How did I get into Ava's bed that night?
Aiden blinked. As he sat in the backseat of Ava's car, he had absolutely no idea how to respond to her question. After all, he didn't even remember going into the hotel.
"Look, I know this is hard to believe. But I really don't know how I ended up in your bed. One minute I was out in the street, drunk, and the next, I was waking up next to you."
Ava rolled her eyes. "Ugh, that's such a pathetic excuse. You men always lie to protect yourselves. Do you have any idea how much you've ruined my life?"
Aiden arched an eyebrow. "How have I ruined your life, exactly?"
"Excuse me?" Ava balked. "Did you ever think for one moment that maybe, just maybe, I didn't want to marry a delivery boy I've never met before? Or maybe that I'd want to actually be in love with the person I marry? No, you only think about yourself, don't you?"
Aiden sighed. If only I could tell her who I really am. But I promised Cyrus I would keep it a secret, and besides, I have no idea if I can trust her.
He turned to face Ava, placing a hand on her shoulder. As he did, she turned toward him as well. They met each other's eyes for a moment.
"Look, Ava, I'm really sorry that this isn't the marriage you always hoped for. But if you let me try, I'd like to find a way to make it up to you."
She blinked at him. "Really? You're — you're being serious?"
"Yes, of course."
Ava bit her lip, staring at Aiden thoughtfully for a moment. Then she turned to her chauffeur. "Driver, take us back to my place instead." The car sped off again.
"So, we're going back to yours then?" Aiden asked.
"Yes." Ava pulled away from him, folding her arms. "You can sleep in the staff quarters at my place. At least until I figure out a way out of this predicament. And don't let anyone see you. You can go in and out through the staff entrance until I introduce you to my parents."
Aiden nodded. "Okay, I guess that's a start."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'a start'? This isn't going to end the way you are hoping."
Aiden raised his hands in mock surrender. "If you say so." But when he flashed her a smile, she smiled back.
* * *
"No, Dad! I'm not leaving you here!"
That night, Aiden found himself back in the dark alley where his father, Samuel, was killed. He watched as his father pulled himself to his feet and raised his gun to fire at the men standing by the car.
As Aiden watched his dad limp away, the faces of the men attacking his father began to grow clearer, though they were still distorted and blurred at the edges.
Then suddenly, Aiden's vision snapped into sharp focus. A man with a large scar running down the center of his face raised a gun and fired it directly at Samuel. The shots rang out — once, twice, three times — splitting the night.
"No!" Aiden cried out.
* * *
Aiden woke with a gasp, drenched in sweat. The same dream — though this time, he knew the name of the man with the scar. Raymond Caster.
Just a dream? Or was it a memory? Could Raymond really be the one who killed my father?
He wiped the sweat from his brow and took in his surroundings. He was in the staff quarters of the Stone Mansion, Ava's family home. Then it dawned on him: he had to go to work today.
Oh, shit. I'm totally screwed.
In the chaos of the previous day, Aiden had completely forgotten about his delivery job. Everything Cyrus had told him about the Tiger Group and his father's legacy had consumed his every thought. He quickly threw on his clothes, checked that the thick stack of bills Cyrus had given him was still in his pocket, and headed off to work.
* * *
"Sorry, I'm late! I'm here, though, and ready to make some deliveries." Aiden called out as he hurried through the front door of the restaurant, the bell above the door jangling behind him.
Before he could take two steps inside, Eric, his coworker, blocked his path. "Hey there, Aiden, looks like somebody had a little trouble getting into work on time today."
"Yes, sorry, I overslept."
"Don't worry, I already took the liberty of telling the boss for you. He wants to see you in his office."
Aiden groaned. "Thanks a lot, Eric." He slumped his shoulders and headed to the back room.
When Aiden walked in, his boss — a large, imposing man with a thick beard — leaned back in his chair, grimacing.
"Where have you been?" he grumbled.
"I'm sorry, sir. I got… caught up in something." Aiden couldn't tell his boss the truth. He had to keep his identity a secret. Cyrus had been clear about that.
