Consume my broken heart

Chapter 9

I peek underneath my lashes toward him. Aunt sets his black coffee in front of him with a sheepish grin plastered on her face. "Aiden, can I offer you something to eat? It's on the house because of your help yesterday evening." Belinda says.

I swallow and avert my eyes from them. I hate being so vulnerable. "No, thank you, Belinda. Coffee will be fine." Aiden spoke friendly and I look up to see him sipping from his coffee.

"Well, I can't force you to eat something." Aunt chuckles before leaving the two of us alone. Great, this will be an awkward break. I take a sip from my water and gaze out of the window. We sat there for five minutes without uttering a single word. Silence stretched between us, but it didn't feel awkward like I thought it would be. Maybe it was because my mind was elsewhere.

"How are you doing, today?" Aiden asked, suddenly breaking my thoughts. I turn my head to him and send him a small smile.

"I'm fine," I answer politely. It's the least I can do for now.

"You didn't look fine, yesterday. Who were these guys?" He asked dominantly, and I notice his demeanor shifting.

I rub my arm uncontrollably and bite on the inside of my lower lip. "You are right. I wasn't fine, but I am now. They were former schoolmates, nothing more." I say quietly, before taking a few gulps from my water. It felt like an interrogation, with his penetrating eyes on me the entire time. Is this some kind of torture? Staring at someone to death.

"What did they do to you?" He asked calmly, his expression showing no emotion. This man is cold-hearted and yet he can be friendly and warm to my aunt. I can't understand this man, but I guess he's bipolar or something. I'm never going to tell him what has happened to me.

"They bullied me." I retorted quickly, averting my eyes from his face. It doesn't help to look at his face because I'm afraid he can see I was lying. He's just a stranger that helped me, nothing more. Carefully, I look at him, and while he watches outside, he clenched his jaw. Some kind of alarm hit me. He's an assassin. What if he wants to hurt them? Maybe kill them? Would he do that for me? The idea popped into my mind and I couldn't brush it off. What if the world was free from them? Would I get peace afterward? Will I ever rest knowing they can walk in my life whenever they please?

"What are you thinking?" I ask him boldly. I'm too curious to not ask him about it. What if he wants to kill them and I'm finally free of them?

"You really don't want to know that." He chuckles suddenly. I crook my eyebrows in frustration.

"Why?" I ask him, folding my arms in front of me. "You asked me about them and now I'm not allowed to know what you're thinking? You are an assassin, for God's sakes!" I hiss silently.

Aiden grins widely. Apparently thinks this conversation is amusing to him. He shifts in his seat into a more comfortable position. "If you know what I was thinking, why bothering to ask?" He explains sheepishly. Is he for real now? Does he want to kill them? But why? And why is he here again? So many questions travel through my head with so few answers about who this guy is. What are his intentions with me? Aunt arrives at our table holding a sac in front of her.

"These are the best muffins you can get around here. They have different flavors. I want you to take them home with you." She instructs him in a friendly way.

Aiden looks a little uncomfortable with her sweet gesture. He isn't the type of getting muffins as a thank you. He seemed more the lonely type.

"Thanks," he says, forcing a small smile to her. I sigh and sip from my water before standing up.

"I need to get back to work," I inform him.

"Nonsense," aunt pushes me back onto the seat.
"I have everything under control! Take some rest." She orders me firmly. Of course, with Aiden, she's all soft and sweet and with me she's fierce.

I grumble and take another sip from my drink. Aunt winks at me before vanishing into the kitchen. She's kidding me, right? Is she playing a matchmaker now? She knows how I think about guys. If she knew he's an assassin, she wouldn't be so happy with his presence.

"I need to get going," he spoke while glancing at his expensive watch. He wasn't poor, that's for sure. He was wearing a dark v-neck t-shirt and dark jeans with black boots. Aiden was a real man, not afraid, and with a big ego. I don't know him that well, but he seems in control and calm, yet he seems a bit lost.

"Okay," I answer, watching him putting on his jacket. I fight the urge to ask him what he's going to do next?

"I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to think about it." He says while gazing at me.

"Okay?" I ask him in confusion.

"I know you're keeping information about those bullies. You decide to not say the truth to me. However, would you feel better if they were gone, for good?" He asks calmly in a lower voice, watching over his shoulder once in a while.

I knew he thought the same way. I knew he would hold that option wide open. But I never thought he would ask me for some kind of permission. I think about the idea and I don't know why, but the idea gave me a terrible feeling about myself. I can feel my eyes getting wet and because of what? Would I cry if they die? Probably not, but I don't want to be the one that's the reason for their death. Death would be too easy for them. No, it wouldn't change a thing for my mental health.

"You couldn't live with it." He spoke calmly, nodding in understanding.

"No, I couldn't," I admit, with my eyes downcast. I hear him pushing the chair underneath the table. His footsteps fading away. The door closes behind him, and I push myself straight and run to the door.

"Wait!" I shout, rush myself on the streets toward him. Aiden stops and turns himself in surprise.

"You will not hurt them, right?" I ask him, out of breath. Aiden grins at me with a sly smile.

"No, I will not hurt them." He answers in amusement. I sigh in relief and nod nervously. "Good night, Grace." He says, and I nod, making my way back to the bakery.

I open the door from the bakery and look back in the direction of Aiden, and I see him walking away, vanishing behind a corner. He's so weird and intriguing at the same time. Why is he an assassin? I have so many questions, but I know I'll never get to know much about him. He's reserved, and yet he had told me he murdered that man. What kind of man would say that to an ordinary stranger?

"Grace, where were you?" She asks me curiously when I walk in.

"I uh, Aiden forgot something," I say quickly, not knowing what to say as an excuse for pursuing him.

"Oh. He's a very nice guy. Where do you know him from?" She asks me eagerly.

"I have met him here," I respond quickly before marching to the back to collect my purse. "You're okay with me leaving earlier?" I ask Belinda.

"Yes, of course." She says, kissing me on the cheek. "Good night, Gracy." She says playfully.

"Good night, aunt," I reply before leaving the bakery and heading off into the night. I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way, but I felt safer since Aiden stops by in the evenings. He has protected me, and despite that he doesn't show his emotions, his actions said so much more. It's almost like he cares about me. Why would he make so much effort to come here every night and ask if he needs to harm them?

It almost feels romantic if he wasn't an assassin and I'm not available to be loved again.