The apartment was ready for the hunters’ return a few days later. All evidence was removed from Eliza’s room and taken to a lab for testing. Donovan had his people thoroughly clean her room, specifically her bed. Unfortunately, she could still see the faded brown stain in the center of her mattress. Eliza flipped the mattress but still felt the disgust. She spent the rest of the day avoiding her room for her sanity. Her suitcase sat unopened just outside the door.

Ares disappeared once he verified she’d be okay by herself for a couple of hours. Seeing his partner uncomfortable to be in her own room made him want to fix it. He came back with a new mattress and new sheets. To his disappointment, she only thanked him and left it at that. She didn’t even go to set it up once he disposed of the old mattress.

After they had dinner, Ares sat beside Eliza on the couch, stretching his arm out behind her. She looked over at him curiously.

“I’ve noticed you haven’t been in your room today,” he said. “Is something wrong with it still?”

A deep sigh left her, “My space was violated. It doesn’t feel safe right now. I don’t want those memories haunting me again.”

“Are you going to try to deal with them?”

Eliza scowled, “Of course, but it takes time. I can't sleep where she recreated the very thing that's kept me up at night for years and be okay. I don’t want to have a mental break down remembering the past anymore and going into my room won’t make it better.”

“Are you planning on sleeping out here then?” Ares pat the arm of the couch. “I can’t imagine you'll be comfortable.”

“It’s not the worst place to sleep. Or the worst thing to happen to me.”

The male hunter let his head fall back. His eyes stayed on their ceiling a moment until he tilted his head to the side. He smiled.

“I'll stay out here. You'll sleep in my room, okay? We'll switch rooms tomorrow if you want. We can make this work.”

Another piece of her blockade broke down. “How are you related to a gang leader?”

Shrugging, he showed his teeth. “Well, my mom met a man– “

“There's no need to be a smart ass.”

“I'm sorry, Lizzy. It’s not every day you say something nice about me. I don’t know how to handle it.”

“I take it back because you’re annoying.”

Ares laughed and swiftly leaned toward her to kiss the side of her head. She stiffened while he stood up and went into the kitchen. Her fists clenched and she jumped when he sat back down with a beer in hand. Ares was completely unfazed, from what she could tell. In her head, she scolded herself for acting silly about it. She wasn’t okay with the affection, but she was hardly comfortable with any amount. Donovan hardly hugged her because she went limp in his arms when he did.

“You’re thinking too much,” Ares said, tapping her head with his finger.

She glared.

“What? Your eyebrows were nearly touching each other. I didn’t want your face to get stuck like that. It'd be tragic.”

Eliza looked away from him, resisting the urge to scratch the side of her head. She still felt his touch there.

“Was that too much?” There wasn’t a trace of humor in his voice anymore.

“Was what too much?”

He tapped right where he kissed her, “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Eliza.”

“I don’t know, okay? Everything is being thrown at me and I don’t know what to do with it all. You managed to squeeze the past out of me, and right when I’m coming to terms with it, it’s recreated in my own bedroom. And you…”

“Me?”

“You make me mad.”

Ares leaned back and smirked. “Explain. Please.”

Her nails dug into the palm of her hand. “I can’t. I don’t know, okay? You just piss me off all the damn time.”

“Are you sure you’re not in love with me?”

“Fuck off.”

His laughter rang out.

Eliza got off the couch and went to her hangar. She could still hear him laughing when she slammed the door and climbed in her ship. In a fury, she took off into the evening while she muttered hateful comments about Ares Matthews.

It was midnight by the time Eliza came back home. Ares sat up on the couch to watch her stumble into the apartment. Her eyes looked red and swollen and she could hardly stand upright. He rushed over to her, checking if she was okay. She giggled when he brushed her wild hair back.

“Are you drunk?”

“No.” The o-sound dragged on with a laugh to finish it off. “Okay, maybe I am.”

Ares frowned, “Do you think that was a good idea?”

“Nope, but I did it anyway because I don’t care anymore. There’s no more pain right here,” she pointed to her heart and then her head. “And there’s no confusion here.”

