Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 113

I nod and follow him silently. We get three steps down the sidewalk before he stops again. He turns around and looks at me. "Why'd you ask a question you didn't want the answer to?"

Is he serious? I just sigh. "I don't need this right now, Aiden. Take me home."

"What do you want me to say then?" he asks.

I look down at my feet. "Can we not do this right now?" My voice cracks. Dammit. Is it stupid that I wish he hadn't told me at all? I don't feel like I've gained anything from that information but fear. Axel was right, some things are better left unsaid.

Aiden doesn't say anything after that. He's probably getting ready to give me a speech about not being weak. Or me knowing the brothers aren't able to control everything. Or him having told me so.

He doesn't do any of that. Instead he says my name, making me meet his eyes. "I told you I wouldn't make you promises I couldn't keep, didn't I?"

I look away, fighting the burning sensation in my eyes. I'm about to say something, but he's not done.

"So believe me when I tell you I won't let them hurt you."

... What did he just say? I look at him in disbelief. He stares down at me, unmoving. Was that... is he...? Is he saying he'll protect me? Is Aiden saying he'll protect me?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asks, dryly.

I give him a 'really' look, but decide to answer anyway. "Because of what you said."

"I know what I said," he says. "I'm asking why you're looking like that."

"Because I'm surprised," I say exasperatedly. Why is he being so... I sigh. "I guess I just wasn't expecting you to say something so... nice to me."

He gives me a weird look before continuing to walk. "I wouldn't call it nice. It's just facts."

Oh, just facts? A small smile begins to tug on my lips as I follow him. I guess that's the best I can expect from Aiden, but it'll do.

"I'd kill you before they could take you away is what I'm saying."

I falter in my step. "... What?"

He keeps walking. "I said I'd rather kill you than let it happen."

Wh... what? I stop walking all together. What did he just say to me?

After awhile he realizes I'm not behind him and he turns back. "What's wrong now?"

"You just said you were going to murder me," I say.

"Answer me." It takes everything in me not to scream. "I'm not being funny. I'm not asking a rhetorical question. Tell me why you think it's okay to say the things you do."

"I thought you preferred honesty?" he asks.

And it's at that moment that I realize I'll never get my answer. I just walk past him.

"You wanna know what I think your problem is?" he asks.

I don't say anything. I just keep walking, even though he's not moving anymore.

"You're not honest with yourself about what you want."

I cock my head back. I look back at him. "That's what you think?"

He shrugs, and it's the oddest gesture ever coming from him, but it still puts me on edge. He just looks so... He keeps staring at me with this look in his eyes. "You seem indecisive to me. I can't keep up."

"I'm not-"

"One second you want one of us, then you want all three of us, then you just want to be friends. One second you want Carson's affection, then you don't, then you do." He walks towards me slowly. "You want me to say I'll protect you without telling you exactly what that means."