I grit my teeth, my hands fisting the sheets as I try to contain the anger.
A soft moan makes me open my eyes as Arianna twists on the bed, nestling closer to me and giving me a warmth I’m in desperate need of.
Her small hand meets my chest, and instantly her body relaxes and she moves closer in her sleep as I put my arms over her waist.
Her simple touch calms the anger inside of me. I feel raw and powerless with her next to me. I’d do anything for her. She turns me away from everything I’ve ever known. It means nothing compared to her touch.
I’ve sacrificed it all; I already know I’m going down for this. Charles messaged me this morning, there’s too much evidence. Video surveillance from the gala, her blood, his blood.
We both knew it as I stood over Brooks’ dead body. There was no going back. No hiding it. I’m only biding my time until they come for me.
If only I could pause this moment and stay with her forever.
“Mmm,” Arianna’s soft voice brings my eyes to hers. They flutter open and she yawns, covering her mouth with her hand. As she moves her arm, she winces, a reminder of the pain from the wounds on her back.
I wish I could do more for her. I feel like I failed her. In so many ways I have.
“How do you feel?” I ask but my voice croaks and I have to clear my throat. I haven’t slept, and that’s evident in my voice. My eyes feel heavy and my body is begging for me to let go, but I can’t. I know I only have a few moments left with her. I won’t waste them sleeping.
“Okay,” Arianna answers me, her hand moving to the stubble on my jaw. I take her hand in mine and kiss her palm, making that sweet smile form on her face. I love that smile. It should always be there. She deserves that happiness.
“Do you need any more meds?” I ask her, my eyes automatically flashing to the clock. It’s nearly eight, she can’t have another dose for two more hours.
“I’m fine,” she says with the soft smile still there. “Really,” she leans forward and hides the pain that’s clearly there to kiss me on the lips.
I don’t waste the moment, I pull her closer to me, holding on to her small body carefully and gently and deepening the kiss. I part her lips with my tongue, slipping it along the seam and then stroking her tongue with mine. Our tongues mingle in a dark dance of desperate need. Her moans fill my hot mouth as she pushes herself against me. Her breasts press against my chest, and her leg brushes over my knee.
I nip her bottom lip and look down at her. Her dark eyes look up through her thick lashes and her lips part. Our hot breath fills the air between us.
A moment passes with a spark igniting between us. Not lust, something stronger. So much stronger. Her lips part and she almost has a chance to say the words, but I don’t let her. I push my lips against hers, muffling anything she could say and putting every ounce of passion and need into my touch.
I can’t bear to say it, knowing how this ends, but I hope she can feel it. That’s all I need. As long as she can feel it, it’ll stay with her forever.
As I break the kiss, I hear the banging on the front door. My heart freezes, but it's not from knowing that I’m done. That I’ll be in jail soon and on the stand for murder. It’s not the threat of life behind bars, or the death penalty that makes my heart stop. It’s the look in Arianna’s eyes and the way her nails dig into my arm as I pull away from her.
“No,” Arianna whispers, her head shaking as I move off the bed, ignoring her attempt to keep me with her in the safety and warmth of the comforter.
“I have to,” I tell her with my back to her. I’m not going to run. I know that’s not an option. I take in a breath as the bed groans and Arianna grabs her sweater off the floor, throwing it on and ignoring the pain she must be feeling and running through the hall to catch up to me. Her bare feet pad on the floor as a voice says through the door, “Zander Payne, open up! We have a warrant!”
“Go back to bed, Arianna,” I command her, but she doesn’t listen.
I clench my teeth as the banging of a fist on the other side of the door echoes in the foyer.
“Zander,” Arianna pulls on my arm, begging me to look at her. She swallows thickly, looking at the door as the banging continues.
“Sweetheart,” I tell her with the semblance of a smile on my face. “It’s okay,” I lie to her. It hurts to do it. “Just go back to bed,” I say and my voice cracks. I brush the hair away from her face and cup her chin.
Bang! The knock at the door sounds so much louder.
“Coming!” I call out and at my voice, Arianna hunches forward, tears falling down her cheeks.
I lean down and kiss her lips, tasting the salt before resting the tip of my nose against hers. “You’ll be alright," I tell her in a soft voice. It’s meant to comfort her, but it only forces a sob from her throat.
She cries quietly behind me in the middle of the foyer as I unlock the door and open it, stepping aside. Each beat of my heart seems slower.
Four cops stand at my doorstep, the first pushing the door open wider as he steps through.
“Zander Payne?” the man asks. He has dark skin and dark eyes to match. Tall and broad shouldered, his voice doesn’t match the intimidation of his presence. The man is deadly, that much is obvious, but his voice is calm and level. Professional even. “I’m Officer Richter, and this is Officer Lawson.”
I nod my head, meeting his eyes and waiting for the arrest.
The man behind him, Officer Lawson, comes in with cuffs already out. “Turn around sir, we have a warrant for your arrest.” The second officer speaks this time, a much shorter man, with tanned skin but lacking the same forceful presence as the first man. His voice still echoes authority though. And I listen, turning around and putting my hands behind my back.
I don’t ask what I'm being arrested for, maybe I should. I should have prepared this better. But the truth is, she was never a part of my plans. None of this was supposed to happen.
“Zander,” Ariana's voice is full of pain as the metal brushes against my skin. It’s cold and the clinking of the cuffs is loud as the metal closes around my wrists. A strong hand rests on my shoulders as I’m pushed against the wall. My cheek is flat against the drywall as the man pats me down.
“You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, it can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have a lawyer present during any-”
“I did it!” Arianna calls out. I can’t see her with my face still pressed against the wall. My eyes pop open, and my heart races as her words hit me. I try pushing back against the man holding me, but his hold is unforgiving.
“I killed Daniel Brooks. I did it!” Ariana shrieks and runs forward, toward the cops. I can hear the commotion behind me. I push against the man holding me, and this time I’m forceful. “I shot him. I can tell you everything. Please don’t take him.”
“Keep quiet!” I yell at Arianna, whipping my body around. I’m so off-balance I fall over, tripping over the cop’s boot as Arianna’s being turned around by Officer Richter.
“Don’t say anything!” I wrench my head around, craning my neck as I lie awkward on the floor with the cuffs tight on my wrists, the cold metal digging into my flesh and shooting sparks of pain up my shoulder, begging her to look at me as I scream out. “Arianna!”