Ch. 591..600
Chapter 591
A heavy weight settled in my chest. "Mrs. Young, I'm... a friend of Demi's. I heard something happened to her. Do you know how she's doing? What happened?"
"We... we don't know... she won't say a word," Mrs. Young's voice wavered, breaking.
"Is Demi's boyfriend there with her?" I asked.
"Boyfriend?" She sounded surprised, like she didn't even know.
My heart sank. I got my answer. Whatever had happened to Demi, it had to do with him-and he wasn't even there.
She caught on. "What do you mean by 'boyfriend'?" she asked.
"That's something Demi should explain herself. For now, can I talk to her? Just tell her it's Keira."
"Alright, alright... maybe you can get through to her," Mrs. Young said, sounding a little hopeful.
I heard her speak to Demi, "Demi, it's... it's your friend Keira. She wants to talk to you."
Then, silence. I assumed the phone was near her, so i spoke. "Demi, I'm in Houston. My phone broke, so I just got your message.
Still nothing. My throat tightened, "Demi, are you okay? Is someone hurting you? Did it have to do with your boyfriend?"
Silence again. Mrs. Young, getting anxious, begged, "Demi, answer her! Is it about your boyfriend? Please don't cry, sweetheart..."
I could hear Demi's soft sobs. That was answer enough. Still, I asked, "Demi, what did he do? Did he hurt. you? Was it betrayal? Or... something worse?"
Her sobbing grew louder, and it was gut-wrenching.
Demi had always been happy, carefree. She never let anything get to her. But now, she was broken.
"Demi, what happened? What did that jerk do to you?" Mrs. Young was getting more distressed.
But neither of us could get a word out of her. Finally, Mrs. Young sighed. "She won't say anything I'll try again later."
"Don't push her. Let her rest for now. I'll talk to her when I get back," I reassured her.
"Alright... thank you."
"Please keep an eye on her," I added, anxiety creeping in.
Demi had a positive attitude; she wasn't the type to give up easily. Something had broken her-something so bad she couldn't talk about it. She was still trapped, and I feared she might try to hurt herself again. What had her boyfriend done to her?
When Jace betrayed me, Demi was the one who told me men were replaceable, that I had to let go of one to find someone better. By her own logic, even if her boyfriend had hurt her, she wouldn't think about
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ending her life over it.
But now, here was Demi, clearly broken.
The weight in my chest deepened. I hadn't been in any hurry to go back, but now I knew I had to.
If Demi hadn't told her parents about her boyfriend, she wasn't going to share her pain with them, either. Maybe I was the only one who could help her.
This wasn't about being a hero-it was about respect for life. Besides, Demi had been there for me after Jace broke my heart.
With that resolve, I called Jace.
The phone rang before someone picked up. "Jace, I need to go home."
"When are you leaving?" His voice was short.
"As soon as poss-"I stopped.
The voice wasn't Jace's.
A chill ran through me. "Who is this? Where's Jace?"
Chapter 592
'Haha..."
A sinister laugh echoed in response to my question.
I knew that laugh. It was Bruno.
But why the hell was Jace with him? Could Hernan's claim about the mastermind actually mean Jace involved?
I'd suspected it before, but now it hit me like a punch. Anger flared, and I demanded coldly, "Where's Jace? Put him on the phone."
*Tsk tsk, so fierce. Just like when you play snooker," Bruno taunted.
I didn't have the time or patience for games. "Bruno, what do you want?"
"I told you already, didn't I? Just wanted to play snooker. By the way, your game today was impressive. Very nice," he sneered.
I should've appreciated the compliment, but coming from him, it made my stomach churn.
was
"If you want to play, fine. Just put Jace on the phone," I snapped, my voice sharp. I needed to tell Jace his cheap tricks weren't gonna work anymore. Even if they had him, I wasn't going back to him.
"Why bother with the phone? Come see him yourself. I'm sure he'd love to see you," Bruno said, dragging out the pause. Then, he added, "Right, Mr. Johnston?"
