Inside, though? His mind was already racing.
Cain doesn’t forgive mistakes.
Aria hadn’t said you might be in trouble or Cain will be watching you.
She had said you just made an enemy of Cain.
That was different.
That was bad.
"That supposed to scare me?" John asked, keeping his voice steady.
Aria gave him a flat, knowing look. "It should."
John exhaled slowly. "Why? Because I saved a kid?"
Aria’s eyes flicked to Eli. Something unreadable flashed in her expression.
"You think this is about him?" she asked.
John narrowed his eyes. "What else would it be about?"
Aria sighed. Shook her head. "You really don’t get it, do you?"
John folded his arms. "Why don’t you explain it to me?"
She hesitated. Just for a second.
Then—"Not here."
John clenched his jaw. He didn’t like this.
But Aria was already walking away.
She expected him to follow.
John glanced at Eli. The kid was watching them, still wary, still tense.
"Stay put," John told him. "Don’t let anyone see you."
Eli nodded.
John exhaled, then followed Aria.
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She led him to a rooftop across from the lot, where the sounds of the city were still loud enough to mask their voices.
She leaned against a rusted vent, arms crossed.
John waited.
Aria exhaled. "Cain didn’t just put eyes on you because of a job, John. He’s been watching you for a while."
John frowned. "That doesn’t make sense."
"Doesn’t it?" Aria raised an eyebrow. "You’re not exactly normal."
John’s fists curled. "I’m no one. Just some kid from the lower districts."
Aria studied him. "Are you?"
John clenched his jaw. "Don’t play games with me. You know something. Start talking."
Aria hesitated.
Then—"You’re on a list, John."
John blinked. "What?"
"A list," Aria repeated. "Of people Cain is keeping tabs on. People he thinks are… interesting."
John’s stomach tightened.
That wasn’t good.
He had spent his entire life making sure people like Cain didn’t notice him.
And now, he was on a list?
John inhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus.
"Why?" he asked. "What does Cain want from me?"
Aria hesitated.
Then—"You’re not ready for that answer yet."
John scowled. "Try me."
Aria gave him a long, unreadable look.
Then she said, "Fine. I’ll tell you what I do know."
John crossed his arms. "Go on."
Aria exhaled. "Cain is looking for something. Something that shouldn’t exist."
John frowned. "And you think I have it?"
"Maybe," Aria said. "Or maybe he just thinks you do."
John’s gut twisted.
What was that supposed to mean?
Aria shifted slightly.
"And then there’s Eli’s father," she continued. "That’s a whole different problem."
John tensed. "You know about him?"
"I know that Cain was looking for him," Aria said. "And now he’s looking for the kid."
John’s grip tightened. "Why?"
"Because his father was working on something. And Cain never lets unfinished business go."
John felt something cold settle in his stomach.
"So what happens if Cain finds out I have Eli?"
Aria’s expression darkened.
"Then," she said, "you’ll wish you never got involved."
John exhaled slowly.
He had two options.
- Get rid of Eli. Cut him loose. Make him disappear before Cain realized John had him.
- Keep him close. Protect him. Dig deeper.
John already knew what the smart choice was.
He just wasn’t sure he could live with it.
"You already made your decision," Aria said, watching him.
John glanced at her. "How do you know?"
Aria gave him a small, almost knowing smile.
"Because if you were the kind of person who could walk away," she said, "you would’ve done it already."
John didn’t answer.
Because she was right.
John turned, looking out over the city.
He had spent his life avoiding trouble, attention, power plays.
But this wasn’t something he could run from.
Cain wanted something.
Eli’s father had vanished.
And somehow, John was caught in the middle of it.
He exhaled slowly.
"Then I guess I’ll just have to find the answers myself," he muttered.
Aria smirked.
"Now you’re getting it."