As Dylan rode the train from her big city apartment toward the outskirts of the suburbs, the events from the previous night replayed in her mind. The terror in Ari’s eyes. The screams erupting from her mouth. It was as if they lived through a horror film, and this was the bloody aftermath. There was no way for her to have sheltered Ari from the wicked world in which she lived. If only Ari had accepted the offer of moving in with her instead of returning to the club, she could have hidden her away.
Not only were there consequences to her return, there was also no shelter from the lion’s den of the floor. As promised, Maxi had fed Ari to The Twins that night. As hard as she tried to hide in the shadows to protect Ari, Maxi ensured their privacy by sending Dylan on an errand, requiring her to leave the club while they had their way with her. To her own detriment, Dylan watched the video feed after the club closed. As much as Ari screamed her safe word, it fell on deaf ears. Just like every time with all the others. The Twins tore Ari at the seams, feasting on her body like she was wounded prey. And once the doors had closed for the evening, Maxi returned to Ari’s bound body to indulge herself.
As much as Dylan should stay away, she couldn’t. Ari was more a part of her being than oxygen. She needed to make things right, to do what it took to make Ari hers.
She stepped off the train and onto the platform closest to Ari’s apartment. When a trip there came up empty-handed, the streetside café was the next logical place to look. The short stroll provided time to work out what she would say when she found Ari. There was also the issue with the traitor who outed the club members. With a lot on her plate, she chose Ari as her priority.
The rain-covered glass of the café door made her survey difficult. She pulled the door handle open just enough to peek in. Almost ready to concede defeat, Dylan spotted Ari with a drink in her hand, walking from the counter toward an older gentleman sitting at a table in the corner. The hobble in Ari’s step struck Dylan with a pang of remorse. Visions of blood flowing from broken skin split Dylan’s heart, just as the cane had split the soles of Ari’s feet.
Ari sat across from the man, conversing over coffee. She hadn’t even noticed Dylan standing in the doorway, but it was imperative that they speak. She didn’t want their relationship to end, though it wasn’t starting out as ideal as she had hoped.
No longer a brute with confidence, Dylan buried her hands deep in her pockets and marched forward. The man cast his eyes upward, looking directly at her as she came toward them. His notice made Ari dart her eyes in the same direction, twisting her head until she locked eyes with Dylan. In an instant, Ari’s gaze morphed into an icy expression of hatred. Dylan was the last person she wanted to see.
As soon as Dylan reached the table, Ari asked, “What are you doing here?”
She dropped her eyes to her feet, which scuffed against the floor. Her voice faltered, stuttering as if it was painful to admit. “I ... really need— I mean ... want to talk to you.”
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