"Rea, don't come here. Don't worry about me. Call Hayden, get out of the country. Now," Jace's voice. came through, sounding distant and urgent.
I froze. He wasn't in on this with Bruno. Bruno had him captive.
Before I could process it, Bruno spoke again, his tone shifting from mockery to something darker. "If you want to see Jace, come to the address I'm sending you. Don't, and I'll make sure he takes a little trip to heaven, where he can confess his sins to Jesus for all the ways he's wronged you."
"Rea, don't listen to him. Don't-Jace's voice was suddenly cut off by loud, sickening blows, followed by his pained grunts.
So I'd been wrong. Jace wasn't the mastermind Hernan had hinted at. Maybe there wasn't any mastermind at all-just a story Herman had spun to mislead me.
"Bruno, tell them to stop! I'm coming over now!" I shouted into the phone.
"Good. I'll be waiting for you, beautiful," Bruno said, then hung up. The sounds of fighting stopped.
As the call ended, my strength drained away, and my hand dropped limply to my side.
A message notification buzzed on my phone. It was a location pin.
I stared at it, dazed, but I didn't go right away. Instead, dialed Hayden.
Jace had told me not to come. If I went, I'd just be another hostage. But I wasn't about to rush blindly into Bruno's trap.
Chapter 502
The call rang endlessly, and my frustration grew. Then realized I didn't need Hayden specifically-1 could call Steve.
Just as I was about to hang up, Hayden picked up.
"What's wrong?" he asked, already knowing it was bad)
"Jace's been kidnapped by Bruno. He wants me to go to him, and he sent me a location," I explained, forcing my voice to stay calm
"Send me the location. Do not go there. Stay put," Hayden ordered.
A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't shake the sound of Jace being beaten, and I was scared that if Hayden confronted Bruno, it could make things worse Bruno might be hurting Jace already. You should- "Hayden, we're all set. Everything's handled here," Yara's voice interrupted, clear and confident like she was right beside him.
The words I'd been about to say stuck in my throat, and I went silent.
Hayden's voice came back. "Don't worry. I'll get him out
Chapter 593 Huh?
I wasn't just asking him to rescue Jace I was trying to remind him to watch out for Bruno, too.
"Send me the location," Hayden said, then hung up.
I froze for a few seconds. Then I pulled up our chat app and forward him the location pin. After hitting send, I found myself just... staring at our last conversation, and my chest felt tight.
I quickly closed the chat, but of course, my phone rang a second later. It was Steve.
My heart did this weird flip, and I felt this sting behind my eyes. I wasn't even sure what I was feeling, but it wasn't good.
I took a deep breath and answered. "Hello?"
"Are you sure Jace was taken by Bruno?" Steve's voice sounded like he was on edge, too.
I gave him the quick version of what went down. "Yeah, he was getting beaten up-definitely Bruno. And Hernan mentioned a mastermind behind all this." "Mastermind?" Steve sounded surprised.
"Yeah. I thought maybe it was Jace, but now that he's been kidnapped by Bruno... it's obviously not him." I felt that stab of guilt in my chest as I said it.
Jace and I had broken up. He'd hurt me, yeah, betrayed my trust. But he hadn't done anything that bad, right? I'd even let him help me before. And still, I'd assumed the worst of him. Now, I felt like a jerk for thinking he could be behind something so shady.
"Got it. I'll update Hayden," Steve said. From the tone of his voice, it was clear Hayden was the one calling the shots on this mission.
"Please hurry. Get Jace out of there," I begged, my worry spiking. Bruno could seriously hurt him.
After all, Jace wasn't just anyone-he couldn't afford to lose blood.
"I know. Don't worry, we've got this. But you need to stay put. Don't let Bruno find you-it'll mess everything up," Steve warned.
"Okay, I understand." As soon as I agreed, he hung up.
I tossed my phone onto the couch, letting out a breath didn't know I was holding. The silence in the
room felt way too loud. Every tick of the clock made my anxiety worse.
But there was nothing I could do. I didn't even know who to call for help.
