Upright and waiting, she's not entirely sure what she's expecting him to say. However, the idea of outrunning an empire certainly wasn't it, especially not when she could see in his face that he wasn't joking. It only begged the question, what empire? And what had he done to warrant being on their hit list? "What?" Aria tilts her head, pausing as if she's questioning whether or not she just heard what she did. "You... know?" Adding, she could feel a cold chill beginning to travel up her spine. Not unselfishly, but with that very confession, she had just been put between a rock and a hard place. Or rather, him and Los Santos. She didn't ask how, nor who, figuring that since he started this conversation, he'd delve into that as he spoke.
A wash of surprise overtakes her features, pinning her shoulders back and raising her brows. Worked for them? What the fuck. "Then what did you sign up for?" Aria asks, not really sure where she wants to start with the questions, nor how she actually feels about it. Right now, all she could feel was surprise and a sinking feeling of dread. Did she believe him? Could she? It felt quite like a reality slap to the face, if she was honest. "And who are they? What are they after?" Frowning now, she felt like she already had a general idea given who their main targets had been, but better to hear it from a source than speculate.
Narrowing her eyes at the revelation that he was aware of who hung around her establishment, there was that cold chill etching its way back up her spine. If he knew, how long had he known for? What if the only reason he even looked her way was to use her as a way in? No... no way, he wouldn't do that, would he? She would know if she was being played... wouldn't she? "Me?" Raising a brow, she huffs out a breath and drags a hand through her hair. "Do you have any idea what position you've just put me in?" Thoughts rolling in a million miles an hour, she could only pause and blink at him for a good few seconds as she processed everything.
"You've known everything, all this time? Walked amongst the people who lost family, friends... Said nothing. Why tell me now? The casino... did you know that was going to happen? Do you know where Dante is?" Had it all been some sort of plan? Aria shook her head, feeling as though the more she thought about it, the more questions and concerns she had. "And me... You knew? About who goes in and out of my restaurant. Tell me that isn't why you walked into my shop that day?" To get close to her, even if it was just his orders from above. With her emotions in upheaval, there's a pool of tears that threaten to spill over her eyes, held back only by her own will power.
"I am hearing you out," she bites, pulling in a breath and blowing it out slowly. "Lincoln, I'm not sure you understand the gravity of your situation... Because yes, I can do what you want, I can get this to the people who need to hear it, but I can not promise you your safety. I can't tell you that just because you tell me you had nothing to do with it that they will believe me, or even care." Which might sound harsh, but it was the blunt truth, how much sway she had with Rio, with Los Santos? It might not count for anything. "...And even if they do, it's not just them. It's the Son's. These people, Link.... They are not evil, not bad, but they are loyal and they are wounded, retaliation is what they call justifiable." And it's with that thought, the tears finally spill silently over her eyes. She knew right here and now, he couldn't stay. It would be dangerous, for him, for Devante, too dangerous to take the risk that either gang would not literally kill him just for having his name tied to the organization that caused them so much pain.
Lincoln nodded, slowly but firmly, confirming her question. Wincing as he watched the shock play out on her features, he looked away briefly, finding it difficult to maintain eye contact. Guilt rushed over him in waves, making him regret not telling her sooner– though would it have changed anything? Perhaps more bloodshed could have been prevented, but Link figured his fate would have been the same regardless of when he chose to break his silence. Sighing hard, he leveled his gaze with hers again, a soft frown tugging at the corner of his mouth, “I signed up to build casinos,” he answered, head shaking gently, “And, on a more personal note, to find my mother’s killer– he allegedly had cartel ties. But…after everything that’s happened…I don’t care about that anymore.” Avenging his mother hadn’t ever included spilling innocent blood or terrorizing an entire town. It had been about one man, and one man only– but now, in light of everything else, Link had let go of that hate. He’d never figured out who to point it at anyway.
Swallowing hard, he nodded as if to brace himself as he prepared to tell Aria exactly who was behind all the violence. He knew he was doing the right thing by coming clean, so why did it feel like barbed wire was twisting into his gut? “The Enterprise,” he divulged, dark eyes searching hers and waiting for her to make the connection. On the surface, The Enterprise really was the massively successful company it claimed to be, but underneath spoke to something far more sinister. And what did they want? “Everything,” he answered simply, “It’s not enough to wipe out the gangs in town– it’s about absorbing their cash flow too.”
Frowning, he nodded and darted another look around, unable to face her the way he wanted to. He knew that by telling her all of this, he was risking her safety too, but he felt quite sure this was the only way to get the truth to those who needed to hear it. Link knew he couldn’t go to the various gang leaders himself– they’d never trust him, assuming he even got close enough to have an audience with them. But Aria? She was the bridge he needed. He knew that, but it didn’t mean he felt good about the position he was putting her in. “I know, and believe me, if I thought there was another way, I would’ve done it,” he pressed, head shaking, “I never wanted any of this to land at your feet.” Palming the back of his neck, he blew out a long sigh, “Why now?” It was a valid question. “Because I can’t do this anymore– it’s out of control, and if me speaking out stops innocent bloodshed, I’ll deal with the consequences.”
Lincoln shook his head, “No, I had no idea about what happened at the casino.” There was a considerable amount of bitterness in his tone as frustration ticked at the back of his jaw. That was another reason for finally breaking his silence– now the business he’d fought tooth and nail to build was being affected, diminishing his reasons for even stepping foot in Tonopah Valley in the first place. “And I don’t know where Dante is either, but with any luck, he’s six feet under.” Harsh, maybe, but Link found that he really did mean that. Dante was a snake. Pushing that thought aside, Lincoln’s face suddenly fell at her question, “No, no,” he pressed, reaching to take her hands in his, “This is real– always has been.” After everything he’d just told her, Lincoln didn’t expect Aria to actually believe him now, but he could hope. “I had no idea who you were then.” And even after he’d found out, it hadn’t changed how he felt about her or what he’d wanted to build between them. But in recent weeks, he’d been slammed with the truth: they couldn’t build a damn thing with this sort of secret hanging between them, nor could they build anything once it came to light. Doomed all along. “I do,” understand, that was, “But it’s the gravity of everyone else’s that I care about more.” This town had suffered enough and his silence had only added to it. That wasn’t the sort of man Lincoln was, and he couldn’t be that man for a moment longer. It was dangerous, exposing The Enterprise like this– not just because he’d have a target on his back after that, but because he knew both Los Santos and the Sons of Silence would want retribution. If gunning after him gave that to them, then so be it. At least it’d finally give them both the real devil in their midst– Giovanni Ricci. “If this exposes this organization for what it’s really become and stops the violence, it’s worth every risk.” As the tears that had been threatening to fall from her eyes finally spilled over, Link lifted a hand to her face, the pad of his thumb gently swiping them away. “I think you know what all of this means, though,” he continued, figuring he might as well not beat around the bush, “Devante and I…we can’t stay here.”
