Chapter 194
Zane’s POV.
Two days…That’s how long she’s been gone, two fucking days and I feel like I’m losing my mind. J don’t sleep and i barely eat.
I didn’t realize how much I got used to her…to seeing her around and hearing her voice.
Even when she was pissed at me, even when she avoided me and when she moved out of my room.
Just… knowing she was in the house Iy did something to me.
Sometimes catch a glimpse of her in the kitchen or the hallway nd it was enough.
Now? Now the house feels empty.
I drag a hand down my face, exhaling slowly, but it doesn’t help…My chest tightens.
“Sir p>
Thomas’s voice pulls me out of it bt I don’t look away from the screen immediately.
“What?” I mutter.
“Lucas is downstairs p>
That makes me pause nd I lean back slowly, finally dragging my eyes away from the footage.
Lucas…Of course
It’s been two days of this, two days of him showing up here like clockwork, tow days of him going down to that cellar And taking it out on Aaron.
I let him.
I haven’t stopped him once, be ecause right now? Aaron deserves everything he’s getting nd maybe even more.
My jaw clenches as my mind flashes to a footage Lucas sourced from the bridge a day back p>
The one that changed everything.
It’s grainy, not oerfect but clear enough, clear enough inenough to see Aaron pulling her out of the wreck. Not helping her or saving her, taking her and handing her over like she was nothing, like she didn’t matter, like she wasn’t Mine.
My hands curl into fists instantly, the anger coming back just as strong as the first time I saw it.
I trusted him, that’s the part that sucks I trusted him with her and gave him that responsibility without a second thought.
And he He had the nerve to betray me, to stand in front of me and lie, to look me in the eye and act like he didn’t know anything.
My teeth grind together.
If I go down there and touch him i won’t stop, I know that I’ll kill him nd as much as I want to as much as every part of me is screaming for it i can’t, not yet.
He’s still useful, still has information.
So I stay away and i let Lucas handle it.
A sharp exhale leaves me as I push myself up from the chai and the room spins slightly for a second.
Lack of sleep and food.
I haven’t slept since I heard she was missin, not even close as everytime I close my eyes, my mind goes straight to her.
What she could be going through and If she’s hurt.
If she’s i shut that thought down immediately.
No. I’m not going there…not yet.
I run a hand through my hair and start toward the door, already thinking of heading down to meet Lucas but halfway there i stop and catch my reflection in the glass I almost don’t recognize myself.
My eyes are bloodshot, with dark circles sitting heavy under them.
My face looks… off.
I let out a quiet breath, I can’t go down like this…not in front of him, not in front of anyone even. I need to get myself together, even if it’s just on the surface.
Soi turn slightly to Thomas
“Thomas p>
He steps closer immediately.
“Yes, sir p>
“Tell Lucas to give me a few minutes,” I say.
“I’ll be down p>
He nods once.
“Understood p>
I don’t wait, i turn and head upstairs instead.
I push open the bedroom door and step inside, to find its still the same.
I don’t stay long., i head straight into the bathroom.
Turn the shower on and as the water hits my skin and I exhale slowly, letting it run over my face, my head, trying to clear something
Anything It doesn’t fix anything but it dulls the edge a little.
I stand there longer than necessary maybe thinking too much.
Then I shut it off nd get out., I dry off quickly, brush my teeth, change into clean clothes and by the time I’m done, I look… presentable.
Not better Just… put together.
I stare at myself in the mirror one last time.
My eyes are still tired and off but they look better now at least. And that’s enough for now now
I turn away and head back out, because Lucas is waiting and we still don’t have her. So I don’t wait any more e time as I turn and head straight downstairs the closer I get to the cellar, the more I hear it. Muted sounds, a dull thud, a choked groan looks like Lucas is already at it. Of course he is.
I push the door open and step inside, the air hits me first, it’s heavy with the smell of blood and sweat.
Lucas stands over Aaron, breathing a little harder than usual, his knuckles already bruised from the last round.
Aaron He barely looks human right now as he’s slumped against the wall, he’s face swollen with dried and fresh blood in different places. He’s brreathing us uneven but he is still conscious and alive
Lucas glances at me when I step in, he doesn’t say anything at first.
Just studies me for a second
Then p>
“You’re late p>
I don’t respond to that as I walk in slowly, my eyes fixed on Aaron every step feels deliberate.
“I’ll take over today,” I say.
My voice is quiet.
Lucas’s brows pull together slightly, then he studies me again like he’s trying to read something.
“Don’t kill him,” he says finally.
I don’t look at him.
“I won’t p>
A little pause Then he steps back, giving me me space and that’s all I need.
I stop right in front of Aaron, he looks up at me, though he’s one eye almost swollen shut and the other struggling to stay open.
“Zane he breathes out.
My name sounds broken coming from him, like he’s clinging to something that’s already gone.
I crouch slightly, close enough that he has to look at me.
“There’s no point lying anymore,” I say quietly.
He shakes his head weakly.
“I didn’t p>
The first hit shuts him up as my fist connects with his jaw, snapping his head to the side.
I don’t stop there as I grab him by the collar and drag him up just enough before driving another punch into his ribs.
He gasps and chokes his body folding, but I hold him up so he doesn’t get to fall.
Not yet. Not until I’m done.
“You’re going to talk,” I say, my voice still controlled.
“Or I’ll make you wish you had from the start p>
“I swear he tries again.
Another hit, this one harder That has spills fresh from his mouth.
His body jerks violently this time but I keep going. Each hit placed exactly where it hurts most, where it breaks something down slwoy,
Time stretches into minutes or Maybe more, I don’t count.
I just keep pushing him, closer and closer.
Right to that edge where his body wants to shut down And I don’t let it as I grab his face, forcing his head up when he starts slipping
“Stay with me,” I mutter almost like a warning and a command, because he doesn’t get to pass out.
Not yet. Not until I get what I want.
Lucas is quiet behind me, watching me and letting me do it my way.
Aaron’s breathing turns ragged and uneven his strength is almost gone.
Good.
That’s exactly where I want him as I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone.
Dial it and put it on speaker.
It rings once.
Twice.
Then p>
“Hello?” An older woman’s voice comes through that has Aaron freezing.
For a second, I swear his heart stops.
“Mom he croaks.
The shift in him is instant…panic
“Hello? Aaron?” she says again, confused now.
He starts struggling weakly
“Please no Zane, please don’t p>
I tighten my grip on him, keeping him in place.
“You hid her well,” I say quietly.
My voice calm again.
“But not well enough p>
His head shakes frantically now.
“Please please don’t bring her into this she has nothing to do with it p>
On the phone, his mother’s voice rises.
“Aaron? What’s going on? Who is that p>
I don’t answer her, I don’t need to all my attention stays on him.
“Where is she?” I ask again.
He squeezes his eyes shut, shaking his head over and over.
“I can’t p>
I tilt my head slightly.
“Think carefully p>
My voice drops lower.
“If something happens to her p>
I let the sentence hang and don’t finish it, I ddon’t need to.
He knows, i can see it in his face.
The way he breaks, right there.
“Okay!” he shouts suddenly.
His voice cracking.
“I’ll tell you just please please don’t hurt her p>
Silence falls for a second as I hold his gaze.
“Talk,” I say.
And this time He does.