Page 161 of Soul So Dark
And me…but I don’t mention that part.
He doesn’t miss a beat. “You and who else?”
“Just me. And you if you agree to help me.”
Aiden’s brow shoots up with amusement. “Oh, really?IfI agree to help you?”
“I’m doing it whether you help me or not.” I take a step toward, not giving him the chance to doubt me. “It’s already happening, Aiden. I play video games with Bowen almost every night. He loves me. We’re besties. I’m the coolest person he’s ever met. And, soon, he’s going to tell me what he did to Evie in excruciating detail. And when he does, I’ll have hours upon hours of his own words telling everyone what kind of monster he is.And I will fucking destroy him!” I hiss, my shoulders trembling by the time I’m done.
“You’refriendswith him?” Aiden narrows his eyes and for a moment I think he’s about to grab me and tear me limb from limb.
I step back with a smirk. “Riley is.”
“Who the fuck is Riley?”
“Me—with a voice mod, a picture of some guy on a dirt bike, and a better K/D than him.”
Aiden blinks a few times as he registers what I’m saying.
“You’re hustling him?”
He furrows his brow slightly and I can’t tell from his expression whether he’s impressed or completely weirded out.
“Why?”
“What do you mean,why?Because he murdered my sister, Aiden!”
“Whynow?” he clarifies.
I look down at the marble floor. What do I even say to him? Isn’t the original reason enough? I don’t know why I’m surprised; as if Aiden would ever help me do anything. As if Aiden cares about anyone.
But then I pause, and recall the faintest of memories.
Aiden loves her.
“Have you—” I lift my head and clear my throat. “Have you ever wondered whether it’s worse if someone you love dies or if they just decide to leave and never come back?”
Aiden just stares at me, unmoving.
“Is it better to know they’re still alive somewhere far away, or does it even matter? Because when it comes down to it, they’re still not here, they’re not coming back, and their absence is just another kind of death you can’t mourn.”
“Who says you can’t mourn them?” Aiden’s response catches me off-guard, as does the look he’s giving me, a shadow cast over his eyes and his lip twitching with disdain.
“My sister’s dead, my brother’s gone, but I’m still here. And so is Bowen.I’m not stupid, Rory told me what Bowen said to Colson. And even if it wasn’t Evie back then, maybe it would’ve been someone else. It could’ve been me or another girl who crossed his path…” I pause, “even Sydney.”
Aiden’s eyes bore into me like a leopard stalking its prey, the rest of his body motionless except for his chest rising and falling in slow, deep breaths. After a prolonged silence, I let out a huff and head for the door in defeat.
“Fine,” Aiden’s voice booms behind me.
I come to a halt and slowly turn back around.
It only takes a couple of strides before he’s at my chest. “You don’t ask questions, you see what I let you see, and if I find out you’ve physically gone anywhere near him, I’m out and I’ll take my toys with me.And—” he adds, “I’ll tell your brother.”
I’m not even friends with Aiden and he knows how to negotiate with me. But we don’t have to be friends; he knows my brother and if he did that, my plan would be over before it began.
“Deal,” I say without hesitation, turning for the door again.
“Dally,” Aiden calls at my back. “If he catches you, he’ll destroy you,” he warns, “he doesn’t give a fuck.”
