Chapter 16

Dom woke up Ari just as they got off the highway. He told her they were about a ten minutes away from their destination according to the GPS. She sat up straight and rubbed her eyes, looking down at the cup holder of Doms truck.

"Did you stop for coffee before you woke me up?" Ari looked at the new travel cup and back at Dom, who smiled slightly.

"I'm not crazy." Dom laughed.

"What is it with you guys? I'm not some kind of assassin. I don't kill people, Dom."

"Be ready for that to change." Dom answered, looking at her for a second, she looked back at him.

"Ari, Sid and Jonah had no right to bring you into this. There's a reason we keep our woman out of the line of fire. You've proven to be very talented, and if you stay out in the open with the rest of us, you'll be as much of a target to our enemies as we are, if not more."

Ari didn't answer right away. Was this why Jackson did what he did? Was it a test? Did he beat her to make sure she knows the feeling, and find out if she'll run or not? Now, she proved strong enough to handle it, but realizing that it might happen again, possibly worse with someone else.

"What is it?" Dom asked.

"I think you helped clear some questions up that... Well... I didn't know I had. No one tells me shit, Dom. Sid barely talks to me about 'work stuff', if even at all. Jackson just beats the shit out of me while dragging me along on his daily adventures and I'm really not needed for them."

Dom raised his eyebrow. "We're here. But this conversation is far from over, and stays between us, you got me?"

"Got it." Ari answered, making eye contact, momentarily.

She liked Dom. He liked Ari, too. They warmed up to each other quite a bit once they started working more closely together. He had a small clan of friends he made his family, and Ari was quick to move in under that. He would always have her best interest at heart, as long as she continued to be who she was, striving to always be better, like he did.

They got out of the truck and walked into the building that Dom parked outside of. It was almost completely covered in large windows around the whole building above the first floor. When he used a key to go inside, and they entered into a small room with an elevator. Ari turned to look at him.

"Where are we?" she asked, looking around.

"Apartment building. Back door." Dom answered hitting the elevator up button.

"Fancy Place." She meant about the outside.

It didn't look like an apartment building, more like it could've been some kind of well known corporation building. The back way they went, seemed sketchy.

They rode the elevator up to the 10th floor, one below the top floor. Dom walked her to apartment number 1005, knocked twice before opening it. The place looked huge with open windows, the living room and kitchen open as you walk in, and a hall on either side to other rooms.

Ari walked in behind Dom, locking eyes with Sid and walked straight over to him. He was standing close to the balcony door, talking to someone she didn't recognize. When she walked up, Sid turned to her and wrapped his arms over her shoulders and pulled her in to face his chest. He always smelt delicious, so she snuggled right in as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

She was surprised by his behavior, but she didn't show it. Once she was comfortably safe in his arms, she looked around the room. Jonah was on the balcony leaning against the railing, talking to Dom. Jackson was with Colt, who she remembered, and again someone she didn't know. They were watching her and Sid now.

"That's scary." Colt laughed. "Does she know you're a fucking psycho?"

Ari's eye lit up excitedly as she looked up at Sid, and he couldn't help but smile looking back at her. He gave her a soft, gentle kiss on the lips, that she got on her tippy toes for. Colt was laughing again.

"Man, you let this one go, she's mine." Colt added through laughter.

"Don't get your hopes up, Colton." Jonah replied walking back inside with Dom.

Sid looked over at his brother, who was smiling at the two of them. Ari was just happy to see that Jonah seemed in better spirits than he was earlier. He went over to Ari and plucked her out of Sid's arms to give her a hug, which left her feet dangling.

He held her tight and sighed, as if relieved by something.

"Did you sleep?" he asked, leaning her back to see her face.

Ari nodded, still not speaking in the presence of these two new people. She was more hesitant lately, because of Jackson. When she looked at Jackson, he seemed completely content. Not angry, like he seemed this morning. He nodded at her slightly, as if to confirm that she was doing just fine. He cleared his throat,

"Elliot, Michael. This is Ariana." Jackson finally spoke.

Ari smiled at them both politely, once Jonah put her back down on the ground. They had such serious, off-putting expressions on their faces that she thought it safer to keep her mouth shut, leaving it at a polite smile and back she went to Sid. Jackson looked pretty happy with himself over her behavior.

"Nice to meet you, sweetheart." Elliot said, Michael gave a small nod.

"Hey, Ari. Are you hungry? Jonah, let's go feed this poor thing." Colton said without giving Ari a chance to answer.

Colt grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her gently into the kitchen. Jonah already started looking through the fridge for something. Ari sat on the stool in the kitchen, as instructed by Colton.

Over in the living room, Elliot watched the two drag the small redhead to his kitchen. He looked back at Michael, who was also still watching her too, but spoke to Sid and Jackson.

