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[watch for the breaks between chapters]

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Aresius' POV

I walked beside Jakob, through the pristine halls of the building towards one of Sylvester's meeting rooms.

Nodding my head at the employee that let us know that Sylvester would be here soon, I sat down on one of the chairs.

Leaning back, I rested my arms on the armrests, my legs out in front of me. I stared at a spot on the large table, trying my best to ignore Jakob's eyes on me.

Over the years, we had found a way to communicate without ever speaking out loud. We knew each other well enough and were on the same page, so even if we didn't talk, we could still understand the other person.

At this moment in time, I knew he was holding back on saying something.

I wanted to ignore it because I had an inkling of what was on his mind.

I couldn't ignore it though.

I looked over at him; he sat, leaned back in his seat, his ankle on his knee, his hands clasped in his lap.

I raised an eyebrow.

The corner of his mouth twitched, but his face remained passive.

The man was like a statue sometimes.

When he didn't speak, I ran my hand through my hair, shaking my head as I opened my mouth to speak.

"Something you want to say?" I asked him.

He had the audacity to shrug.

"Annoying as hell," I muttered, "L'enculé," I swore at him under my breath but he heard it.

He was the one who taught me the colourful words in French in the first place when we were younger, so using them on him didn't work as well.

If he weren't such an impassive bastard, he would have been smirking by now.

He somehow found a way to get on my nerves without even saying a word.

I closed my eyes, trying to regain my composure.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I paused, swallowing; I knew exactly what was wrong with me.

Shaking my head, I leaned back in my seat; I needed to get it together and get through this meeting.

I had to clear my head that insisted on drowning in thoughts of her.

Alette.

The door of the room opened before I could get lost in my dream world again and Sylvester walked in. He looked slightly annoyed, nodding at us in greeting.

"I'm going to have to cancel our meeting today," he told us, "I apologize for the inconvenience, I have to catch a flight to go and fix something."

I cleared my throat, "Not a problem, let us know if we can be of any help."

He nodded, "Appreciate that, I'll be back within a few days-" he paused, shutting his eyes as he seemingly realized something, he sighed, "Faye," he said under his breath.

My heart pounded out of my chest.

Just from hearing her name.

"Sorry I have to call Tai to pick my niece up, if you'll excuse me-"

"He's busy."

Both of our head's snapped over to look at Jakob. His face was void of emotion but there was a glint in his eye.

I narrowed my eyes and Jakob looked at Sylvester, clearing his throat.

"Tai's on a job for me," Jakob told Sylvester.

Sylvester paused, running a hand through his hair, frustrated.

With absolutely no control over myself, I spoke up.

"I'll get her."

Sylvester's eyes shot over to me, slightly narrowed.

Jakob leaned back in his seat, as though he were watching an episode of his favourite show.

I wanted to punch him.

I cleared my throat, matching Sylvester's stare, "I'll get her, I'm headed in that direction."

Sylvester raised a brow, "I haven't told you which direction she's in yet," he said dryly.

Jakob coughed and I clenched my jaw.

I didn't look away from Sylvester though; I wanted him to know I was being serious.

He gave me a searching look before he cleared his throat, "She's at an appointment. Pick her up, drop her home."

Jakob and I stood up as Sylvester started walking out of the room.

He turned back to me, pinning me with a stern look, "I trust you Adler," he paused, "And she does too. You take care, yeah?"

I felt winded at his revelation; she trusted me.

I nodded, straightening my shoulders, "Understood."

Letting me know he would message me the address and let her know as well, he rushed away, talking promptly to one of his guards about preparing a flight.

Jakob and I walked in silence to where we had parked our cars. I was trying to get my heartbeat under control.

I was also trying to figure out why my throat felt dry and why my palms were sweaty.

No way this shit was normal.

When we got close to our cars, I stopped, "I'll meet you back at STAMP for tonight's case in half an hour."

Jakob shook his head, "It's handled. Take your time."

