Rewriting My Broken Vows

CHAPTER 4

Every Memory Comes Back

POV: Aria

Say it again.

It sounds like a calm voice on the phone, but it cuts like a knife.

I have a tight grip on the phone. I say it again: "They're using me." "Hi, my name is. My stock. Everything I signed has to do with your business.

Keep quiet.

Not empty.

Looking at,

I'm waiting."Explain," he asks.

One word only.

It's cold.

Okay.

I take a swallow. I look down the street, but I don't really see anything. My mind is clear now, but my heart is still beating fast.

I remember.

Not just bits.

Not a flash.

I tell them, "They want to take over." Everything. "Slowly." Like it is quiet. Family ties are being used to hide it. His name is Ethan, and he's in on it. "And my sister."

I don't understand what the words mean.

And I say them like it's the first time.

I'm not, though.

"You want me to believe this?" he asks.

Quickly, I say no. Please check.

Still no sound.

This time it's longer.

He asks, "Why now?" "Why do you call me?"

Because I died.

Because I put my faith in the wrong people. I put my trust in the wrong people.

I am unable to do so. I need to hurry up.

I don't tell him that, though.

Instead, I say, "Because I just saw what they're doing." Also, I know I'm already part of this.

That sounds like the issue you have.

"You'll have it soon."

The words fall out before I can stop them.

Bold.

Dangerous

On the other side, things have changed.

Very small.

But true.

He says, "You sound like you know for sure."

"I am."

"Give me something useful then."

For a second, I shut my eyes.

It hits me again—

The sheets.

Meetings.

The names.

Place and dates.

Sounds.

Everything I've missed.

I can see everything now.

I quickly say, "They're hiding behind a shell company." "It's on the stock market under a different name, but silent shares connect it to Lawson Group." The shift doesn't happen right away; it happens slowly. "Hush.

Keep quiet.

Then—"Go ahead.

I look around.

My voice gets stronger.

"The confirmation process isn't over yet," I add. "They still need to sign off." "Even I have no control at that point."

"Are you sure?" "Yes." "How long?"

"It won't be long," I say. "Perhaps days."

Or below.

He asks, "Where are you at?" after a quiet breath through the phone.

That's it.

Should I tell him?

Is that my choice?

I say, "I'm in front of the main office."

"Don't move."

The wait ends.

I check my phone.

That's it?

Not a warning.

Don't promise.

"Just—" Hold on a second.

I slowly hung up the phone.

Once more, my hands are shaking.

But not out of fear.

After all the hurry, come back.

Right away.

Afternoon.

September.

The blood.

The voice of Vanessa.

Ethan's eyes were cold.

"You ought to have kept quiet."

It hurts in my chest.

I put my hand on it and tried to calm down.

Not at all. Not again.

I look up.

As they walk by, they talk, laugh, and go about their business.

They have no idea.

They can't see.

I do, though.

I now do.

A car pulls up in front of me.

Black and smooth.

The door opens up.

Then a man shows up.

Big.

Sharp.

In dark colours that go with the way he looks.

He looks at me right away.

Okay.

Concentrated.

It looks like he's made up his mind.

He says, "You called."

He has the same voice when he talks on the phone.

Low.

Cared for.

I give a slow nod.

I say, "You're quick."

I don't stay around.

He doesn't, though.

He comes up to me.

Not too close.

But it was close enough for me to feel it.

The squeeze.

How heavy he was.

He says, "Say it all over again."

Not a greeting.

Not soft.

Shoot.

I take a breath.

I do that.

I tell him everything.

These pieces

The plan.

The names.

The timetable.

I know everything.

He hears.

All the time.

Without a reply.

But his eyes can see everything.

"I want you to trust me," he said when I was done.

It's not a question.

"No," I answer. "Use me."

He has to stop now.

"Just a moment."

That's interesting.

"Explain."

I say, "I'm already in." "They trust me." "They believe I am ignorant."

"You do?"

"Okay."

Because I went through it.

Because it killed me.

His eyes get very bright.

He asks, "Why help me?"

I keep his eyes on me.

"Because I lose everything if they win," I say to myself.

Once more.

He has a quick look on his face.

Not much.

Right away.

He said, "You want me to do something risky."

"I'm already there."

Yes.

That's really true.

Behind him, a car goes by.

The Earth is moving.

But this time—”

Right now is like waiting in queue.

There's no going back once I cross it.

He finally says, "Okay."

One word.

That changes everything, though.

We do "business."

My heart beats fast.

A deal.

Yes.

There is no free stuff.

"What kind of deal is that?" I'm interested.

His eyes are always on me.

He says, "Easy." Tell me everything you know. You stay close to them. Do what I say.

"And for that?"

I take care of you.

Please help me.

The word doesn't sound right.

Not familiar.And stop them?" "I say.

"Yes."

I stop.

Just a moment.

After that, I nod.

"All right."

He looks at me once more.

To see if he can test something.

Then—"One more thing.

"What the hell?" my chest gets a little tight.

His voice goes down a bit.

Not as sharp.

"I won't be as nice to you as they were if you lie to me," he says.

I felt a thrill go up my spine. Kind?

They killed me.

I look into his eye.

"I'm not lying," I say.

He leans forward.

Close enough for me to see every part of his eyes.

It was cold.

But not empty.

Something is there.

Buried something.

He says in a low voice, "Good."

Then he sits up.

"Let's begin right now."

I answer with a nod.

That's it.

This is where everything happens.

But before I can say anything else, my phone starts to ring.

I look down.

Some writing.

This is Vanessa

I can't breathe anymore.

I take it off.

One line.

Simple.

Marked.

It hurts my stomach.

I slowly

turn the screen toward him. "He reads it.

His face hasn't changed.

The air around us, though, doesn't.

Heavy.

Not safe.

This is what the message says:

"Aria, get home now, or I'll tell him what you did last night."