How much time had passed? A few minutes? Hours? I didn't know. My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. An unknown number. Great. I hated unknown callers. It was like my gut was telling
me
hang up, but I couldn't.
"Hello?"
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"Keira? It's Yara. I'm on my way to see you."
Yara? Why would she be coming to see me? We werente
"Uh, is there something you need?" I asked instinctively
"Nope, nothing important. I just thought I'd keep you com said it like we were besties, but we weren't.
"I'm fine, seriously. Not scared." I tried to sound normal,
She laughed softly. "I'll be there soon. Need anything? c
I didn't respond, and before I could, she hung up.
Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I checked the vid her hands. "Keira, it's me. Let me in."
I couldn't exactly leave her out there after she'd come al let her in.
But the second I opened it, two tall figures appeared out were sent from a nightmare.
*25 BONUS
Chapter 593
"Keira? It's Yara. I'm on my way to see you."
Yara? Why would she be coming to see me? We weren't exactly BFFs.
"Uh, is there something you need?" I asked instinctively.
"Nope, nothing important. I just thought I'd keep you company so you don't feel scared or nervous." She said it like we were besties, but we weren't. "I'm fine, seriously. Not scared." I tried to sound normal, but a little defiance slipped into my voice.
She laughed softly. "I'll be there soon. Need anything? I can pick up snacks or something."
I didn't respond, and before I could, she hung up.
Thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I checked the video feed-Yara was standing outside with a bag in her hands. "Keira, it's me. Let me in."
I couldn't exactly leave her out there after she'd come all this way. I unlocked the door and walked over to
let her in.
But the second I opened it, two tall figures appeared out of nowhere, grabbing me by the arms like they were sent from a nightmare.
Chapter 594
I screamed without thinking, and then Yara's voice rang out, "Stop!"
Next thing I knew, she was charging forward, taking on both guys like she was in some action movie.
For the first time, it hit me-Yara knew how to fight. Every move was so smooth, like she'd done this a million times. The two guys holding me let go and turned to face her.
I stood there for a second, totally stunned. Forget being scared, I was just watching her totally kick butt.
But it didn't take long for me to snap out of it. I ran back inside, not to hide, but to grab a baseball bat.
I wasn't a fighter like Yara, but I sure wasn't weak. No way I was letting her do all the heavy lifting.
Fueled by anger, I swung the bat hard, knocking one guy back and getting their attention. They tried to grab it from me, but every time they got close, Yara kicked them back like it was nothing, It was like a tag- team match-I didn't have the skills, but together, we made them back off.
We kept going, not sure how long it lasted, but eventually, we took both of them down.
"Who sent you?" Yara demanded, sounding like a pro.
Meanwhile, I was leaning on the bat, shaking like a leaf. This was the first time I'd ever fought like that, and I couldn't believe it.
But weirdly, it felt good. Like I'd gotten all my frustration out.
The guys stayed quiet, but I had a feeling they were Bruno's people. They must've traced me from my call, with Jace, figuring out where I was.
"If you won't talk, you're not going anywhere," Yara said, then told me to find something to tie them up
with.
Uh, not exactly a rope stash here. I thought of using ties, so I headed to Wayne's bedroom, opened his closet, and found his ties neatly organized, each one in its place.
Not knowing which ones to choose, I grabbed two at random and ran back downstairs to give them to Yara, who easily tied up the two men like it was no big deal. She dusted her hands off like she'd just done a load of laundry, completely unfazed.
I was still trying to catch my breath from the fight. Yara was just so impressive. Confident, calm, like she had everything under control. No wonder Hayden had agreed to that arranged marriage-it wasn't just about family alliances. He probably loved having someone like Yara by his side.
A little bitterness twisted in my stomach...
While I was lost in thought, Yara pulled out her phone and made a call. "Hayden, I'm here. Two guys showed up and tried to grab Keira. I've got them tied up-should I call the cops or are you coming?"
I couldn't hear Hayden's response, but Yara nodded. "Okay, I'll wait for you."
