I can type out a reply, loud voices carry in from the direction of my father’s study.Angryvoices.

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