"I'll be there, you don't need to go yourself," I said to him.

He shook his head again, the unmistakable glint of a dagger in his hand as he weaved it in between his fingers.

"You have more important things to worry about. I'll handle it," he said.

I narrowed my eyes slightly. He had always been eager to take my place in the most dangerous of situations. Always eager to take the lead so that I wouldn't have to.

I knew it had a lot to do with both of our pasts but I wished he wouldn't value my life over his so obviously.

"Jakob," I said and he shook his head, stopping me in my tracks.

"Rien à dire," he told me, "Go now."

I nodded relenting, "Talk soon."

We both said our goodbyes and I turned to walk to my car as he went to his.

"Adler," he called just as I had gotten to my car; I turned around, raising a brow.

His eyes glinted in amusement, "Remember to breathe, yes?"

I flipped him off.

Muttering to myself I got into my car, gripping onto the steering wheel.

Everything was fine.

I was just picking her up and dropping her home.

Her.

I shook my head, dispelling my thoughts and started my car, glancing at the directions that Sylvester had sent to me.

I pulled out of the parking spot and drove to the place I was going to be picking her up. Parking, my car, I sat back in my seat trying to not feel...nervous.

After trying, and failing, to compose myself, I stepped out of the car, crossing my arms and leaning against the side.

I waited with a pounding heart and a passive face.

It wasn't too long until I saw a familiar figure step out of the tall building. I instantly stood up straighter even though she hadn't noticed me yet.

Did I look okay?

My hands subconsciously went to hair, flattening down some of the hairs up top.

I watched her pretty eyes dart around slightly anxiously before she turned ever so slightly and our eyes met.

The shock on her face was evident when she saw me, and I wanted to smile at how adorable I found it.

Adorable.

Then she smiled wide and I almost fell to my knees.

I watched as she walked, speed-walked, over to me.

To me.

When she was close enough, she mumbled a hello, looking down at her feet. I didn't reply, choosing to just stare at her so she would look at me and I could see her face.

She peeked up through up long lashes.

"Hi," she said, louder this time.

She was stunning.

Say something.

"Good evening Alette."

Out of all the things you could have said.

Stupid.

Her eyes widened again for a moment before her face fell. She took a step away from me and I clenched my jaw.

"Sorry...I have to go and um look for someone. Uncle Sy-um my uncle said that someone was here to pick me up because he had to go somewhere so I...just have to look for them," she said quietly.

I was so lost in her cute ramblings that I waited too long to intervene. Just as she was about to turn around, I cleared my throat.

"I'm taking you home."

Her eyes widened again.

"Are you sure? You probably have things to do, I'm sorry Uncle Syl asked you to pick me up," she whispered, looking anxious.

"He didn't ask me, I asked him," I said to her, my voice strict. I realized that day when she was stuck in the fence that she needed direct confirmation about something in order to feel secure.

I didn't mind it; as long as she felt less anxious, I would be willing to anything.

She nodded her head, her mouth parted slightly.

I opened the passenger side door for me, and she sat inside the car.

"Seatbelt," I said lowly, once I had sat down in the car. I didn't want to linger on how right it felt to have her on the seat right beside mine.

That stuff was only something you read about in books.

"Oh yes! Sorry," she turned red and reached for the seat belt.

I hoped she couldn't hear my heart pounding loudly in the quiet car.

I looked over at her, checking to see if her seatbelt was on, and then looked straight ahead, my grip on the wheel tight.

I couldn't think a coherent thought so I drove quietly until my phone rang. I pressed the answer button and Sylvester's voice filtered through the speakers of the car.

"Did you pick her up yet? Were you at the right place? She's not picking up her phone I don't know where she could have go-"

"I'm here Syl, Adler picked me up," she cut him off.

I clenched my jaw.

Adler? Why the hell would she be calling me that? What did I do wrong?

"Hi Faye, thank goodness you're okay, I've already boarded the plane, I'll call you when I land. Get home safe, I love you," he said.