She hung up and looked at me. "Hayden will be here soon."
I didn't know what to say. "Thanks"? "Are you okay"? It felt weird.
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425 BOWS
Yara seemed to notice my discomfort. "Are you shaken? But a minute ago, you were all tough."
Her teasing snapped me out of my thoughts, and I took a breath. "I'm fine. Really. Thanks... for earlier.
We weren't exactly friends, but she'd just saved my life. The least I could do was thank her.
"Accepted," she said, with zero fuss, which made me feel even more awkward.
She looked around like she was in charge. "It's not safe here anymore. When Hayden gets here, you should come with us."
I didn't know how to react. I felt like I wasn't even making my own decisions. Like I was just being moved around by everyone else. And I hated it. "I want to go back to Kehlmark."
Yara gave me a look. "It's not safe for you to go back there right now."
Chapter 595
I glanced at the two guys on the floor. "Is it safer here?
Yara paused, then nodded. "I guess so. But let's wait for Hayden to make the call. Not my decision."
I wanted to ask, 'Aren't you his fiancée?' but kept it to myself. No need to sound petty.
"Let's head inside. Standing out here is exhausting," Yara suggested, looking totally chill.
I shot another look at the guys, but Yara shrugged. "They're not going anywhere."
She was the one who caught and tied them up, so I figured I could trust her confidence.
We walked into the villa, Yara scanning the place with a lazy smile. "Nice place. Definitely has a feminine touch."
I'd noticed that too.
"I'm not sure," I said, trying to sound casual.
I'd seen Wayne's place earlier-there was no sign of a woman. The only room that screamed "female" was the art studio. And yeah, the woman in those paintings? Me.
Yara flopped onto the couch like she owned the place. I sat down next to her. "Those guys outside were probably sent by Bruno," I said.
"Yeah, figured. Hayden will take care of them, and help you get Jace back," Yara said, making my brow furrow.
Help me get Jace back? She made it sound like we were still a thing.
But I wasn't about to explain myself to her. Getting tangled up with Bruno was partly my mess, so I kept quiet. Besides, if I tried explaining my relationship with Jace, would she think I was still into Hayden? Speaking of Hayden... I couldn't help but glance at Yara's fingers. She wasn't wearing a ring.
They had been talking about picking out rings, so maybe they were looking for wedding bands.
Yara caught me looking and lifted her hand with a smirk. "Admiring my hands?"
"Yep, you're stunning, so of course everything about you is," I said, keeping it real.
There really wasn't a single flaw in her appearance.
"Haha, are you being honest?" she teased.
I smiled tight, nodding as she fluffed a pillow.
"You know, girls don't need to hold back or force themselves to be polite. If you don't like someone, you don't have to compliment them."
I got what she meant-she probably thought I didn't like her.
But I didn't care. Even if she was with Hayden, I wasn't mad at her. My frustration was with him, not her.
"You're assuming too much about me," I said.
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"Maybe. But if I were in your shoes, I'd be bothered," she said, blunt as ever.
"Everyone's different," I shrugged.
Yara studied me like she was trying to figure me out. "So, you're really not bothered? Because once I go back, I'm going through with the engagement-and the wedding. If you've got an issue with that, now's the time to speak up." She made it sound like I was some rival...
"I'm not bothered. He picked you, so you're the one he wants. And trust me, I've made it clear-I'm done with him," I said, meeting her eyes without flinching.
"In that case, should I set you up with someone?"
I wasn't expecting that.
She was probably testing me, so I rolled with it. "Uh, sure."
She grinned. "How about Cole? You know him, and... he's into you. If you're down, maybe we can do a double wedding with me and Hayden."
Chapter 596
Yara really had some nerve.
Seeing that smug grin, I matched her smile. "I'm not sold on the idea."
""Not into Cole?" she asked, bold as ever.
I shot back just as bluntly. "Not really, Besides..." I laughed lightly. "If I married Cole, I'd have to start calling you and Hayden 'Aunt Yara' and 'Uncle Hayden. Kinda a downgrade for me, don't you think?"
