Aria’s POV
The voice made my skin crawl.
I didn’t turn around. Didn’t acknowledge it. Just grabbed Sophie’s arm and started walking faster.
"Hey, I’m talking to you!"
The car engine revved. Tires crunched on gravel. Getting closer.
"Sophie," I whispered. "Don’t look. Just keep moving."
"What’s happening?" Her voice was tight. Scared.
"Nothing good."
I knew this game. Had played it too many times. In that neighborhood where I’d worked at the Quick Stop Mart. Where men like this prowled the streets after dark, looking for easy prey.
The car pulled up beside us. A sleek black sedan with tinted windows. The kind of car that screamed money and danger in equal measure.
The window rolled down.
Three men inside. All wolves. I could tell from the way they moved. The predatory gleam in their eyes.
The driver leaned out. Young. Maybe mid-twenties. Expensive watch. Expensive haircut. The kind of face that thought it could get away with anything.
"Come on, sweetheart." His smile was all teeth. "Don’t be like that. We’re just trying to be friendly."
"We’re not interested." I kept my voice flat. Cold. "Leave us alone."
"Ooh." He exchanged looks with his buddies. They laughed. "Feisty. I like that."
The car stopped.
My heart rate spiked.
"Sophie. Walk faster."
We sped up. Almost running now. Our heels clicked frantically against the pavement.
Car doors opened behind us.
Footsteps. Heavy. Gaining.
"Where you going, ladies?" A different voice now. Deeper. More threatening. "Party’s just getting started."
I yanked Sophie around a corner. Looking for people. For lights. For anything.
The street was empty.
Dark buildings. Closed shops. Not a soul in sight.
Of course.
We’d wandered into the industrial district. Away from the crowds. Away from safety.
Stupid. So stupid.
"Aria—" Sophie’s voice cracked. "Aria, I’m scared."
"I know. Just keep moving."
But they were faster.
A hand shot out. Grabbed Sophie’s wrist.
She screamed.
"LET GO!"
The man yanked her backward. Hard. She stumbled. Almost fell.
"Sophie!"
I lunged for her. Another man blocked my path. Tall. Built like a wall. Smirking down at me like I was a mouse and he was a very hungry cat.
"Now, now." He wagged his finger. "Let’s all calm down."
"Let her go!" My voice came out stronger than I felt. "Right now!"
"Or what?" The driver appeared. Circling us. Taking his time. "What are you gonna do about it?"
Sophie was struggling. Twisting. Trying to break free. The man holding her just laughed.
"She’s got some fight in her." He pulled her closer. Leaned in to smell her hair. "I like that."
"DON’T TOUCH HER!"
I threw myself at him. Fists swinging. Nails clawing.
He caught my arm like it was nothing. Twisted it behind my back.
Pain shot through my shoulder. I cried out.
"Cute." His breath was hot against my ear. "Really cute. But you’re gonna have to try harder than that, sweetheart."
Sophie was crying now. Tears streaming down her face.
"Please," she sobbed. "Please just let us go. We haven’t done anything."
"That’s the point." The driver stepped closer. Reached out. Touched her cheek. "You haven’t done anything yet."
I struggled against the grip on my arm. Useless. Without Artemis, I was just a human woman. Weak. Vulnerable.
Exactly what they wanted.
"You know what I don’t understand?" The driver was circling Sophie now. Like a shark. "Two pretty girls like you, wandering around this part of town. All dressed up. No protection."
He tugged at the strap of her dress. Sophie flinched.
"It’s almost like you wanted this to happen."
"Leave her ALONE!"
I kicked backward. Connected with something. The man holding me grunted.
His grip loosened for just a second.
I tore free. Threw myself between Sophie and the driver.
"Don’t touch her." My voice was shaking. My whole body was shaking. But I stood my ground. "I swear to God, if you lay one finger on her—"
The driver’s smile disappeared.
"You swear to God?" He stepped closer. Towering over me. "That’s interesting. Because God doesn’t come to this part of town."
His hand shot out. Grabbed my throat.
I couldn’t breathe.
"Please—" Sophie’s voice was barely a whisper. "Please, we’ll leave. We’ll go right now. We won’t tell anyone—"
He released me.
I gasped. Stumbled backward. Coughing. Choking.
"Now." He straightened his jacket. Adjusted his cuffs. Like this was all completely normal. "Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to get in the car. Both of you. And you’re going to keep your mouths shut."
The third man moved. The one who’d been silent this whole time. He grabbed Sophie from behind. Lifted her off the ground.
She screamed.
High and piercing. The sound echoed off the empty buildings.
I lunged at him again. Desperate. Stupid.
He caught my wrist. Twisted. Pain exploded up my arm.
"You just don’t learn, do you?"
He threw me against the wall. The impact knocked the air from my lungs. He slowly stopped in front of me and his hand reached for my dress.
Sophie screamed again.
"STOP IT! LEAVE HER ALONE! SOMEONE HELP! ANYONE!"
"I told you." The driver didn’t look away from me. "Nobody’s—"
Suddenly, a voice hit us all."You dare do evil on the my territory?"