Tending Their SECRET by Crystal Perkins Page A

reply. “What the hell is going on over here?” Tim asks.
    “Your boy here insulted Ellie’s family. I
suggest you move him along. I love you, Dad, but I’m going to let
go of her if he doesn’t shut up.”
    “Dave,” Tim says, sighing as he looks at
him. “I’m not sure where all of this is coming from, but I’ve
noticed your behavior lately. You’ve been very aggressive towards
Aiden, and now Ellie. You’re a great worker, and we’ve become
close, but Aiden is my son. Don’t make me choose between you,
because I’ll always choose him. Always.”
    “Over anyone,” Andres says, his mouth in a
tight line.
    “Yes. My son comes before everyone else. I
won’t apologize for that.”
    “I think we should just get back to work.
Have a good night, everyone,” I tell them.
    I lean up to kiss Tim on the cheek, and then
glare at the other two. I’m not sure which of them disgusts me
more. That’s not true. I know, I’m just not going to say it
yet.

Chapter 10
    Aiden
    “Are we going to my place or yours tonight?”
Ellie asks, coming up and wrapping her arms around me.
    I know she’s going to be upset, but I can’t
go home with her. “Why don’t I meet you at your place later,
okay?”
    “Are you and the guys going out?”
    “No. I just need to be alone for a little
bit. Do I have to start telling you when I take a piss now,
too?”
    “Fuck you, Aiden Ford. Or better yet, I
won’t.”
    “El,” I tell her, grabbing her hand. “I’m
sorry. That was a dick thing to say.”
    “Yeah, it was.”
    She pulls her hand out of mine and crosses
her arms over her chest. I close my eyes as I try to figure out a
way to fix this. I shouldn’t have taken out my bad mood on her. I
can’t tell her that I’m going out hunting, but I didn’t have to act
like she’s smothering me. She’s not like that, and I know she never
will be. Even if she was, I wouldn’t mind it. She can smother me
all she wants.
    “It’s not you. This has nothing to do with
you. I swear. I’m just keyed up from all the bullshit earlier
tonight.” There. I told her part of the truth. That’s something,
right?
    “Why would you want to be alone? I could
help you work off that extra energy.”
    And fuck if she isn’t
right. If I wasn’t such a messed up sociopath, I’d be coming up
with some new ways to earn that trophy she’s getting me. But I am
who I am, and that’s a hunter. Ellie calms me, and keeps me from
killing, but I can’t stop hunting. Helping people is integral to
me, like the blood flowing through my veins. I need it.
    “Later. I promise.”
    She looks like she wants to
say something, but stops herself. She takes a moment before giving
me a fake smile. “Great. I’ll see you later. Have fun being alone .”
    Whoa. I know I didn’t imagine the emphasis
on that last word. She can’t honestly think that. “You know I’m not
going to see anyone else.”
    “I wouldn’t blame you.”
    “Stop it. You, and the things we do…God,
what we did yesterday…that’s better than any random fuck I could
ever find. A trillion times better. Hell, an infinite number
better. I promise you, I’m going to be alone. All alone until I
come over later.”
    She sets her purse down and rummages through
it. “Here’s a key. In case I fall asleep. I’ll try to wait up.”
    “I get a key?”
    “Yes.”
    “Would you like a key to my apartment?”
    “Yes, please.”
    “I’ll have one made tomorrow. Even though I
know you only want it for my bathtub.”
    “Can’t get anything past you, can I?”
    “No.”
    “I love you, Aiden. Be careful, please, and
then come see me.”
    “I’m just going to walk a little. I’ll be
fine. And you know I love you, too.”
    “I do.”
    She kisses me one more time, and then I
watch her walk out. I wait a few minutes to make sure Tieny and
Theo are good to close up, and then I hit the streets. Sometimes I
have a target it mind, but on other nights, like tonight, I just go
looking for trouble.