Chapter 394

394
The car pulled up nutside the film studio , Aria shrugged on her jacket , making sure every trace of blond was hidden
“ Aria … ” White Fox’s voler was thick with worry and something deeper , almost unspoken “ You can’t keep being this good to people , fået a
Aria glanced at him with a wry smile . “ You’re the only ones who think I’m good ” Most people pint see me as cold and heartless . Even my then bendy thinks that way . ”
She closed the car door and headed toward the hotel without looking back .
White Fox watched her retreating figure , a single tear sliding down his cheek .
Aria had finally managed to carve out an ordinary life for herself – she couldn’t afford to let him drag her back into danger .
As soon as her silhouette vanished , White Fox started the car and drove straight to the nearest hospital .
On the way , his phone rang . It was Curtis
Instantly , White Fox was on guard . “ Mr. Kelley . ”
“ You failed your mission ? ” Curtis’s tone was chillingly calm , as if he’d known all along
White Fox hesitated only a second . “ Yes . Russell’s tough . ”
“ If he were easy to kill , I wouldn’t have sent you . How’d you get away ? ” Curtis asked .
He was alone on this job – yet Curtis already knew he’d escaped within just two hours .
Curtis thought , ‘ Did he have someone inside Wolfshade Syndicate ? Or was he in cahoots with Russell ? ”
“ Aria saved me , ” White Fox admitted .
Aria pressed the elevator button , then texted Vanessa to let her know she was safe ,
Filming had nun lato , so Vanessa was probably still at work herself !
Aria didn’t mention being injured ; this was something she could handle on her own
“ Aria . ”
A familiar voice called her name , breaking the silence in the nearly deserted hotel lobby .
Chart her .
The air felt strangely hushed , except for the slow , steady footsteps coming up behind
Aria slid her phone away and turned . “ Didn’t feel like going out tonight ? ”
Owen shrugged . “ Already walked around enough .
As he got closer , he caught a faint metallic scent
His gaze traveled over her face , then stopped his brow furrowed sharply . “ You’re hurt . ”
There was no point hiding it . “ Just a scratch , ” Aria replied softly
But under the bright lights , Owen saw the blood soaking her collar – a deep , jarring red .
394
‘ Hair Tips were pale , Too pale .
She must’ve lost a lot of blood , and the wound hadn’t been treated .
If she wasn’t at the hospital , Il tould only mean one thing a gunshot .
Owen’s heart sank . Inside the elevator , he hit the button for the fifth floor , ready to ask if that supplies for wound care , but was interrupted
A delivery guy rushed in , apologizing , reaching for the fifth floor button then saw it was already lit
Aria had ordered first aid supplies and medicine on the way here . She called out her phone number and rose
The delivery man double – checked and handed her the bag , but Owen was quicker , taking it from him .
Once the doors closed , he pressed the lock button and said quietly . “ It’s your shoulder , right ? You won’t be able to treat it yourself . Let me help . ”
Aria glanced down , automatic resistance in her voice . “ I can handle it .”
it was a front – facing wound ; all she needed was a mirror to dig out the bullet herself .
The elevator went silent , the air heavy , until the doors chimed open on the fifth floor .
Owen strode ahead , then turned and blocked the doorway , repeating firmly . “ Let me help . ”
Aria didn’t argue this time . “ Alright . ”
She hadn’t brought her room card , so she typed in her passcode
Owen set the supplies on the coffee table and quickly shrugged off his own jacket
Aria sat on the sofa , hesitated , then slowly started unbuttoning her jacket with her right hand .
Her left arm hung uselessly at her side , so every movement was awkward and slow .
Owen didn’t wait . He bent down , gently helped her out of her right sleeve , then slid the jacket off
Beneath , her shoulder was wrapped in layer after layer of gauze , blood already seeping through .
One look bold Owen she’d only done this to keep from bleeding out .
Owen thought , ‘ She must have traveled a long way to get here . ”
He carefully removed the jacket and knelt at the coffee table , quickly laying out all the supplies . His hands were sure as he disinfected both his own hands and the tools , then picked up the scissors . “Tm going to cut the bandages first . ”
“ Go ahead , ” Aria said .
The sharp snip of the scissors echoed in the room , every cut beating in time with Aria’s heart .
She was suddenly aware of how often she’d run into Owen lately , almost like late was pushing them together .
Layer by layer , the gauze fell away , revealing a black T – shirt
it soaked in blood . Blood started to well up again , fresh an
“ I’m starting now .”
Owen’s hands shook , just for a second . But he kept going , voice steady .
Aria arched an eyebrow . “ Okay . ”
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Owen carefully cut the neckline open and gently peeled the sidet back
When the wound was finally exposed to the air , his pupils contracted .
Her shoulder was a mangled nless of raw flesh and twelling , blood still onzing . It was nothing short of brutal
“ We need to clean it . This’ll hurt , Owen warned , but he didn’t slow down , rinsing the wound from the edge inward , getting soaked .
His brow furrowed into a hard knot . “ I’m using anesthetic ”
“ Alright . ” Aria replied .
He numbed the area , then handed her a flashlight . “ Hold this .”
She complied , and he worked quickly , carefully searching for the bullet .
His movements were efficient and gentle , Suddenly , he tweezed out a tiny , bloodied fragment . He paused . “ What’s this ? ”
Aria glanced over , remembering the moment Russell had ground his hand into her wound . “ Glass From Russell ”
Owen’s eyes darkened . “ Russell did this ? ”
“ Yeah , ” Aria said simply .
Owen’s grip
ip tightened unconsciously as he fished out another shard .
The bullet had missed anything vital , but it was lodged deep .
He could guess how it happened . Straight – on shot .
She must have pulled the trigger herself . The wound had clearly been crushed afterward , too .
His lips pressed into a hard line , anger flickering in his eyes .
All his focus was on the wound – he didn’t notice the slight tension in Aria’s posture , the way her body stiffened under his touch .
Despite the anesthesia , Aria folt Owen’s breath , warm against her neck , close and constant
It tickled and made her flush a little with heat
She swallowedm grateful her Adam’s apple wasn’t prominent , so maybe he wouldn’t notice
The scalpel grazed her skin . Owen looked up . “ Does it hurt ? ”
Aria’s gaze fell into his worried eyes .
Her heart skipped , and she softened her voice . “ No ”
The anesthetic wasn’t fully working yet ; it hurt , but she could bear it .
Blood still oozed . He had to work tast
The air felt colder , the whole atmosphere tighter , even though his hands were gentle and his focus absolute
Beneath it all , there was a fury in his expression that even his tenderness couldn’t hide