Chapter <b>204 </b>
Owen’s feet tangled and he stumbled straight into <b>the </b>ss door, his forehead smacking into it <b>with </b>a loud thud.
<b>The </b><b>impact </b>knocked him back a few steps, leaving him momentarily dazed and unsteady
<b>The </b>crash was so abrupt that Aria<b>, </b>standing nearby, stared at him in shock, her eyes wide was it really that dramatic<b>? </b>
His forehead throbbed, but it was still manageable.
The truth was, Owen was genuinely stunned; of all things, he hadn’t expected her to call him “baby.”
Maybe it was because Aria was always so distant and reserved–those sweet, intimate sybles just didn’t suit her.
Not even a little. She’d said it without a shred of emotion.
Aria stepped closer, ncing at the rising bump on his forehead, searching for words. “You… are you okay?<i>” </i>
The lobby lights were bright. She nced at him from the side, hershes fluttering, a hint of concern in her clear eyes.
Owen couldn’t help but notice–her eyes really were beautiful: clear, cool, and impossibly distant<b>, </b>as if no one could ever truly reach her.
That chilliness created an invisible wall, warning people not to get too close, not to meet her gaze for too long.
But the echo of her calling him “baby” rang in his mind, and his heart thudded faster.
He averted his gaze, his throat suddenly dry.
Taking <b>a </b>couple of deep breaths, he pressed his fingers to his forehead, the sting bringing him back to reality.
Ever since she’d choked him during that sparring match, his body seemed to remember <b>the </b>rush of adrenaline–it crept up <b>on </b>him at the strangest
moments.
Owen knew exactly what this feeling meant.
There was something strange flickering in his <i>eyes</i>.
“Owen.” Aria’s voice was tinged with exasperation. “I’ll just call you by your name from now on.”
All that fuss over a nickname.
The ss door was automatic. Maybe Owen had moved too fast–he’d even startled the door into not opening in time.
Aria strode outside. Owen hesitated for just a moment, then followed after her.
Outside, Fryderyk and Mason were each waiting in their cars. The group regrouped at the curb.
Fryderyk spoke first. “Everything’s ready. The second you go in, we’ll move in and seal off the perimeter. No one’s getting out.”
He turned to Mason. “So, how did you convince them you could actually lure Aria out<b>?</b><b>” </b>
With the police present, Mason rxed a little. “I told them about Owen, said he and Ms. Saxon had <b>a </b>special rtionship. Then…” He trailed <b>off</b><b>, </b>embarrassed. “Should I really say this?”
Aria nodded. “Go ahead.”
Mason took a breath. “I told them you two wanted to try something wild in the great outdoors. Owen hinted he wanted <b>some </b>‘rmendations<b>, </b>so I suggested Northside. As soon as you hit the outskirts, they nned to snatch you both.”
Chapter <b>204 </b>
His <b>voice </b>grew smaller and smaller<b>, </b><b>his </b><b>head </b><b>almost </b><b>disappearing </b><b>into </b><b>his </b><b>cor</b><b>. </b>
<b>He </b><b>hadn’t </b><b>wanted </b><b>to </b><b>go </b>this <b>far</b><b>, </b><b>but </b>racking his <b>brains</b><b>, </b><b>this </b>really seemned the least <b>suspicious </b><b>way </b><b>to </b>set the trap,
<b>He’d </b><b>even </b><b>packed </b><b>a </b><b>tent </b>and nkets in his car<b>, </b>just to sell the <b>story</b>.
<b>Aria </b><b>couldn’t </b>help <b>a </b><b>way </b>smile. <b>“</b>Thanks<b>, </b>Mr. Webb, for your–remarkable–thoroughness<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Something <b>that </b>should have been simple had gotten unnecessarilyplicated, and her own reputation was paying the price.
Of course<b>, </b>this whole n was Fryderyk’s idea.
<b>She </b><b>shot </b>him <b>a </b>sidelong look, then turned to Mason, hand outstretched. “Since you’ve prepared everything <i>so </i>well, Mr. Webb<b>, </b><b>hand </b>me the <b>keys </b>
<b>Mason </b>passed them over.
Owen asked, “Will my car survive this?”
“<b>Not </b><b>a </b>chance,” Aria replied, sliding straight into the driver’s seat.