Author's pov
It felt like an eternity before Reis's call finally connected.
He slid into the driver's seat, his pulse hammering in his ears.
The moment he heard a faint breath on the other end, his instincts kicked in.
"Aria, where are you?" he demanded, starting the engine with trembling hands." Aria, talk to me ! Are you hurt?"
Static filled the line, and for a moment he thought she would not answer.
The beautiful and stubborn Aria who never gave in, would never call unless she had no other choice.
She was too proud for that.
He held the steering wheel with one hand and the phone with the other, shouting into it.
At last, her voice came through, so weak that he had to listen carefully to hear her.
"I'm in pain... it's so cold..."
"Aria, where are you? W