Yara burst out laughing. "Fair point!"
"If I had to marry someone from your family, I'd pick your brother," I joked. "Sure, Thorsten's a bit older, but he's loaded. And he probably won't outlive me. Once he's gone, I'd inherit all his cash-and you and Hayden would have to see me as 'the elder." She chuckled. "I like your style, but you'd have to get rid of my sister-in-law first, and deal with Sasha."
Yara knew all about Thorsten's drama-filled relationships, down to the dirty details.
I was done with the banter, though, so I got straight to the point. "Miss Drago, I get what you're trying to do, but I don't need anyone playing matchmaker."
"Then go for what you want. If you still have feelings for Hayden, why not fight for him?" Yara asked, like she was actually invested in my love life.
"He's not worth fighting for," I said, my voice firm.
Her smile dropped, and she went quiet. "Seems like you didn't love him as much as you thought. If I were you, I wouldn't care about the reasons. I'd hold on to him no matter what." "Well, I'm not you. That kind of desperate, obsessive love isn't my thing," I shot back. That was my line in
the sand.
Yara studied me for a moment, then asked, "If Hayden left you because he had no other choice, if it was all an act... could you understand? Could you forgive him?"
I flashed back to that conversation I overheard between her and Hayden before the tournament.
Could there really be some kind of misunderstanding?
I knew I shouldn't ask-knew it would only pull me deeper into something I didn't want to deal with-but I couldn't help myself. "What reason could he possibly have?"
Yara bit her lip. "I think it'd be better for him to explain once everything's settled."
Another one keeping me in the dark.
felt a spike of frustration and stood up. "Miss Drago, enjoy the rest of your day."
I turned and walked upstairs, needing some air on the terrace. But as I passed Wayne's room, I noticed the door was still wide open.
I sighed, about to close it when I noticed his cabinet door was half-open.
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While shutting it, I noticed a notebook hidden beneath some empty tie boxes.
Curiosity won out. I grabbed it and flipped it open..
It was a journal. And not a recent one-this one was almost ten years old, with entries scattered over the years. The first page was from the day I joined the Johnston family. He'd written just one line: [There's a new little girl at home. She's pretty cute.] The entries were sporadic-just short notes every so often. His feelings toward me, and his resentment toward his parents for always favoring Jace, were clear
I kept flipping until I reached the last entry, dated a month ago. It read: [If you want something, work for it. This time, it's going to happen.]
I frowned. What did that mean?
I almost turned back a few pages when something made me freeze. I stared at the date on the last page.
Something didn't add up.
Wayne hadn't been abroad since returning to Kehlmark So how could this journal, with a date from a month ago, still be here in Houston? The only explanation? He'd been in Houston recently.
But why? To check on his fish? That didn't make sense he'd never mentioned it.
I flipped back a few more pages. The entry from three months ago was brief: [The first step is complete.]
What was the first step? What was he working toward?
Chapter 597
Chapter 597
I flipped through the journal, curiosity growing with each page, determined not to miss anything.
One of the entries was from before Wayne had returned to the country. It read: [Over fourteen hundred days... it's time to go back.] Fourteen hundred days-exactly four years.
I kept flipping, then suddenly stopped when my eyes landed on a page that made my heart race. [She's finally not his anymore.]
The date? The day Jace and I were supposed to get our marriage license.
That was the day I found Tanya in the penthouse Jace and I were meant to move into after our wedding. The day I walked away from Jace for good.
My hands shook as I stared at the words. Just as I took a deep breath to steady myself and keep reading, I heard a car engine outside.
I didn't know who it was, but I couldn't focus on the journal anymore. Reluctantly, I set it back exactly where I'd found it and headed downstairs.
Yara was opening the door for Hayden. He stood there, his foot pressed against one man's chin, forcing him to look up. "Tell me everything now, or don't bother speaking for the rest of your life."
I'd never seen Hayden like this-cold, unyielding. It sent a shiver of unease down my spine.
