Chapter 9 — Wrong Trust
706 Words
It wasn't dawn yet.
Ethan brought Aria to an old house outside the city.
Isolated. Dark. Trees all around.
Aria walked in and looked around.
"How long do we have to stay here?"
"Until it's safe."
"Meaning?"
Ethan closed the door. Drew the curtains.
Didn't answer.
Aria watched him.
This man was always like this. Never answered questions. Just kept moving.
The strange thing was — she trusted him anyway.
No food for dinner.
Ethan went to the kitchen. Looked around.
Old house. Nearly empty.
Just some biscuits and water.
He poured water into two glasses and set them in front of Aria.
Aria looked at it. Then smiled.
"This is dinner?"
Ethan sat down.
"Yes."
"Feels like a five star hotel."
Ethan said nothing.
But something came to his eyes. Just for a second.
Almost like a smile.
Almost.
Aria noticed.
She thought to herself — does this man ever actually smile?
Middle of the night.
Aria couldn't sleep.
She sat up. Stared into the dark.
Ethan was standing by the door. As always. On guard.
"Do you ever sleep?" she said.
"When I need to."
"You don't need to now?"
"No."
Aria got up. Walked over. Stood beside him.
Ethan shifted slightly away.
Aria noticed.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"No."
"Then why did you move?"
He didn't answer.
Outside the wind was blowing. Leaves rustling.
Aria looked out the window.
"Ethan."
"Yeah."
"Do you like being alone — or have you just gotten used to it?"
A long silence.
Then quietly —
"Is there a difference?"
Aria looked at him.
Something in his eyes. Not pain. Something deeper than that.
She didn't ask anything more.
Some answers — can't be found by asking.
Next morning.
A message came through on Ethan's phone.
Max's number.
"Rahul knows where you are. Move."
Ethan read it.
Then stopped.
Thought for a moment.
How did Max know where he was?
Only one person knew this address.
Him.
Which meant —
Max had told Rahul himself.
And now he was sending a warning — to make it look like he was helping.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
He put the phone down.
"Aria."
She came out of the kitchen.
"What happened?"
"Pick up your bag."
"Again?"
"Now."
Aria looked at his face.
Didn't ask questions.
Picked up her bag.
Before leaving Ethan stopped.
Called Max.
Two rings. Then —
"Yeah."
"How did you know where I was?"
Silence.
"Ethan I just—"
"Answer me straight."
More silence.
Then Max said —
"I put a tracker on your car."
"Why?"
"Because Rahul told me to."
Ethan closed his eyes. One second.
"You're still working for him."
"Ethan listen—"
"Don't call me again."
Line went dead.
Aria had been standing beside him. Heard everything.
"Max?" she said quietly.
"Yes."
"He gave us away?"
"He tried to."
Aria went quiet.
Then —
"I trusted him."
"I know."
"You already knew?"
Ethan looked at her.
"I suspected."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because suspicion and truth aren't the same thing." A brief pause. "Now we know the truth."
Aria looked at him.
This man never said much.
But what he said — was always true.
"Let's go." Ethan opened the door.
Aria started to leave then stopped.
"Ethan."
He turned.
Aria looked straight into his eyes.
"Do you know where I'd be right now without you?"
He said nothing.
"Thank you." Aria said quietly.
Ethan held her gaze for a moment.
Then turned and started walking.
But Aria noticed —
The tips of his ears had gone slightly red.
She smiled.
Small. To herself.
On the other side of the city.
Rahul Sen put down his phone.
"Ethan moved?"
"Yes sir."
"Max?"
"He failed."
Rahul looked toward the window.
"We don't need Max anymore." His voice was ice cold. "Get rid of him."
Max sat alone.
Ethan's last words circling in his head.
"Don't call me again."
He looked out the window.
He'd made a mistake.
A very big one.
But now —
There was no way back.
A knock at the door.
Max stood up.
Opened it.
Two men standing there.
He understood immediately.
Rahul had sent them.
Before he could close the door —
Everything went dark. 🖤
- Writer
