"He wasn't a good man, Arian."

I took a deep breath. This is what I had been hoping for. I wanted Aiden to tell me that he was murdering someone who deserved it. But I also wanted him to convince me that I hadn't seen anything at all. I wanted it to be a dream that I woke up from. Perhaps I had too much to drink at dinner. But instead he managed to convince me to hear him out.

We sat in Maddie's living room on the couch and I was tucked up with my knees against my chest. I felt self conscience. The hoodie and sweats were far too big for me and my hair was frazzled from being dried with the blow drier. Aiden sat a few feet from me with his elbows on his knees. It was starting to feel less and less like I was in danger but he sort of just looked. . . like a stranger. I felt as though I didn't know him now.

I hated it.

Maddie was in the kitchen with Cameron. They gave us some space but I think that Maddie knew I didn't want her going too far. It seemed ridiculous when I thought about it. She obviously knew something. They all did. I should have felt unsafe in a house full of murderers and accomplices. But the more shocking fact was that I still felt safer here, than I did at home with Desmond.

"That man," Aiden continued with his brows furrowed. "He's a child molester. He was released on bail about two months ago and I've been watching him. We received confirmation that he was in contact with a thirteen year old girl via the internet and planned on meeting up with her tonight. She was under the impression that he was fifteen. He's raped younger before and he would have done it again."

I felt repulsed. The notion was sickening. But still. "If you knew these things, why not take it to the police?"

He turned to look at me with confusion. "The police are the ones that let him go. Our justice system is fucked because these powerful business men can literally throw cash and connections around and get off without consequence."

I understood that. More than he knew. It was one of the reasons that I was so afraid to turn Desmond in.

"You wouldn't believe how often it happens," his jaw fluttered as he clenched his fists. "One dirty worthless life in order to save who knows how many kids from being traumatised forever. Doesn't seem like it's a comparison worth arguing about."

I didn't think that he would be able to have me seeing his reason. But I did. If the justice system couldn't keep children safe. Someone had to. "So you do that a lot?" I swallowed. "You're a hit man?"

He chuckled a humourless laugh and shook his head. "I prefer not to put a label on what I do. But in case you were curious, I do actually run a repo organisation. It's how I'm able to afford the staff and technology that I use for my—"

"Night job," I filled in, nodding. He nodded and I took a deep breath. "So Maddie and Cameron know? I mean, when did this start?"

"Yeah, Cameron started working for me as an assistant when he was just out of highschool and needed the extra cash. He sort of stumbled upon the truth like you did. He took it well though. So did Maddison.

"As for how it began. Well, I suppose when I was young. It started off with a lot of bar fights when creeps were being forceful on woman and that sort of thing. But I was about twenty two, my dad had died a couple of years earlier and Mom was seeing someone. He seemed great. But Zee told me one evening that he'd snuck into her room and raped her while Mom was asleep. I had never felt rage like that before. So I acquired a gun and I shot him.

"We never told Mom what happened. She just thought it was a car jacking gone wrong. It stemmed from there I suppose. I found staff that I could trust and wanted to help the cause. But don't get me wrong. It's not a thrill for me to take life. It doesn't make me feel good. But knowing that a handful of children could be freed from experiencing that trauma is the payoff. I just wish that I could stop them before they had the chance to touch one child."

It was a lot to process. All of it. But it was helping to put pieces back into place. Knowing that his intentions were to protect and care for people, made the haze that I'd seen him through earlier, lift.

"Zoerina's ex wasn't detained was he?"

Aiden slowly shook his head. "No, he wasn't."

What would he do to Desmond if he knew the truth?

"There's something else," he said with a cautious tone. He moved closer and I didn't wince with fear. Again, the feeling of wanting him to be closer was coming back. He sat beside me and carefully picked up my hand, as if he was being sure not to startle me. He laced our fingers together. "Michael— your boss. He didn't kill himself."

"Wait, what?"

His thumb made small strokes on the top of my hand as he swallowed. "Michael had raped a few woman before I caught wind of it. I also suspected him of murdering someone that worked at the restaurant years ago. But I never had the proof. I was at Stella Pines the night that we met, for him. Because he'd come back on our alerts. Meeting you was just an incredible bonus."

My heart skipped a beat.

"That night that you and Maddie were out, I was on a job. It was unrelated — just as sick — but when Maddie called, I came straight to the club. I had the CCTV footage sent to me and I saw that Michael was the one who slipped you the drug."

I quietly gasped with disbelief but didn't interrupt him. I hadn't even seen Michael that night.

"I had him brought in and while I was looking after you, I got a call from Po that they'd found all sorts of sick shit in the trunk of his car. Ropes. Bleach. Knives," his expression became contorted with disgust. "He was going to kill you. So I went downstairs and shot him. Because Arian, I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

My head was spinning to the point that I thought I would be sick again. Michael was always persistent with his advances. Or he was rude and harsh. But I never, never imagined that he would be capable of rape and murder. And the fact that he wanted to do that to me. Dots started to dance in my vision and I grabbed my temples as I inhaled deep breaths.

"Ari," Aiden murmured with concern. I was staring at my lap with a blurred vision but when I felt his large warm hand cup the nape of my neck, I glanced up and met his emerald stare and I felt immediate comfort. "I would never let anyone hurt you. Believe me. I'll do whatever I can to make sure that you feel safe with me. Whatever you need."