The two men on the ground weren't fighters, but they were tough enough to stay silent.
In one swift, brutal move, Hayden twisted his foot. I heard two sharp cracks. One of the men groaned, his face going pale as he collapsed.
"Even if they won't talk, we know they're Bruno's men. Keira already mentioned it," Yara said, glancing at
1. me.
Hayden's gaze shifted to me, and I stepped out onto the porch. I said one thing, my voice firm. "I want to go home."
His jaw tightened. "Fine. I'll have someone take you.'
Yara smoothly interrupted, "I'll take her. There's nothing else for me to do here, and I can take your sister back too." Hayden hesitated, his eyes on me.
"I can manage on my own," I said, stubbornly.
But then Hayden turned to Yara, saying, "Alright. You take her."
I stood there, speechless.
Yara suddenly asked, "Keira, what exactly did Bruno say to you on the phone?"
I recalled Bruno's words, a chill crawling up my spine.
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Hayden must've sensed my unease. "Don't bother."
"If Bruno's goal is to get to Keira, letting her leave like this could put Jace in danger," Yara said, cutting straight to the heart of it. She understood what was going on.
I remembered the sound of Jace being punched and kicked over the phone. "Aren't you going to try to rescue him?" I asked.
Yara met my gaze without hesitation. "Jace is the bait. Bruno wants us all to fall into his trap."
"I'll handle this," Hayden said to her. "You go book the tickets."
Yara sighed, then pulled out her phone. "Alright."
As she typed, she glanced at me. "Keira, what's your ID number?"
"I'll book my own ticket!" I snapped, turning away.
Behind me, I heard Yara mutter, "If we book together, we can sit next to each other."
Ldidn't want to sit next to her.
"I've got it," Hayden cut in, smoothly reciting my ID number from memory.
My chest tightened. That number-eighteen digits long-had no resemblance to his.
But he remembered it perfectly.
I froze, Yara's words about him having his reasons echoing in my mind. My heart pounded as I turned to Hayden. "Hayden, why did you really leave me? What reason could you possibly have?"
Chapter 598
Hayden shot Yara a look, his expression darkening.
Yara raised an eyebrow, totally unbothered, like she already knew what was coming.
She was way too comfortable around him. Like, seriously, where was the fear?
"Just tell her already. Stop playing games," Yara said, all casual like this was no big deal. Hayden turned to me, eyes intense. "If you're leaving, then go pack your stuff..."
I cut him off. "Hayden, seriously. Why can't you just answer me?"
Yara sighed dramatically. "I'll leave you two alone." She gave us some space and walked off. Hayden stayed right where he was, locking eyes with me. "So, what do you think my reason is?" He actually wanted me to guess?
I was so done. Yara had been vague and cryptic, and now Hayden was doing the exact same thing.
He didn't want to talk. It was so obvious.
"Fine. If you're not gonna say it, then don't," I shot back. "Whatever your reasons are, they don't matter anymore. Even if I knew, it wouldn't change anything."
Why was I still here, talking to him? What was I hoping for? To fix things? Yeah, right.
I'd only been curious, but now I realized that even that was a waste of time.
I told myself not to get upset, but my chest still felt tight, like something was coiling inside.
Hayden's whole brooding, mysterious thing? Even more infuriating than Jace's smooth-talking charm.
He told me to pack, but what was there to pack? Jace had brought me here with nothing, and all my stuff was still at the hotel.
The only thing I really wanted to take? Wayne's journal.
But I couldn't just grab it without Wayne noticing.
I thought about it for a sec, then headed upstairs. I took the journal out and snapped some photos of the
pages.
I didn't feel bad. There was something off in those entries, especially the most recent ones.
Once I had the photos, I felt... a little more at ease.
When I came back downstairs, the two guys Yara and I had been dealing with were gone. I overheard Yara talking to Hayden, her voice low. "You really gonna go down this' road? Or do you think there's still danger to lose?" I froze, waiting for Hayden's answer, but he just walked off, not saying a word.
