Chapter 5 5

"We need to eat," Harland said, steering the truck toward the curb. "The engine is overheating anyway. Needs to cool down."

Aria looked out the window. Her blood ran cold. They were parked directly in front of the Union Square Greenmarket. The exact location of the livestream.

"No," Aria said, shrinking into her seat. "Not here. Let's go somewhere else."

"Truck won't make it," Harland lied effortlessly. He killed the engine. "Come on. Fresh air will do you good."

"Harland, you don't understand-"

"I understand you're hungry," he said. He opened his door and walked around to her side. He opened it. "Out."

Aria hesitated, then pulled her hood up. Maybe they wouldn't see her.

They walked into the market. It was crowded with the Saturday brunch crowd. Harland carried the plastic bags from the discount store, looking completely unbothered. Aria walked with her head down, staring at the pavement.

"Oh my god," a shrill voice pierced the air. "Is that Aria?"

Aria froze. She slowly looked up.

Corina stood ten feet away, holding a basket of organic kale. Julian was beside her, holding a phone on a gimbal, live-streaming to thousands.

"It is!" Corina laughed, covering her mouth. "And who is... oh wow."

Julian lowered the phone, pointing the camera directly at Aria and Harland. "Look at this, guys. The fallen princess and her... what is he? A homeless guy?"

The comments on the screen were scrolling too fast to read, but Aria knew what they said. Trash. Loser. Karma.

"Julian, stop," Aria said, her voice shaking.

"Why?" Julian stepped closer, a sneer on his face. "You look terrible, Aria. That hoodie? Is that polyester?"

Harland dropped the grocery bags. They hit the ground with a heavy thud.

He stepped in front of Aria. He didn't shove Julian. He just occupied the space, his height and breadth eclipsing the other man.

"Move," Harland said. His voice was quiet, but it carried a weight that made the air around them feel heavy.

Julian scoffed, but he took a half-step back. "Who the hell are you? Her dealer?"

Harland looked at Julian. He didn't look at him like a rival. He looked at him like he was a bug on a windshield.

"I'm the guy telling you to get that camera out of my face before I feed it to you," Harland said. As he spoke, he angled his body, turning his head slightly so his face was mostly obscured from the phone's lens by his shoulder and the shadow of his hood.

"Do you know who I am?" Julian puffed out his chest. "I'm Julian Vance. My family owns-"

"I don't care," Harland interrupted. "And it doesn't matter."

The dismissal was absolute. Julian blinked, his face flushing red. He wasn't used to being irrelevant.

Aria grabbed Harland's sleeve. Her fingers dug into the leather. "Harland, please. Let's just go."

Harland looked down at her. The coldness in his eyes vanished instantly. "Okay."

He reached out and took her hand. He interlaced their fingers. His grip was firm, grounding.

Aria stared at their hands.

"Running away again, Aria?" Corina called out. "Dad is so disappointed."

Aria stopped. She felt Harland's strength flowing into her. She turned her head.

"Tell him I don't care," Aria said loud enough for the microphone to pick up. "Tell him I'm married."

The silence that followed was absolute. Julian's jaw dropped.

"Married?" he sputtered. "To him?"

"Yes," Aria said. "To him."

She tugged on Harland's hand. "Let's go home."

They walked away, leaving the stunned couple and the chaotic livestream behind. Aria's heart was racing so fast she thought she might pass out.

But Harland didn't let go of her hand until they were two blocks away.