Consume my broken heart

Chapter 13

I feel so stupid. Controlling my dream didn't work out well. I created a nightmare instead of the face of the man in my dreams. If you can recognize you're inside a dream, then you can control things like walking, feeling, almost everything would feel real. This can be the opportunity to meet a man in my dreams without being touched for real. I would have time to control the environment, the situation, everything would be in my hands, but I suck in dreams.

I was alone in the bakery, and with no customers around, I had a peaceful evening. That was the ideal chance to set my plan on paper. It would make things more realistic than sum up the things in my head. I've got consumed with the plan for the last few days. Next week I need to make sure I have a solid plan that can truly work.

Roughly, I note down a few things about Anthony Hill, the loner. I knew he had some trouble at school with stealing, but I've never known he truly stole the laptop of one teacher. I'm far away with my thoughts when the front door opens, to reveal Aiden in dark blue jeans and a black loose shirt. He's looking ridiculously handsome, and it frustrates me, even more, to look at him.

Aiden walks toward me to the counter, which he never does because he always takes a seat before calling me. Quickly, I grab my paper, but I was too late. Aiden had already taken it in a firm grip. "What are you writing?" He asks curiously.

"Nothing that concerns you," I say, irritated, and pull at the paper. Of course, he wouldn't let go without a fight, so I loosened my grip. This would be a lost cause, after all. How will I get these bastards if I'm too afraid to come near them? Maybe I should let it go and try to move on as a normal person would do. I'm becoming consumed by my need for revenge.

Aiden's eyes roam my paper. When he finally finished examining my paper, he looks up at me with a mixed expression on his face. "It's about those guys who were here, right?" He asks dominantly like he's on the verge to demand answers and this time for real.

So I swallow my pride and answer him truthfully because I don't have another chance with him. He probably already knows it's about them. "Yes," I answer shortly, hoping he would let it go.

He hands me my now crunched paperback. "I think your plan sucks." He admits with a smirk-face. Gazing at him in shock, he just grins at me with no shame. He's got some nerve telling me my plan sucks when I don't even ask him to read the damn paper.

"I don't need your approval, Aiden," I say with venom, tossing the paper inside my purse behind the counter. "Can I get you something?" I ask him back to the formal server. He's rude and has no decency at all. Still, he's a stranger to me. It's not like we are friends because he almost comes along each day for his coffee and muffin.

"The truth." He spoke calmly, but his eyes would bore into my soul if I hadn't averted my gaze. This guy is so intense, yet he doesn't scare me. Every woman that has an encounter with him would definitely be terrified of him. His posture made him look big and dominant. Even Dean Wright seemed a bit off from this ignorant man.

"Like I said before. This is my life and I do with it as I please." I answer him agitatedly before making a coffee. I fetch his muffin and make my way over to his favorite spot at the window. Aiden walks behind me, following me on foot.

Aiden watches me as I set everything on the table. "Is there anything else I can get you?" I ask him fake-friendly.

"I'm sorry for my behavior. It was rude to take your paper without asking. I'm sorry." He said, and I could tell he was honest about his apologies. I nod shortly in surprise and turn on my heel to walk away from him, but he stopped me by taking my wrist.

In a blink of an eye, I jumped backward, yanking my arm free. "Wow, Grace I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He spoke rapidly in astonishment, his eyes big.

I breathe heavily and look at my arm for a few seconds. He didn't grab me firmly. He was gentle, but something snapped in me. Something that I've buried deep into my soul. Men should never touch me. I hate this feeling of weakness and now he has seen it.

"Did I hurt you, Grace? He asks demandingly, with a bit of concern.

"No,.." I stammer. "I'm fine," I answer before making my way to the back as fast as I could. I lock myself in the restroom and lower on the toilet. Blowing out some steam, I figure out my plan is unrealistic, certainly for now. Aiden was gentle, and yet I freaked out again. There isn't a time I can stay calm. I know he would not hurt me, but I think because it happened without me knowing it-it terrors the hell out of me. If I'm not in control, I freak out...

I bite my lip in frustration and go back to the front of the bakery. Belinda would be so mad for letting the bakery all by itself. Walking back behind the counter, Aiden just drank his coffee, the muffin unreplaced from where I had placed it.

I clean up the counter for the tenth time, trying to ease my nerves. Suddenly he stands up from his seat, taking the muffin in his hand. He saunters toward me, but I kept my head down, examining a stain on the glass.

"I will help you with your plan if you would like that." He says out of the blue.

"What?" I retorted, dumbfounded. Him helping me? I don't want to ask a criminal to help me out. Definitely not someone who kills people, even if the victims are bad.

"You heard me. I'm skilled in detective work, as I'm a former soldier. It's not only killing I do for a living, Grace." He spoke in frustration, as it was not normal for me to respond the way I did.

"The answer is no. I don't need your help." I answer shortly.

Aiden watches me with his penetrating eyes, at the same time tossing a ten-dollar bill on the counter.

"I'll come back tomorrow. Think about it. If you are honest with yourself, you know you need help. You'll need help if you want your revenge." He spoke calmly and without saying goodbye he left, leaving me with my own messy thoughts.

After two hours, I'm driving home, finally ready with my shift. I'm feeling exhausted like I've run a marathon. The idea of completing my plan made me more nervous than I wanted to acknowledge. This was something I wanted to do on my own, without the help of a stranger, a man that has seen my darkest moment. If I want to do this right, I have to be honest with myself. I'm going to need his help with the investigation and certainly when I want this plan to work.

I can't back down now, I'm so close. So close to becoming free again. Free of my insecurities, free of them. There's no other way than to ask Aiden for help, even if I don't want to.