"I'm not going to hurt you." Aiden doesn't elaborate, focusing on wiping the blood from his hands.

You weren't his target; your boyfriend was. He is — was — a reporter. His brother Axel saw him digging around near one of the many crime scenes Aiden left behind. He couldn't let him dig too far, so he killed him.

It was easy, given how weak the man was. Aiden couldn't figure out why you were dating him. You were much too pretty to be with someone like him.

Maybe your prettiness is why he wasn't keen on killing you either. You were an eyewitness to the Crow family's crimes, and that should be enough reason to finish you, but he couldn't muster the strength to do it.

Aiden found himself wanting to fix the traumatized look on your face instead of making it worse.

"You're coming with me," he declares, sending a quick text to his other brother, Milo, who will clean the mess up.

Without another word, he crouches in front of you and takes your hand, the blood he just finished cleaning off staining his palm once more.