“Do you ever stop being annoying?”
The voice startled me as I walked down the empty hallway the next day. I turned to see Aiden leaning against the wall, his usual cocky smirk in place. His dark eyes were fixed on me, but there was something different about his expression—something heavier.
“What do you want, Aiden?” I sighed, clutching my books tighter. I wasn’t in the mood for his games, not after what I found in Evelyn’s diary last night.
He pushed off the wall and sauntered toward me, his hands in his pockets. “We need to talk, Lila.”
“I don’t think we do,” I replied, trying to brush past him, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
“Lila, I’m serious,” he said, his smirk fading. “This isn’t a joke.”
I frowned, taken aback by his tone. It wasn’t like Aiden to sound… sincere. “What’s this about?”
He glanced down the hallway, making sure we were alone, before leaning in slightly. “I’m offering you a deal,” he said quietly.
“A deal?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes. “What kind of deal?”
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his messy hair. “I’ll protect you. Make sure nothing happens to you. But in return, you need to trust me.”
I blinked, completely caught off guard. “Protect me from what? And why would I trust you?”
Aiden tilted his head, his expression hardening. “You’re not stupid, Lila. You know things aren’t safe for you right now. You’ve seen the warnings, heard the rumors. And if you keep digging into Evelyn, you’re going to get yourself in trouble.”
I stared at him, my heart pounding. “Why do you care? What does it matter to you if I get ‘in trouble’?”
For a moment, he hesitated, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Regret? Guilt? “Because I’ve been here before,” he said finally. “I’ve seen what happens when people like you get too close to people like us.”
“People like me?” I repeated, my voice sharp.
“Don’t get defensive,” he said, his tone softening. “You’re different, Lila. You’re not like the others. But that’s exactly why you’re in danger.”
I shook my head, frustrated and confused. “Why do you keep saying that? What kind of danger? Why won’t any of you just tell me the truth?”
Aiden’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually answer. But then he shook his head. “I can’t tell you everything. Not yet.”
I rolled my eyes, stepping back from him. “Of course you can’t. None of you ever can. You’re all so full of secrets, and I’m supposed to just trust you?”
“I’m serious, Lila,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “You need someone on your side. And whether you like it or not, I’m offering to be that person.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Why? So you can control me? Manipulate me? No thanks, Aiden. I don’t need your protection.”
His expression darkened, and for a moment, the usual playfulness in his eyes was replaced with something colder. “Fine,” he said curtly. “But don’t come crying to me when things go wrong.”
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “Why do you even feel responsible for Evelyn, huh? If you’re so concerned about what happened to her, why don’t you tell me what really happened?”
Aiden flinched slightly at the mention of Evelyn, and for the first time, he looked genuinely uncomfortable. “I can’t talk about that,” he muttered, avoiding my gaze.
“Of course you can’t,” I said sarcastically, throwing my hands up in frustration. “You Cross brothers are all the same—full of half-truths and cryptic warnings. You act like you’re trying to protect me, but all you’re really doing is keeping me in the dark.”
Aiden stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “If we’re keeping you in the dark, it’s for a reason, Lila. And maybe, just maybe, it’s for your own good.”
I held his gaze, my chest tight with anger. “If you want my trust, you’re going to have to do a lot better than that.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Yeah, I’ve been told,” I shot back.
We stood there in tense silence for a moment, neither of us willing to back down. Finally, Aiden took a step back, his expression unreadable.
“You should’ve taken the deal,” he muttered as he turned to leave. “Now you’re on your own.”