𝟐𝟎- 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

CHAPTER TWENTY

Truth.

❂

ARIA'S POV;

THE elevator ride up to my apartment was quiet.

Memphis was occupied with her phone and I was trying my best to keep my eyes open, fatigue attempting to overcome my body with quickness.

The brunette's hands found themselves around my waist once more as we exited the steel doors. Much too tired to appear stubborn, I allowed her to lead me down the halls.

Our feet dragged against the building's carpet while we walked. It was the only sound present underneath the dim lighting.

As Memphis' hands remained securely settled on my hips, I focused on making it to my front door—the heels on my feet beginning to ache.

"Where's your key?" she whispered once we stood at the entrance of my home, tapping my waist subconsciously.

"You've found your way inside without it before." I laughed, slightly looking over my shoulder, "What's stopping you now?"

"Aria." she blandly stated with a low sigh.

I huffed, reaching into my shirt, "You're no fun."

Memphis didn't seem surprised on where I'd stored the house key, and if she did, she did a damn good job at hiding her shock. I hadn't brought a handbag with me tonight, so the item was hidden in my bra.

I'm just a girl after all.

As I slipped the metal into the lock of my door, Memphis stayed close by.

I expected her to simply leave once I'd unlocked the door to my home, knowing that I was safe— however, she followed me inside.

If tonight was a normal day, I would've complained dramatically to her about invading my space.

Instead, I let out an even breath, the familiarity of my surroundings bringing me comfort.

My home smelled heavily of the perfume that I had sprayed before leaving, its scent lingering even hours later. I didn't take the time to observe the state of my apartment, but I had cleaned up earlier so no mess was too embarrassing to shy away from.

I immediately bent over to unzip my heeled boots, sighing heavily at the relief I felt afterwards.

The sound of a throat clearing caused my focus to shift over to my living room.

Memphis' body went still behind me as we both acknowledged Kiera's presence.

She really has a bad sense of timing.

The odds of her being in my apartment the same time as Memphis was unsettling— especially because I'd never explained my connection to either women.

I could already feel a headache beginning to form.

Kiera's hair was in a low ponytail, pulled away from her face and tucked behind her ears. She wore only a black t-shirt and baggy sweats, her hands being stuffed into the pants out of habit.

I raised an eyebrow at the grim expression on her face.

I'd never seen her look so disgusted and. . . offended. It was almost as if she was genuinely disturbed by my presence.

She wasn't much looking at me though.

Her gaze was rather locked on who was behind me— Memphis.

Neither women spoke a word, Memphis stood behind me with tense muscles and a clenched jaw while Kiera's gaze radiated off anger.

I decided to break the silence, "What're you doing here, Ki?"

As if just noticing my presence, the brunette's eyes dropped down to me. They softened slightly before hardening again as if she was expecting something.

"Parker told me that you rode home with some random, so I came to check on you." she spoke hesitantly, "I didn't expect to find you here with her out of all people."

Her.

Kiera spoke the word as if it was an unpleasant taste on the tip of her tongue. It was now obvious that she knew who Memphis was.

But how?

"You two know each other?" I asked in confusion, glancing back at the other brunette.

Memphis' lips spread into a teasing grin, "Something like that."

The smile seemed to chip away at some of Kiera's levelheadedness.

I wanted nothing more than to groan in frustration.

Everything was becoming too damn complicated.

"How do you know her?" Kiera stepped closer to me with blazing eyes, her hands clenching to form fists.

I took in her enraged expression but nevertheless answered, "Work."

Kiera laughed in a form of disbelief, her eyes jumping from my figure to Memphis', "She sure as hell isn't a coworker at Barnes and Noble."

And then as if connecting the dots, her head tilted, "You two fucking or what?"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I scoffed, glaring at her with a newfound sense of loathing.

"What?" Kiera chuckled, "This has got to be the 'annoying boss' that you whined about for hours."

"Fuck you." I spat.

"You've done that already, no?" the brunette smiled surely as if remembering our time together.

The comment didn't hurt as much as she expected, but it still sent a wave of disappointment throughout my chest.

This wasn't the Kiera that I knew. She was someone completely different— the rage in her eyes told me that.

I just couldn't grasp why my arrival with Memphis was so upsetting.

There was more to their relationship— that much was certain.

"Back up." Memphis warned, her taller body emerging from behind me with dangerous grace.

Kiera's gaze locked with Memphis', one of her hands reaching for something in her waistband, "Go to hell."

"You really want to do this with her here?" Memphis asked with a following hum, slightly blocking my vision with her built body.

Kiera's jaw clenched as an exhale flew past her lips. She released her hand from whatever she had hidden in her pants and peeked over Memphis' shoulder to look at me,

"Stay away from her, Ari. She's dangerous."

