Just The Right Black

Chapter 24

Ariana woke up earlier than she normally did and got ready for the day. She left the house at daybreak with Jace's car keys and mounted her bike. She sped along the highway heading towards the company hoping she could get there and back before Jace noticed.

When she arrived at the company, she went underground to the parking lot where Jace's car was parked. She pulled up next to his car and hopped off her bike, keeping her helmet hooked on the clutch. She slid her key into her pocket, taking out Jace's key, she unlocked his car and opened the door to the driver's seat. The light in the parking lot shone brightly through the entire parking lot and illuminated into the car making it easier for her to see the interior. Ariana leaned into the car and turned on the interior car light.

She wasn't sure what exactly she was looking for but she took out her gloves and put them on before she began searching his car. The driver's seat, under. The passenger's seat. Everywhere she could possibly check. She had just begun searching the passenger's seat when something shiny caught her eye and she reached for it. It wasn't far away but she had to find an angle for her hand to reach it. Once her fingertips grazed the object, she shimmed it with her finger closer to her hand and grabbed a hold of it then pulled it out.

Did Jace misplace a watch?
Ariana thought as she studied the watch. She flipped it and froze when she read the inscription.

Damn you!
Ariana clenched her jaw and sighed.

Ariana turned off the car light and slammed the door shut, locking it as she made her way angrily towards her bike. She took out a small evidence bag and put the watch inside, sealed it and put it into her pocket along with Jace's car key. Swinging her leg across her bike, she got on and removed the gloves; putting it away. She revved on her bike and sped out of the parking lot heading back to his house.

He told me but I didn't believe him.
Ariana couldn't help thinking.

The watch was enough proof. What more could she possibly need to make her believe him? But there was still a part of her that found it hard to believe that Mark wanted Jace dead. Granted, she knew nothing about him except everything that was online. But you can't exactly judge someone based on something you read or see online. What was the explanation behind his watch being inside Jace's thrashed car?

Jace probably had an identical watch with the same 'Love you Mark, Dad' inscription at the back. Yea, that was a possibility alright.

Ariana arrived at the house a few minutes later and hopped off her bike as she turned off the ignition.

"Morning, Marvis." Ariana greeted as she walked towards the front door in a hurry.

"Morning, Ari."

Ariana threw him a smile before she walked inside and shut the door behind her just as quickly as she'd opened it. She heard Jace's voice coming from the kitchen and headed towards him. When she saw him, he was talking angrily to whoever was on the other end of the line. He turned to her as she stepped into the living room.

"Never mind, she's here," He said before he hung up and he walked away from behind the kitchen island towards her, "Where the heck have you been?"

Ariana ignored him and headed into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she took out a jug and poured herself a glass of orange juice. Drinking, she drummed her fingers on the kitchen island while Jace stood on the other side of the kitchen island and looked at her like he wanted to strangle her.

He'd headed downstairs after getting ready for work and was surprised to find that she was standing there at her spot waiting for him. He'd drank his coffee and even had breakfast but still, she hadn't shown up. He got worried and went to her room to check on her. After knocking on her door and getting no reply, he pushed it open and frowned when he found her bed already made.

He'd started to worry thinking of every worst-case scenario. They were after her now as much as him and that terrified him to have her out there not knowing where she was or if she was alright. He'd called Jack to check if she'd shown up at the Bureau but she hadn't. He was losing his cool and yelling on the phone about her strong-headed and inconsiderate she was for leaving without letting him know where she was headed which was when she walked in. His heart resumed its normal pace and he finally let go of the breath he hadn't even known he'd been holding.

Ariana placed the glass in the sink and thought of how to tell him. She turned and finally looked up at him, his eyes drilling holes into her.
"You were right."

Jace's right brow raised not expecting to ever hear those words from her. His anger at her crumbled as he waited for her to explain herself. He watched as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small evidence bag with a watch inside and placed it on the kitchen island between them.

Jace looked at it and then at her.
"What's that?"

"I found it in your car."

"That's where you were," He looked from the watch to her, "We could have gone together you know. Instead of going back and forth..."

"It belongs to Mark."

Jace felt the last hope he'd had in his step-brother wither away,
"How do you know that?"

"The day we went for coffee he was wearing it," She said, "It's got the same inscription at the back."

Jace picked up the evidence bag and turned the watch to check the inscription then his gaze lifted to hers.
"Do you believe me now?"

Ariana sighed looking away from him.
I'm not sure. Something just doesn't add up.

"I have to take this in. I'll meet you at the office." Ariana grabbed the watch and put it back into her pocket as she headed out of the kitchen.

Jace just stared at her as she headed out without another word.

Halfway to the Bureau, Ariana knew she was being tailed. She thought it was just a biker at first but then saw the second one. It took them long enough for them to figure out who busted two of their men.

Ariana sighed and diverted from her original route but maintained the same speed in order not to tip them off that she knew she was being followed. Once she got to the highway, she revved her engine and took off faster than she'd been going. The bikers came after her as expected and she wasn't surprised when she heard a loud clank on her bike, then another. They were firing shots at her.

Ariana swerved between vehicles trying to dodge the bullets and winced when a bullet hit her arm. It was through and through, just a graze. When they were close, she moved to the left lane still swerving knowing what was ahead. She kept driving straight like she was heading that way and when the two lanes split into two roads, she overtook the truck beside her and made a hard right, barely making the turn before the truck blocked the new road and headed straight along with the bikers who'd missed the turn.

Ariana headed back to the Bureau. She dropped the wristwatch off at the lab and got her arm checked. The director asked for her and wanted to know what happened between last night and then. She was in and out of the Bureau in less than thirty and she headed to the company as quickly as possible.