Chapter 191
When the frint gates open I’m halfway down the stairs before Thomas appears at the bottom.
“They’re here.” No explanation needed.
I nod once and keep moving. By the time I reach the main hall, I can hear them before I see them footsteps and voices.
Lucas is the first thing I see when I step in and he doesn’t wait, doesn’t greet or hesitate before he crosses the distance and his fist slams into my face hard,
My head jerks to the side and I feel it immediately pain, hea and clean, followed by the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.
“Where is she?!” he screams in my face.
“Where the fuck is my sister p>
Noah and Caleb are on him instantly, each grabbing an arm, and pulling him back before he swings again.
“Lucas, enough,” Noah says, voice tight but controlled.
Lucas fights them for a second, hs muscles tensed, breathing heavy, eyes locked on me like he’s trying to burn a hole straight through me.
Caleb grips his shoulder. “Relax p>
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, glance at the blood, then look back at Lucas.
“Go ahead,” I say quietly.
“Hit me again p>
That earns another surge from him, but Noah steps in tighter this time.
“No p>
Lucas strains forward, but they hold him in place.
“Not like this,” Noah adds, firmer now.
Lucas finally stops fighting but hs not calm…Just contained.
Noah exhales slightly, then looks between us.
“We’re not doing this here,” he says.
“This isn’t the time for your bullshit egos p>
His eyes settle on both of us in turn.
“There’s something bigger going on p>
Lucas drags in a breath, still tense, then shakes his arm loose from Noah’s grip.
“Fine,” he mutters, though his eyes don’t soften.
He looks at me again.
“Talk p>
Even though I don’t like the tone he just spoke to me in i begin talking and not dragging anything out, I tell them abut the ice cream shop, the attack and shots that were fired, the crash and having no trace of them after.
Lucas listens without interrupting, his jaw tightening as I speak.
When I finish, silence hangs for a second.
Then his brows pull together slightly.
“That’s it p>
“That’s it p>
I pause, then add, “Though there’s something else that doesn’t really l line up p>
His eyes narrow.
“Aaron p>
Lucas’s expression changes looking confused for a while before realization settles in.
“Th fuck? That’s Elaine’s bodyguard right p>
“Yes, he is he was with her during the accident but somehow he miraculously managed to escape and come back without no much harm don to him p>
“Where is he p>
I turn my head slightly toward Thomas.
“Bring lead the way p>
Thomas nods and leads the way as we move down into the cellar.
The air shifts the moment the door opens cooler, dimmer, quieter.
Aaron is already on his feet when we step in, the sound of our approach clearly reaching him first as his head lifts quickly and hope flashes across his face for a split second then tension replaces it when he sees who’s standing there.
“Finally,” he says, voice edged with irritation.
“About time p>
He shifts against the restraints, testing them.
“Get me out of this p>
Zane doesn’t move closer to the cell, he just stands there, eyes locked on Aaron through the bars. His voice is calm, but there’s nothing calm about his expression.
“I’m not here to let you go,” he says flatly. “I need answers Aaron p>
Aaron lets out a short, breathy laugh like the whole thing is ridiculous.
“There’s nothing to answer,” he replies, shifting slightly where he stands. “I escaped them that’s it p>
Zane’s hand suddenly shoots forward, gripping the metal bars hard enough that his knuckles pale as thr sound of metal creaking fills the space.
“And you thought,” Zane says, voice low, controlled but edged with something dangerous, “that you could just leave my wife unprotected… and walk your way back to me p>
Aaron’s posture tightens and he lifts his chin slightly, trying to hold his ground.
“They were surrounded,” he says quickly. “I tried to call for backup. Extra security. Anything p>
He exhales through his nose, frustration bleeding into his tone.
“But my phone hadd lost signal completely dead and I couldn’t reach anyone p>
His eyes flick between Zane and the others.
“So I moved away, I had to get back and get help. I didn’t just abandon her p>
There’s a small pause.
Aaron’s voice drops slightly as he pleads, urgency creeping in now.
“Just just let me out. I’ll go back nd I’ll find her p>
A few subtle reactions ripple through the room.
Noah glances at Caleb.
Thomas stiffens slightly lucas doesn’t say anything at first bt this eyes sharpen.
“Open it,” Lucas says, without looking away from Aaron. Thomas hesitates for a second, then moves to the cell door and unlocks it, the metal clicking open then the door swings open slowly.
Lucas steps in first and he stops right in front of Aaron, close enough that the space between them feels tight.
“I’ll ask you one more time,” Lucas says, voice low, almost too calm.
“Where is my sister p>
Aaron shakes his head immediately.
“I don’t know p>
That’s all it takes Lucas’s fist connects with his face. The impact snaps Aaron’s head to the side and the sound echoing off the concrete walls.
Aaron stumbles back, catching himself against the bars, coughing as blood spills from his lip.
Lucas doesn’t stop though he grabs Aaron again by the front of his shirt, pulling him forward.
“Don’t fuckijn lie to me,” he snaps, breathing harder now.
“I’m not Aaron tries to speak, wincing, “I’m telling you the truth p>
Lucas drives another punch in, much harder this time as Aaron’s body jerks with the force, and he slumps slightly, one shoulder hitting the wall as he tries to steady himself.
“Lucas,” Noah’s voice cuts in, trying to stop him but Lucas isn’t listening.
His grip is still tight, his expression tense, and eyes burning.
“Where is she?!” he demands again, louder this time.
Aaron coughs, struggling to straighten, his voice weaker now but still insistent.
“I don’t know where she is p>