Page 76 of A Hurt So Good

Her phone chimes on the desk and I nod to War to check it out. He leans over but doesn’t touch it, his eyes narrowing on the phone. Now he moves to pick it up, sliding it open and pulling up her messages.

“What the fuck?” That catches our attention, and we all walk over to see what it is. War turns the phone so that we can all see it, and I’m shocked by what I see.

Unknown: You look so pretty on that balcony.

Arya comes out of the closet and sees all staring at her phone. Fury flashes in those blue eyes before she comes over and snatches the phone away from us.

“Do you three have to go through everything of mine? Can I not have anything that’s fucking personal?” she snaps at the three of us.

“Who is that?” War asks her.

“It says unknown, doesn’t it?” he nods. “Then I don’t fucking know.”

“Who the hell would send you that?” I ask now.

“I don’t know, Denz. In case you weren’t listening, it says unknown.” Arya deletes the message and shoves the phone into her pocket as War moves toward her. Fuck, this isn’t going to end well. He backs her up until her back hits the wall, and he’s looming over her.

“Don’t start this, War,” she warns him.

“Start what, little bird? Finding out who the fuck you’re talking to?”

“I’m not talking to anyone.”

“He said you were pretty,” he adds.

“How do you know it’s a him?” she challenges him. I can see his hands clench at his sides, but I don’t step in to stop it. Not this time. War’s hand unclenches as he reaches up and runs his hand down her cheek. The next thing I know, he’s wrapping his hand around her throat tightly. Arya doesn’t move, she just watches him.

“We don’t like cheaters, little bird. I thought you learned your lesson at the club in Miami.” I have no idea what happened in that room in Miami, and judging by the marks that he left on her, I don’t want to.

“I’m not cheating you asshole.”

“Doesn’t look that way. Are you a mommy’s girl? Seeing how many men you can fuck?” His tone is harsh but I never saw Arya coming. She was a surprise to all of us. Arya has a fire inside of her that draws you in, and just like she punched me that day, she pulls her knee back and slams it into War’s dick. Strangely enough, he doesn’t let go of her neck. He groans in pain when Harlon steps up next to them.

“Let her go.”

“No,” War growls.

“Let her go, War,” Har tells him once more. War reluctantly lets her go and steps back to compose himself.

“Don’t you fucking ever, ever call me mommy’s girl again!” Arya screams as she lunges for War. He chuckles as Harlon sticks his arm out to grab her, pulling her back.

“You have to admit it looks a little suspicious,” I tell her. Arya takes a breath and calms herself before she speaks.

“I didn’t want to tell you, but someone has been sending me messages for a while now.”

“How long?” War growls.

“Months.”

“What? Months, Arya? What the fuck?” I roar this time. I run my hand through my hair, not knowing what to say to her. Why did she keep this a secret? Why didn’t she just tell us?

“What? I didn’t think it was a big deal,” she says with a shrug.

“Someone’s watching you. It could be the asshole that drugged you,” War adds.

“I don’t think so. I think it’s Denz’s little girlfriend, Rachel.”

“Why do you think it’s her?” Harlon asks.

---