Trust Me

Chapter 15

“I despise all of you,” he growled the minute he had finally calmed down enough to speak.  Evan let go of him and allowed him to sit freely on the couch, free of restrictions and imprisonment.  He hadn’t needed the restraint because they were trying to trap him, but merely to stop him from beating Lexa to a bloody mess.  The threat has escaped his lips many times, and with the way he had constantly tried to throw her to the ground to hit her, the threat seemed all too legitimate.

“Why are you so bent on hating us?” Lexa questioned, pacing closer to him.  Testing the boundaries.  Poking the lion with a stick.  She was just begging to get burned.  As if she thought that Aidan would hold enough self control not to harm her.

“Haven’t you guys figured it out yet?  I thought I made it clear when I left that I’m not going to help you,” he spat. 

Lexa drew dangerously close, and for a moment, Aidan was ready to lash out and pin her to the ground. 

“Please.  Like Ash isn’t just your attempt to success,” Lexa spat and turned away from him. 

Aidan stood from the couch and glared at her, practically ready to throw her through the wall.  It wasn’t like anyone came in the apartment besides them, and it wasn’t like their landlord would even know.  They kept the apartment under such tight lock and key that not even the building’s owner had access.  It had been a struggle at first, but they finally managed to keep those with access to the apartment down to the four. 

“Did you ever stop to think that I’m with her because I want to be?  Not just some crazy attempt at redemption?  Or to help you?” he pointed out. 

Lexa walked as close as she possibly could to him and stared up into his eyes, not daring to let one flicker of emotion show on her face.  She was practically daring him to wring her neck, but instead he closed his eyes and turned away from her to keep his composure. 

“Really?  Is that why you brought her to see Samantha and Evan on Tuesday?  Or was that really just to help her get het 700 dollars, because you care oh so deeply about her?” she taunted. 

“For the record, I’m the one who dragged her out of there.  Plus, she gave back the money, which both of you owe to her.  She held up her end of the deal,” Aidan pointed out.

“You know you can’t be with her.  It’ll be so much easier for you in the end if you just accept the fact that you’re working with us, and the whole reason you forced yourself into this relationship was so that you could help us.  If you let yourself think you’re in love with her, it’s only going to kill you in the end,” Lexa explained. 

Aidan looked over his shoulder at her.  Her usual condescending demeanor was replaced by a compassionate expression.  Her hand gently came to rest on his shoulder, a caring and rare gesture for her.  For once she actually cared about him. 

“You don’t think I haven’t already thought about that?  I wish it was that simple.  She wants to break up with me because of all of this.  I think I’m just going to tell her, Lexa.  She hates not knowing anything,” Aidan responded.

Lexa drew her hand from his shoulder instantly, every rare bit of compassion leaving her.  Instead of her condescending behavior, though, she looked betrayed.  Anger reddened her features as she backed away from him, leaving him wondering whether she was preparing to hit him as hard as possible, or trying to keep herself away from him to prevent her from losing control and letting him have it.

“Are you out of your mind?  You really think you can just tell her everything?” Lexa demanded.

“What does it matter, Lexa?  She’ll be dead soon enough, anyways,” Evan pointed out.