Chapter 188
Before I can fully process it p>
“Don’t touch her p>
The driver’s voice cuts through the room, loud and furious.
I freeze, so does Aaron as he slowly turns and his eyes settle on the driver.
“You know…I never really liked you,” he says. Moving towards the driver now.
“Aaron I start.
Too late.
He moves, fast Closing the distance in two strides.
And then… he swings as his fist connects with the driver’s face with a sickening sound.
The chair jerks under the impact as he lands another punch and another and another.
No pause or hesitation, just pure, uncontrolled force.
“Stop!” I scream.
My voice cracking instantly.
“Stop please stop p>
But he doesn’t, he keeps going. Punch after punch, landing wherever he can reach.The driver’s head jerks violently with each hit and blood spills from his nose and hs lip splits.A dull groan escapeing him before his head lolls to the side. Still tied, defenseless and Aaron just keeps hitting him. Like he’s trying to break him.
“Aaron, please!” I sob.
My chest is heaving now.
“Stop, you’re going to kill him please p>
My voice echoes in the room, raw and desperate as tears start to blur my vision but I can’t look away.
I can’t. Not when this is happening right in front of me.
“Stop!” I scream again.
“Please, just stop p>
Finally He does nd not because he wants to but because he’s done. He steps back slightly, breathing a little heavier now as the driver’s head drops forward limply, blood dripping steadily from his nose, hitting the floor in slow, sickening drops.
My chest tightens painfully.
“Oh my God p>
My voice is barely a whisper now.
I look back at Aaron, mt whole body shaking.
“Please,” I beg
“It’s me you want, right p>
My voice breaking.
“He didn’t do anything p>
I nod toward the driver.
“You said it yourself… he was just a mistake p>
Tears slip down my face freely now.
“So let him go,” I plead.
“Please… just let him go p>
For a second, Aaron just looks at me then he shakes his head.
“No p>
“He already knows too much p>
Aaron straightens slowly, like he’s done talking, lyk everything that needed to be said has already been said.
He looks at me.
“It’s time for me to go back,” he says.
My brows pull together.
“Back where p>
His lips twitch slightly.
“To him p>
My stomach tightens
Zane. Of course.
I let out a short breath, shaking my head.
“You think he won’t notice?” I ask.
My voice is rough, but steady.
“You think he won’t figure out something’s wrong p>
I lean forward slightly despite the ropes.
“You disappeared. I disappeared. There’s blood. There’s chaos p>
I shake my head again.
“He’s not stupid, Aaron p>
Aaron just watches me then he smiles and it’s worse than the anger. Way worse.
Because it’s calm, like he already accounted for everything.
“No,” he says quietly.
“He won’t p>
Something in my chest drops, because he sounds sure too sure for my likin
“My plan is… exquisite,” he continues, almost like he’s proud of it.
“So clean he won’t even notice shit p>
My stomach twists. There’s something wrong with how calm he is about this.
How certain.
“And if you’re thinking he adds, tilting his head slightly, eyes locking onto mine, “that Zane is going to come for you p>
My breath catches.
“Forget about it. Because he won’t o will make sure of that p>
My heart stutters.
“What are you p>
“It’s not going to happen p>
Thivk and suffocating Silence falls between us p>
I stare at him, trying to read him, trying to understand what he means but he doesn’t explain. He just turns and starts walking out just like that, like I’m nothing, like this conversation is over. My chest tightens as I watch him walk toward the door.
“Aaron p>
He doesn’t stop, doesn’t even slow down.
The door opens and closes and just like tht He’s gone.
The room feels colder and quieter as my mind spins.
Zane won’t come for me? What the hell does that mean?Why wouldn’t he?
Unless…No.
My stomach drops Unless Aaron is planning something that makes it look like p>
I swallow hard.
No. No, no, no.
My breathing picks up again despite myself. Because now… Now I’m not just scared of being here. Km scared of what he’s doing out there.
Zane’s POV.
I don’t usually leave work this early. There’s always something to do, always someonei I have to meet or something to sign.
But today Today I abandoned everything and left anyway, no reason I can explain properly.
Just… a pull a quiet need to see her, even if it’s just for a second. Juat a glimpse, that’s hat’s all I’m asking for, nothing more. I don’t expect her to talk to me, domr expect her to look at me the way she used to. Hell, I don’t even expect her to stay in the same room as me.
I know I fucked up big time. I know it and I know it wasn’t small. So I’ll wait as long as it takes, even if it kills me slowly.
I pull into the compound and step out, my eyes already scanning instinctively.
The house is quiet as I head inside, the dining room is the first place I check.
She’s not there, not sitting at the table. Not picking at her food the way she does when she’s distracted.
Nothing.
I pause for a second.l Then head upstairs, for her room.
I push the door open slightly without knocking. But I find it empty even the bed is untouched and the reading corner she made is empty too. Thay small chair by the window, no book and no Elaine.
A small frown pulls at my brows.
Strange.
I turn and head back out, maybe she’s somewhere downstairs training. I make my way to the training room and push the door open. Still nothing, no sound or movement and no Elaine or Aaron.