"Does she know about werewolves?" Michael asked quietly.

Sid shook his head. "No."

"Will she?" Elliot spoke this time, but looking at Jackson for the answer.

"Hard to say, she's smart. But also smart enough to not ask questions." Jackson shrugged. "Makes me want to see how she'll figure it all out on her own."

"So, you won't tell her, but it doesn't bother you if she finds out?" Michael asked Jackson.

"Like I said, I'd rather see it play out." Jackson smiled slightly, looking over Sid.

Sid wasn't happy about Jackson's answer. It was something that hadn't been discussed between the two of them. Sid wanted her to have nothing to do with his other side, and continued to keep as much of himself from her as he could.

Michael could tell Sid was unhappy about the turn in the conversation and turned to him to ask quietly,

"Will you want to take her as yours?"

Sid shook his head. "If she chooses that..."

"That could be a long time from now... That's risky too." Elliot admitted, seeming like he was still lost in a thought.

Jackson chuckled. "No, it's risky to try to force that one into obiedence. She doesn't knuckle under well."

"She's knuckled under just fine since she got here." Michael noticed.

"We've had time to work on that, honestly." Jackson answered.

"Still not guaranteed." Sid chuckled.

"I think I understand the attachment. Disobedience towards you, Sid, is very rare. Sounds like a challenge right up your alley." Elliot suggested.

Sid shook his head. "It is rare, but I enjoy it from her too much to challenge it. She's obiedent when it counts, and would take another's life to save mine. I could ask for nothing else."

Michael seemed impressed. Elliot went back to watching her eat in the kitchen, where Colt and Jonah were talking her ear off.

Dom had been sitting back quietly, listening to Jackson and Sid talk about Ari as he watched their mannerisms closely. He was realizing they both had feelings for her, but Jackson's were clearly dangerous. He knew Sid well enough and his behavior was the complete opposite, he was smitten. Which was still just strange to think that was even possible.

"She works with you, Dom?" Michael asked

"Part-time, she does." Dom nodded, answering Michaels question, and added. "She's good, too."

Elliot turned to look at Dom, with an eyebrow raised. "Coming from you, good is an understatement. I don't think I've ever heard you say anything positive about anyone, not in the years I've known you."

Dom shrugged. "People don't usually impress me, but she continues too."

Elliot nodded. "Alright. I think we're done here, gentlemen. We'll speak with Malcolm, but I'm comfortable informing him that everything is under control, as usual. Keep me updated on this little one, though. She's got us rather curious now..."

Michael nodded that he was also curious, as Elliot spoke. As vampires, they didn't find many humans worth remembering, but this one seemed to be filled with surprises. Starting with the fact that she already has more than one pack of werewolves interested in her talents, and currently, she was completely unaware of most of it.

"I apologize that this was even necessary. I'm not sure why Tony tried to involve himself in our business in the first place." Jackson added

Elliot waved his hand. "It's been a long time since you and I have spoken. As far as I'm concerned, we're checking in to say Tony shouldn't be a problem for you anymore."

"Thank you, Elliot." Jackson shook his hand.

Jackson shook Michael's hand, and they all bid each other fairwell. Jonah and Colt came back over to the living room when they saw everyone stand up. Ari stayed in the kitchen, waiting to leave as they all said goodbye, but Elliot came over to her and held out his hand towards her, with a warm smile.

She reached her hand out, meeting his eyes and he turned her hand upwards to kiss the top of her hand. She could feel him slip a piece of paper into her hand at the same time, which she cleverly tucked into her pocket. Elliot pulled her closer, and kept her gaze locked in his.

"See you soon, Ariana." Elliot smiled as he pulled his ice cold hand back and walked away.

Ari stood dumbfounded. She felt like she had to suddenly shake the cobwebs out of her brain. It was hard to tear her eyes away from his strong gaze, not until he pulled away first. His cold hand almost felt like it was still touching her, she was left with a strange chill over her hand after he walked away.

As they left the apartment, Jackson stopped her to meet her still confused gaze. He pushed her hair behind her ear and leaned in closer to speak to her.

"You can go with Dom, but the moment you two show up at the hotel, you need to call me."

Jackson told her quietly, but she didn't answer him right away, not before trying to look over at Sid. Jackson grabbed her chin, pulling her face back to look back at him, with her full attention on him.

"No. Not Sid.." He added, meeting her eyes.

Ari nodded. "I'll call you."

Sid ignored them, or seemed to be ignoring them. When they all walked out the back door of the apartment to their vehicles, Ari and Dom left in the truck with a small wave. Colt joined the brothers and Jackson in Sids car.

It was time to go meet a spineless asshole, everyone called Worm and try to seduce him long enough to get him to John's guys.

Simple enough.