Page 72 of Forbidden Harvest

“Of course. If you have the cash, I can meet you in one hour. I’ll text you the location,” Leon replies.

He’s a piece of shit low life, but he can get what I need. “Great, see you then.” I end the call and wrap my arms around Aria.

“He’s agreed to meet. We should get back to the car.”

I hold her close, my nose buried in her hair. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and give her the fresh start she deserves. In this moment, she’s not just my stepsister, but my partner in crime, my companion on this wild ride.

I feel Aria’s eyes on me as we sit huddled together. She’s asked about my childhood before, and I’ve dodged the question. But I know I can’t avoid it now. She’s my everything, and I owe her the truth.

“Jared,” she says softly, taking my hand. “Tell me about your life before you came to live with us. Please?”

I steel myself, taking a deep breath. “It wasn’t pretty, Aria. I never really had a mom, not like other kids. My dad—your stepdad now—left when I was four. He packed up and disappeared. After that, it was just me and my mom, if you could call her that.”

I pause, the memory bitter. “From then on, I had to take care of us. My mom... she started drinking, then moved on to harder stuff. I made sure we had food and that the bills were paid. I learned to cook from TV shows and did laundry by trial and error. I even forged her signature on school forms when I was six.”

I let out a laugh, void of humor. “I guess it taught me to be self-reliant. But it wasn’t a real childhood.”

Closing my eyes, I continue. “The day she died, it was a Tuesday. I came home from school, my backpack heavy. Theapartment was too quiet. I found her in the living room, lifeless, with a syringe by her side.”

Aria squeezes my hand. “That’s terrible.”

Clenching my jaw, I confess, “I stood there, frozen. I expected grief, but instead, I felt... relief. No more worries about bills. No more cleaning her vomit or hiding her habits. No more pretending for child services. I felt nothing. Only calm.”

As I recount this, I remember a promise I made to myself—to never let anyone control me again. Yet here I am, bound to Aria.

Leon’s text is a welcome distraction. “Come on, we’ve got the location.” I stand and offer Aria my hand.

We walk back to the car in silence, and then I drive toward the warehouse on the outskirts of town. As I pull up it’s the kind of place I’d expect where shady deals go down.

We enter the warehouse to find Leon, a greasy-haired man. He dares to appraise Aria obviously in front of me, making Aria tense.

Leon flashes a toothy grin, revealing stained teeth. “Right on time. Got something special for you two lovebirds.” He winks at Aria, and I feel my anger heighten.

We follow him inside, the air thick with rust and decay. Leon offers an envelope from his jacket before pulling it back. “Your lady is something special. That pretty face wasn’t expected. The price has gone up.”

My voice low and calm, I warn, “We had a deal, Leon. Don’t ruin it.”

Leon steps forward, his gaze raking over Aria. “A trade? A favor for a favor. One blowjob and the price goes back down.”

In an instant, red-hot rage consumes me. I don’t even think; I just act. Grabbing a knife from my jacket pocket, I slam it into his stomach. Leon’s eyes bulge in surprise, his mouth opening to scream. But I’m already tearing the blade upwards, gutting him like the pig he is.

Aria gasps, her eyes wide, as Leon crumples to his knees. I pull her close, wrapping an arm around her. She should be afraid; instead, her pupils are blown wide with desire.

“Jared...” she whispers. “Oh God...”

I glance down at Leon, his lifeless body slumped on the floor. “He got what he deserved, baby. I’ll always protect you.”

Trembling, Aria’s eyes are glued to the spreading pool of blood. “You killed him... for me.”

Pulling her tight, I trail my lips along her neck. “Always, Aria. I’d burn the world for you.”

The scent of blood is heavy in the air as I lead Aria away from Leon’s lifeless body.

She’s not afraid; her eyes burn with desire. Her thighs press together, her breath short gasps. I push her against the wall, my lips crashing down on hers. My hands claim her body. She moans, scratching and clawing.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I growl against her mouth, tasting the salt of her skin. “You like it when I get my hands dirty for you, don’t you, baby?”

She nods, eyes hooded with lust. “Yes... God, yes... More.”

---