"I love you too Uncle Syl, have a safe flight!"

"Take care Adler," Sylvester said, his voice suddenly stern.

"Fly safe," was all I replied, my thoughts still on how she had addressed me.

She looked down at her lap for a few moments, before she looked back at me.

"Adler wher-"

Not happening.

I spoke up immediately, cutting her off.

"That's not my name."

Her brows furrowed, "But I thought everyone called you that...that's what Uncle Syl said."

"Not you," I said, my voice strict again. I wanted to say that she wasn't just 'everyone' but I didn't want to go down that path.

"Oh," she hesitated, "So you want me to call you...Aresius?"

Hearing my name from her mouth made me feel dizzy; I couldn't help but glance over at her before turning my head back to road, nodding once.

"Cool, I get special privileges!" she said giddily and my lips quirked up of their own accord before I regained my composure.

We drove in silence and it was...peaceful. She looked around, her eyes darting around. We came to a stop at a red light and the sound of her stomach grumbling filled the car.

I looked over at her, trying to rack my brain about where the closest restaurant was.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, "I saw some ice cream."

She wanted ice cream.

Without replying to her, I took a left, going in the opposite direction of her house, and parked promptly outside of the ice cream store.

When she realized where I had parked, her head whipped over to look at me. I just unbuckled my belt, motioning with my head for her to do the same. Walking over, I opened her door, tilting my head in the direction of the ice cream store.

She caught on; still looking thoroughly surprised, she began walking there.

Her eyes darted around at all of the people and she shrunk back into herself, stumbling over her feet slightly.

I hadn't meant to do it, but it was an automatic movement when my hand found its way to her back, steadying her as we walked.

I hoped she couldn't feel how clammy my palm was.

I watched her as we stood in line; she stared at all of the flavours, her eyes wide. A loud group of kids brushed by her and she moved closer to me.

I felt a surge of pride at myself, at the fact that she found safety in me.

When it was our turn, I glared daggers at the teenage boy that couldn't keep his eyes off of her. When she finished ordering and he continued his staring, I spoke up.

"That will be all for us."

I placed my hand on her back, trying not to throw hands with a teenager in an ice cream store.

The kid finally looked at me and then gulped. Good.

He punched in the order, and I kind of felt bad for scaring him so badly that his hands shook; I hadn't meant to do that, I just felt...I didn't want to think about it.

I dropped the money in front him whilst Alette fumbled through her mini wallet thing. Telling him to keep the change, I guided her over to wait for the ice cream.

"I could have paid, you didn't even buy anything and I was the one that made you stop here in the first place so I should hav-"

"Next time."

She would in fact, not be paying next time.

I clenched my jaw, you shouldn't be thinking of seeing her again. Unfortunately for me, that was all I could think about.

She looked up at me with big eyes, nodding her head cutely.

"Yes okay sure! Next time I can pay!"

Was she...excited about seeing me again?

I shook it off, staring at her for a few moments before dragging my eyes away from her. When our order was called, she grabbed it and we walked back to the car.

She paused, hesitating when I opened the door. I raised a brow and she bit her lip, looking worried.

"I um...I don't wanna get your car dirty, what if I drop ice cream?" I could practically hear the thoughts in her head and so I acted quickly before she could feel worse. I didn't care about my car. Didn't care if she got it dirty. She could do whatever she wanted. But she was worried about it, so I had to do something. Grabbing the ice cream and napkins out of her hands, I asked her to have a seat.

She sat down, looking confused, and cute, with her nose scrunched up.

She looked up at me after buckling her belt and I handed her the ice cream. Then, I quickly unfolded a few napkins, watching her eyes get wider when I laid them neatly over her lap.

You should have asked before touching her. Stupid.

I clenched my jaw at myself, I stood up, "Good now?"

She nodded, looking way less anxious, "Thank you mister."