"That's your best excuse?" His boss folded his arms. "Do you have any idea how behind we are on deliveries because of you? We lost hundreds of dollars' worth of business already. And now, you have the nerve to just waltz in here like nothing happened?"
"Look, I'm sorry, it won't happen again!"
His boss stood up and pointed at the door. "Oh, I know it won't happen again. Because you're fired! Pack your things and get out!"
Aiden's jaw dropped. "F-fired? I can't be fired! I need this job!"
"Well, you should've thought of that before. Now, are you gonna leave quietly, or do I need to ask my friends here to help?"
Aiden spotted two tough-looking men stationed outside the office door, there to make sure he left without causing a scene.
"Okay, fine, I'll go. But you owe me the rest of my pay for last week. I'm not leaving until you pay me."
His boss laughed. "Oh, is that so?" He snapped his fingers. "Guys, show Aiden here to the door."
Without hesitating, the two hired thugs started toward him. As they approached, Aiden's instincts took over. He grabbed one thug by the arm and yanked it sharply downward, throwing him off balance so that he tripped over his own bodyweight and hit the floor with a heavy thud. The other thug charged — and walked straight into Aiden's fist. The punch knocked the man's teeth clean out of his head. He fell straight back, unconscious before he hit the ground.
In the blink of an eye, both men were out cold. Aiden's boss sank back into his chair, trembling.
"Okay, fine, fine!" He scribbled a check at his desk, hands shaking. "Here's what I owe you for last week. Now, will you just get out of here!"
Aiden smirked as he took the check. "Sure thing, no problem, boss. Thanks for everything."
My father always said, 'When one door closes, another one opens,' Aiden thought as he strutted out of the restaurant. Looks like my days as a delivery boy are over.
* * *
Later that night, Aiden was at his old apartment collecting some of his things when the doorbell rang.
That must be the pizza I ordered! He hurried to the door. When it swung open, a scrawny, acne-ridden teen stood in the doorway.
"That'll be $15.90 for the pizza," the delivery boy said.
Aiden smiled to himself. He sort of reminds me of me. The old me. He took the stack of cash Cyrus had given him out of his pocket, pulled out a twenty, and then a hundred-dollar bill.
"Here's twenty for the pizza. Keep the change." He placed both bills in the delivery boy's shirt pocket. "And here's a little something extra for you."
The delivery boy's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. "A hundred bucks? Wow, thanks!" Without another word, he handed over the pizza and scampered off down the hall. Aiden grinned.
I can't remember the last time I ordered a pizza for myself. Probably before I met Vanessa. The whole time we were together, she never let us order out. She would always insist we had to save money for a house. Maybe I'm better off without her, after all.
He had just set the pizza down on the kitchen counter when his phone rang. The words Unknown Number flashed across the screen.
"Hello?"
"Aiden. It's me. Cyrus."
The corners of Aiden's mouth curled into a smile. "Cyrus. It's so good to hear from you. I was beginning to think last night was just a dream."
"I assure you, Aiden, this is no dream. But it's up to us now to make sure it doesn't become a nightmare."
"A nightmare? What do you mean?"
"There's someone I want you to meet. He's going to help you become The Tiger," Cyrus explained. "His name… is Ben Jameson."
The Ben Jameson? Aiden's breath caught in his throat.
"Yes, do you know him?"
Aiden scoffed. "Know him? Everybody in Chicago knows him. He's one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the last decade."
"Well, now, he works for you, Aiden."
"What? Ben Jameson works for me?"
"That's right. Jameson is one of our key contacts in the Tiger Group, and he can help you take back what's rightfully yours. But heads up — Ben won't take orders from you without a little… persuading."
"How can someone like me persuade Ben Jameson of anything?" Aiden wondered aloud.
"Because you're The Tiger," Cyrus replied.
"Does he know that?"
"Not yet. But he will, when you tell him who you are."
Aiden's breathing quickened as he gathered his resolve. "Okay. Where and when am I meeting you?"
"Meet us at the Sapphire Club. Tonight," Cyrus replied.