Chapter 476
Kids don’t pick up on love the way adults do. Plus, Elliot hadn’t really spent much time around Zane, so he missed the whole ‘Zane’s got a thing for Elysia’ memo.
“I’ve done some digging,” Tarquin said, leaning against the kitchen counter, a sudden craving for a smoke hitting him. “Turns out, Zane’s been carrying a torch for your mom for years p>
Elliot frowned. “So, he’s a jerk p>
Marrying mom’s best friend but still pining for her? From an emotional standpoint, that’s low.
Tarquin wanted a cigarette but didn’t want Elliot inhaling secondhand smoke, so he resisted.
“He’s not just a jerk, he’s dangerous. Gage, the guy who messed with your mom two months ago? Zane took care of him p>
Elliot blinked, taken aback. He knew about Gage.
He had planned to deal with Gage himself, but before he could, someone beat him to it. Despite trying, he never found out who it was the culprit was too clean.
Turns out, it was Zane!
If that was true, then stepdad was right: Zane wasn’t just a jerk; he was dangerous!
The thought that someone so dangerous was lurking around his mom sent a shiver down Elliot’s spine. After a moment of collected thought, he turned to Tarquin.
“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep an eye on him from now on p>
Tarquin just grunted, then asked, “So, you think Zane’s the mystery guy p>
“I don’t know… Have you ever crossed paths with Zane before p>
The moment Elliot asked, Tarquin knew where he was going with this.
They were on the same wavelength.
Tarquin furrowed his brows, sighing. “That’s what’s been bugging me. If this mystery guy wanted me dead, we must have some bad blood. But I’ve looked into Zane. We’ve never crossed paths. I can’t find a motive for him wanting me dead p>
Elliot added, “Another thing, the mystery guy said he wanted to kidnap my mom to make her his wife, but he doesn’t actually like her. It’s because of his ‘precious’ that he wants to take her p>
“Precious p>
Tarquin paused, then remembered the shock he felt at the mystery man’s words.
His heart skipped a beat, his expression visibly flustered. “What precious? A person p>
Elliot shook his head, “Don’t know; I’m curious too. I asked him if he liked my mom and he said it didn’t matter if he liked her or not, as long as his precious did p>
Tarquin’s brows knitted together.
Elliot went on, “Putting aside who this ‘precious’ is, just considering the fact that you and Zane have no history, and Zane genuinely loves my mom, it’s unlikely Zane is our mystery man p>
If Zane were the mystery man, he’d surely have a vendetta against Tarquin!
And when asked whether he liked his mom, he wouldn’t have answered the way he did; he’d have been adamant about his affection.
Suddenly, the sound of the toilet flushing from the bathroom signaled Elysia would soon emerge, pulling both father and son from their thoughts.
Elliot quickly said, “No matter who the mystery man is, you should see the good in my mom. Wasn’t it her warning to watch out for those around you that clued you in on the mystery man using her to get to you p>
Tarquin didn’t respond, silently agreeing.
Elliot continued, “My mom’s a good person. Even though she doesn’t like you much, she doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you.” Tarquin remained silent.
Elliot grabbed some crab meat from the counter for White on his way out of the kitchen. White loved that.
Tarquin stared towards the bathroom, then lit a cigarette.
Just as he took a puff, his phone rang. It was Axel.
“Tarquin, the mystery man’s made a move p>