I stared at him and swallowed, still feeling nauseous from what I'd learned. "You let me think that Michael killed himself," I murmured and leaned back a little. "I— I felt so responsible for that. And you let me."

His expression morphed into regret and he dropped his hold, his hand resting on the back of the couch behind me. "I hated seeing you so upset over that piece of shit. It was literally the hardest lie that I have ever had to uphold. I'm so sorry."

"Is there anything else that you're lying about?"

He shook his head. "You know everything now. I tried so hard to be as honest as I could without scaring the hell out of you."

I glanced away with shame. I couldn't berate him for keeping secrets when I had mine. It occurred to me then that if I told him the truth, he would do something about it. He would 'take care' of Desmond. But the thought made my throat close up and panicked heart beats pounded in my chest. Could I really be responsible for someone losing their life?

"I know that I should have kept my distance," Aiden said, interrupting my thoughts as his eyes swept my face. "I shouldn't have spent so much time with you. Especially knowing that you're married. But as soon as we met, there was just something so. . . alluring about you. The more that I got to see how sweet, caring and pure you are, I couldn't get enough.

"I've been in a dark place for such a long time. Murder leaves a tarnish that nothing can get rid of. But when I'm with you, it's like your soul shines bright enough to share even just a brush stroke of that goodness with me," he lowered his gaze and lightly chuckled as if he was embarrassed. "It's hard to explain."

"I think you're pretty good at telling me how you feel."

He glanced up and gave me a grateful smile. "I know that I can't have you as more than a friend. But that's good enough for me. I don't want to lose you Ari."

I thought about kissing him. I did. My entire frame was humming and twitching with the need to reach out and meet his mouth with mine. But when I peered over my shoulder, Maddie was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the countertop. She wasn't watching. But she would still be able to see us.

Aiden's phone began to ring and I snapped my head towards him with a startle as he apologised and pulled it out of his hoodie pocket. "Hello?" He answered and as if he wasn't thinking about it, his hand rested behind my shoulders and his fingers gently twirled over the skin on the back of my neck.

"I'm a little tied up at the moment," he said, his gaze directed on mine without wavering. "Can we leave it until tomorrow."

His brows furrowed as he listened but still, his eyes never left mine.

"I didn't realise. I'll be there in fifteen."

He hung up and slid his phone back into his pocket with a disappointed sigh. "I have to go. For legitimate business reasons. One of my staff was attacked when he was repossessing a car."

He stood up and I stared at him with concern. "Are you going to— like— deal with the person who attacked him?"

He tried not to, but he laughed a little. "No Arian. I don't just pop people who piss me off. See," he sighed with a smile. "So pure."

He leaned down and kissed my cheek, his lips lingering for a moment that allowed me to inhale his cologne. The scent of him wrapped around me and my stomach flipped over as his breath fanned against me. "Are you going to be okay?" He stood back up, his hand holding mine.

I nodded. "Yeah I think that I'll stay here tonight though. If Maddie lets me."

"Of course. Sleepover!" She shouted from the kitchen and I laughed.

Aiden gave her a grateful smile and nodded. He turned to leave but I stood up as he reached the door. "Aiden."

He turned around and waited for what I had to say.

"Something happened," I blushed furiously as I shifted on the spot. "When you shot that man. In the stairwell. I— I kind of—"

He shook his head with a genuine smile and I realised that he was aware that I'd pissed on his floor but he didn't want me to feel more embarrassed about it. I gave him a tight smile and wave as he opened the door and left.

I stood there staring at the closed door and couldn't believe how much had happened in the last couple of hours. My life had just taken another turn that I hadn't been prepared for. At this point, I should have been used to life punching me in the gut.

Maddie appeared by my side and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "You okay?"

I slowly nodded. "I— I think so. It's just—"

"Shocking?" She filled in with an understanding nod. "I know. But he's a good person. A really good person. And he really cares about you. I can tell. I've never seen him so— enraptured."

I gave her a shy sideways glance and shrugged.

She lead me over to the couch and we sat back down. "Ya know," she winced as she watched me. "You don't talk about Desmond a lot. I could almost forget that you're married until Cameron comes home from work and asks what you see in him. And I'm not saying that you should cheat on him, like at all. But if your heart isn't in it and you're as in love with Aiden as you seem to be, maybe you should consider that you shouldn't be married anymore."

"I'm not in love with Aiden," I mumbled defensively. I think that I was falling in love with him though. "We're friends."

"Okay," Maddie nodded with a kind smile. "That's cool. So what should we watch tonight? Have you seen the Greatest Showman? You have to sing with me if we watch that. I got the DVD that comes with the lyrics on screen."

I laughed and nodded with enthusiasm. I appreciated that she was willing to help me feel somewhat normal again after the evening that I'd had. But I had a feeling I would be distracted no matter what. I had so much to consider. Aiden had feelings for me. I had feelings for him and if he knew that Desmond hit me, he would possibly want to murder him. Sure, it would solve all of my problems. But I felt nauseated at the thought of doing that to another person. Even Desmond. That would be on me.

And I wasn't sure if that was something that I could live with.