“Confusion? What are you confused about?”

“You and your stupid face.”

“That’s a little mean, huh?”

“It’s stupid because I like it and I’m stupid.”

His hands cradled her splotchy face and he shook his head, “You’re not stupid, Eliza. It’s okay to not be a badass all the time.”

Her eyes were a little glazed over, but hot tears started rolling down her cheeks. “I want to let him go, but I can’t. I want him to quit haunting me every time something goes wrong. I want him to let me be me again. I’m stupid because I’ve let him have more power over me in death. It’s how Mae is going to get me. She knows I’m weak. I’m an idiot because you’re caught in the middle of my shit storm.”

Ares pulled her close and held her trembling body. His thoughts weren’t cohesive. Bits and pieces of her words jumbled in his head with every sob coming from her. He only felt her pain and frustration. When she started to fall over, he steadied her and attempted to take her to his room. It wasn’t easy, but he eventually nudged her through the doorway and made her sit on his bed. Her weeping lessened.

He pulled out one of his t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants for her to change it. Laying them in her lap, he lifted her chin for her to look at him.

“Are you able to change or do you need help?”

Eliza’s face went from pale peach to deep pink. “You just want to see me change and I’m not going to let you.”

“Lizzy. Now is not the time. Can you dress yourself?”

She nodded lazily, tugging at the hem of her shirt. Before he saw anything, Ares slipped out of the room. He left a crack in the doorway in case he heard her struggling but was relieved she never called out.

“Are you decent, Eliza?” he asked after a few minutes.

There was a groan and a loud sigh.

Cautiously, he opened the door and peeked in. She was covered for the most part and sprawled on his bed. The shirt was bunched up, showing her stomach. The sweats were big enough that they fell enough to reveal the band of her underwear. He sighed and walked in, doing his best to straighten her up while she batted his hands away. She was still as stubborn as a drunk.

“You are a handful,” he smiled once her clothes were in order.

Eliza rolled over on her side and closed her eyes.

“No, no, no. You are going to drink some water before going to sleep. I don’t think you’ll appreciate the hangover you’re going to have tomorrow.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

He didn’t listen. He went into his bathroom, grabbed a paper cup, filled it with water, and brought it out to her. “Sit up.”

She didn’t.

Ares easily sat her up, much to her displeasure, and put the cup to her lips. He ordered her to drink and she listened. Her eyes stayed on his face while she gulped down the cool liquid. A gentle smile stayed on his lips. It made her cheeks flush even more than the liquor did.

“You’re pretty,” Eliza said. “But I wouldn’t tell you that because I’m not supposed to like you. It puts you in danger and I still love him.”

“You are going to bed.” As much as he wanted to tease her, it was the last thing he needed to do for her. The best he could do was ignore her comments. Of course, he’d tell her anything she wanted to know if she asked. But that didn’t seem probable.

“I’m not tired.”

“Yeah, and you said you weren’t thirsty. There’s not a drop of water left in that cup. You’re going to bed, Lizzy.”

“You’re not my dad.”

“No, but I am your friend and I want you to take care of yourself. I will stay right here until you fall asleep.”

She groaned and flopped back onto the bed. Ares tucked her in and sat on the edge of the bed. Eliza started muttering nonsense until her eyes got too heavy and sleep took her. It didn’t even take a minute. With a smile on his face, he leaned over to kiss her forehead before filling the cup with more water. He grabbed a couple of painkillers and left them on the bedside table just in case.

He went to sleep on the couch that night conflicted. More was going on inside of her brain that he still didn’t understand. Her hold on the past was stronger than he originally anticipated. And it was affecting the way she interacted with him. Ares didn’t have the intention of confusing her. He was having fun, being himself, yet it was pulling her one way while her past pulled her another. He didn’t know what to do to help her. There was the possibility he couldn’t help her because he’d only make it worse. Hopefully, she’d be willing to talk in the morning since she was opening up to him. He’d have to try for her benefit.