I tilted my head down, that wasn't my name. She seemingly caught on and mumbled:

"Thank you...Aresius." her pretty cheeks were painted in pink as she said it.

I sat down in my seat and started driving to her place.

I drove slower than usual because there was traffic and not because I wanted to be around her for longer.

She ate the ice cream, and then shook her head a few times. I wonder what she was thinking about?

When I looked over at her, she offered me a bite. I just looked at her for a few seconds because she was too beautiful, and she seemed to have taken that as a yes because she hovered a spoon by my jaw.

It must've been me getting possessed that led me to taking the ice cream off of the spoon that was still in her hand instead of grabbing the spoon and doing it myself.

She's going to want to leave now.

But she didn't; instead, she asked me if I wanted to try the other flavour. I didn't answer until she repeated the question, this time while looking at me.

I didn't care for ice cream really, but if she was going to feed me it, then...maybe ice cream was my most favourite food in the world.

The next little while was spent in a peaceful silence; we ate the ice cream as I drove her back. Once she was finished, I grabbed the cup from her, putting it in the cup holder to throw away later.

She looked down at her lap, and then folded the napkins, putting them in the cup to throw out as well.

I drove straight in my lane, but I caught the sight of a big truck swerving right into my car. Instinctively I moved the car quickly, just as the truck did it again. I heard her let out a panicked yelp of fear as she ducked her head, covering her face.

A strangled cry escaped her and my heart constricted, my arm going out in front of her, pushing her back against the seat, holding her in place.

The truck swerved once again and I narrowly avoided hitting it. It finally drove away, speeding off into the night, but I couldn't continue driving.

Not when Alette was crying beside me, her breaths coming out in choked sobs. I pulled off of the road and parked on the street; I removed my arm from her body and then unbuckled her seatbelt.

She looked at me with tear-stricken eyes and my heart clenched from her pain. I didn't even hesitate before hooking my hand around her arm, pulling her closer to me. She didn't pull away, just climbed over the console and sat in my lap.

She buried her face in my chest, her small body wracking with sobs as she clenched onto my shirt.

As though I had done it a million times before, one hand wrapped itself securely around her waist, while the other rubbed up and down her back. I held her tight to me, consoling her.

I felt a physical ache at her state; I whispered consoling words into the top of her head, my hand moving from her waist to cradle her head to my chest.

She cried for a while as I continued doing what I was doing because it seemed to be helping. She finally quieted down with a hiccup, reaching up to rub her already red eyes with her fists.

I stopped her immediately, grabbing a softer tissue from the glove compartment.

Placing my fingers under her chin, I tilted her head up, my throat dry at the anguish on her face.

I carefully wiped her eyes, discarding the tissue and then cupped her waist. I swallowed, my eyes darting all over her face.

I felt murderous at the thought of the car that prompted this reaction from her.

I hadn't kept her safe.

"You're alright?" I asked, my tone uncertain, because of course she wasn't all right.

She nodded slowly, worn out completely before she hiccupped and spoke quietly.

"Home now, please?"

She looked at me, a whirlwind of emotions in her eyes. I looked at her, hoping to convey every word that I couldn't speak out loud.

Taking another breath, I helped her shift back into her seat. Once seated, I buckled her seatbelt in, knowing I was going to be tracking down that pick up truck somehow and finding a way to get them in some kind of trouble.

As I was about to remove my hand away from her, she reached out, grabbing it and holding it close to her, hugging it against her body.

"No," she whispered, and I nodded immediately, knowing I would have done anything in that moment to make her feel safe.

I started the car, and looked over at her again.

"Okay?" I asked her, knowing that her reaction to that car had triggered some kind of a traumatic memory in her.

When she nodded, I pulled away from the curb, and drove slowly onto the road. I drove carefully, even more so than before because I didn't want to make her feel any worse.

She laid her forehead against my arm, still holding it close, and I was glad she could find comfort in me even after what had just happened when I was supposed to be keeping her safe.