I’ve tried so hard not to think about him being with other women. Now that my mind has gone there, it doesn't want to come back from the terrible thought. I feel as though I’ve just walked through a tacky spider web that I can’t seem to fully wipe away, and now uncertainty is crawling around on me like the spider you just know is there but can’t find.
“I mean it, Aria. I wish you could see how much I love you.”
I just sigh while trying to shiver off the unwelcome jitters. He kisses my brow, his lips feeling feather soft against my angst-ridden skin.
A general walks out, and we both turn to salute as he passes. His face is unfamiliar, and I turn back to Jase as the strange man heads into Seminole.
“Do you know him?”
“I know his name - General Marks - but I don’t know him personally. He’s going to be stationed here in case the interrogators come across any leads that need to be dealt with immediately, should the leads require a higher status than a captain.”
He sounds so educated on the United when he speaks like that, and it feels so calming for some odd reason. Then again, his voice is so soothing it could calm a stage five storm just by humming.
He smiles, and then he finds my lips again as his sister joins us.
“You ready?” she asks while grabbing her stomach, seeming to be sick or in pain.
“Yeah. You okay?” he worries.
She nods, and then looks back to Rex who is perched up beside some pretty blond. Jase’s jaw tenses, and then he starts to stalk toward my brother. I’m all for him kicking Rex’s ass right now. I think he could take him too. Hell, I might even help out. What the hell is my brother thinking?
“Don’t,” she says while halting his mission.
She grabs his arm, and he shakes her off while continuing on his path. She quickly rushes in front of him, and her hands press against his chest.
“I said don’t. He can talk to whoever he chooses. Let’s just go. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Jase cracks his neck to the side, and I lower my eyes shamefully. My brother can be such an ass. He’s just acting out because he doesn’t want Melania to go, but he doesn’t know how to speak his feelings aloud to anyone new - the curse of the forgotten.
“There’s nothing for you to feel ashamed about,” Jase whispers in my ear. “Don’t act as though you think I’m mad at you for your brother’s actions.”
“Loading up,” a general orders, his eyes flashing briefly to Jase’s, and he nods as if he’s granting his approval.
So weird.
He smirks before returning his gaze to me, and then his lips find mine.
“I’ll see you soon,” he murmurs against my lips, and then his breath vanishes, leaving me with the wrong chill.
I keep my eyes closed - my heart unable to let me watch him leave again.
I hear the jeeps crank up, and I feel his eyes burn against me as I keep mine shut. If I watch him leave me again so soon, I’ll fall apart, and I can’t do that in front of him right now.
I turn my back to the leaving convoy, and my eyes face Seminole as they reopen. As soon as the engines find enough distance, my brother drops his feigned interest in his blond acquaintance, quickly shooing her away, and I scowl at him as I burn a path between us with my blazing fury.
“Don’t say it,” he cautions, his eyes narrowing in true older-brother fashion as the girl walks away confused and agitated.
“You selfish, arrogant, foolish bastard!”
His jaw clenches shut, and then he walks away from me, his pace trying to distance us before my next lashing outburst comes forth.
“How could you be such a jerk?” I continue, my tirade sure to be next.
“Damn it, Aria. What do you expect?” he barks, and suddenly my game is thrown off.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m not used to this. I wasn’t in a hurry to find my counter. I’m not too fucking thrilled with the fact she’s a damn general either. It means she’s constantly on the most dangerous missions. It means she’s constantly on the road, and it means she could be taken from me at any second. It’s terrifying,” he releases through strain, his voice choking up at the end.