And after shoulder checking the taller woman, she exited my apartment without another word.

As if sensing the less obvious tension, Sade padded out of my bedroom. He meowed softly while greeting Memphis with sniffs and purrs, rolling his neck against her pants.

I briefly watched her pick up the ball of black fur before leaning my body against a counter, closing my eyes out of exhaustion of the night.

"I don't even want to know what just happened." I mumbled.

Sleep was the only thing on my mind.

❂

"TELL me everything." I demanded, standing in front of the woman.

Memphis attempted to hide her smile, leaning back in her chair to level our faces, "You're hot when you're in control."

"Memphis." I said with no humor whatsoever.

Last night was barely memorable, but there were minor details such as the conversation with Kiera that I just couldn't completely forget about.

I don't remember much after she left. I only recall waking up in my bed with an oversized tee thrown over my body.

Once I had freshened up and attempted to piece together the events that recently took place, I entered my living room.

My plan was to call Kiera and schedule lunch with her to discuss why she was so angry with me— or Memphis.

"She's dangerous."

Memphis, herself, had told me that already so it was no shock.

The level of danger just seemed higher than what I imagined.

Upon entering my living area, I had found the brunette asleep on my couch with Sade cuddled into her arms.

Traitor.

I didn't need to do as much as talk before she woke up on her own.

She was a light sleeper I assume.

We were now in the kitchen.

It was odd to have her in my home so comfortable and unbothered, but I knew how to be a good host. I allowed her to freshen herself up while I prepared cups of coffee.

I needed the caffeine terribly.

Memphis sat her cup of warm coffee down, finally deciding to stop with the jokes, "Fine."

"Kiera." I reminded her of the topic.

The woman's tongue poked at her cheek, "I killed Ken Malon, her father."

My breathing slightly changed course at the announcement.

I'd never met Kiera's dad. From what I remember, he was a busy man. However, I do know that his death completely shattered Kiera.

Parker and I had only been friends with Kiera for a year at that point, but anyone could recognize the difference in character. The brunette was more quiet and reserved, always looking over her shoulder as if she was next.

At one point, the woman wouldn't even leave her home due to paranoia.

This explains why.

Parker and I had always thought that the man died in a car accident.

That's what we were told, but the truth was now revealing that his death was something much more.

"What do you mean killed?" I asked, searching Memphis' eyes for any sign of playfulness.

"I'm the head of a mafia, Aria— The French Mafia," she watched as my body slowly drifted into the chair behind me, "Ken Malon was just like Arina. They both tried to overpower me and thought that it would go unnoticed."

A mafia?

My brain felt like it had officially turned into mush.

A drug dealer? I would've expected it. A gang leader? A might've just gasped for the dramatic effect. But a mafia leader? That was an entirely different spectrum of savagery.

Not only was she the leader of the French Mafia, but she also killed my best friend's dad. . .

"How is Kiera involved in this?" I questioned, not bothering to touch my cooling coffee.

"After her dad's death, she took over." Memphis admitted, casually sipping from the lended coffee mug.

"Took over what?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The Japanese Mafia." she clarified.

Each time she spoke, it was as if a new part of my reality was snipped away.

It all began to make sense though: the important phone calls Kiera excused herself for; the frequent visits to Japan among other countries; and the large sum of money that she seemed to only flaunt when we were alone.

"So I've been surrounded by mob bosses?" I whispered more to myself than her.

Memphis nodded, "Now that Kiera knows that you're involved with me, you're in danger."

"Like hell I am." I scoffed, darting my eyes up to glare into hers, "I have nothing to do with this."

"She doesn't know that." Memphis said matter-of-factly, "The times are too coincidental. You became friends not long before her dad's death and you were just spotted with his killer. How do you think that looks on your end?"

My lips parted in thought.

"How did you know when we became friends?" I spoke with a voice that sounded unsure.

I don't remember ever speaking to Memphis about Kiera.

Ever.

Memphis raised an eyebrow, "I did a background check on you."

And then she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

My eyes narrowed, "So you knew that we were friends this entire time?"

The brunette nodded, tracing the rim of her cup with newfound interest.

"It wasn't hard to put the pieces together after I saw you two at dinner."

I shook my head, "There's no way my entire life is at risk because of some fucking contract I signed with you."

"Do you seriously think that I would let her hurt you?" Memphis replied with a look of disbelief.

"Ki wouldn't hurt me either way." I contradicted, "She told me to stay away from you. You're the problem."

"I simply handled business," Memphis rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Ken Malon knew better than to go snooping in business that wasn't his."

Before either of us could speak another word, the sound of glass breaking sent me into panic.

❂