Yara had mentioned Hayden was in some kind of danger. What kind? From Bruno? Hernan?
My curiosity flared up, but I shut it down. Hayden's problems were no longer my concern.
Chapter 598
I reminded myself of that and walked over to Yara. "Let's go."
She gave me a look, like she wanted to say something, but I didn't wait for her-just walked off without looking back.
I was starting to get really confused about Yara. She was supposed to be engaged to Hayden, but she was practically acting like she was trying to clear things up between us. Why else would she keep dropping hints and lecturing him? When I got to Hayden's car, he was already inside, smoking.
I'd once thought he was the "perfect guy." But now? Heartbreak, betrayal, smoking-he checked all the boxes.
It was like the ultimate plot twist.
I didn't say anything. Just opened the door and slid in. Yara climbed in next to me.
I glanced at the passenger seat. Wasn't she his fiancée? Shouldn't she be sitting up front?
Hayden started the car, pulling away without a word. I glanced back at Wayne's villa in the rearview mirror, feeling like I'd seen it before.
Yara was busy scrolling through her phone, and I stared out the window, deep in thought. Hayden didn't say anything either.
The silence was suffocating.
Finally, I broke it. "I need to stop by the hotel to grab my stuff."
Chapter 599
Chapter 599
My passport was still back at the hotel, waiting for me.
Yara shot me a quick look, then flicked her gaze to Hayden before going back to scrolling on her phone.
Hayden didn't even blink. He totally ignored me like I hadn't said a word.
I didn't bother repeating myself-he definitely heard me.
Sure enough, half an hour later, we pulled up to the hotel. Just as I was about to open the door, Hayden's voice cut through the silence. "Yara, go up with her." Guess he was still freaking out about the whole Hernan-kidnapping thing.
But Yara just shrugged. "I'm hungry. I'll grab something to eat." She wasn't having it.
Hayden shot her a look, but Yara didn't even flinch. She just walked off, like it was no big deal.
She was fearless. I guess that's part of what made her so... irresistible to Hayden.
I mean, someone once said a woman shouldn't make a guy the center of her world. Only then will he
value her.
Maybe there's truth in that. Looking back, I definitely gave too much weight to Jace and Hayden. But realizing that now? A little too late. I'd already tripped twice.
I chuckled bitterly to myself and stepped out of the car heading inside.
Hayden had sent Yara with me so he didn't have to be alone with me.
And even though I told myself I shouldn't care, there was this annoying part of me that kinda did.
And as much as I didn't want to go up by myself, I certainly wasn't going to ask him to come along. No matter how nervous I was, I wasn't about to admit it.
I walked into the lobby and flagged down a bellhop. "Hey, can you help me with my bags?"
He nodded, but before I could say anything else, Hayden was suddenly next to me. "Forget it. I'll do it."
If he wanted to tag along, fine. He was probably the safer bet anyway. If anything went down, the bellhop wasn't going to be much help, but Hayden? Yeah, he could definitely throw down.
I glanced at the bellhop. "Still, let him come along. Just so there's no misunderstanding."
Hayden shot me a look, but I just brushed it off and led the bellhop to the elevator.
The three of us went up. After what happened with Herman, I wasn't about to go into that room alone, I made sure they both came with me.
Since I'd barely been in the room before Hérnan took me, my luggage was still packed, so it was just a grab-and-go situation.
The bellhop wasn't wasting his time either-he ended up hauling my bags while Hayden and I followed behind in awkward silence.
We made it back downstairs, bags in the car... but Yara still wasn't around.
Chapter 599
Hayden tried calling her. No answer.
You could practically see the tension in his face as he turned to me. "We need to find her.
"I'm staying put," I shot back, refusing. "You go check on her."
If he was worried about his fiancée, he could go looking. I wasn't gonna tag along.
Hayden got out of the car, but then he opened my door and said, "What if Bruno's people show up and you're here alone?"
That was a low blow, but... I guess he had a point.
Sighing, I reluctantly climbed out of the car and followed him to the shop Yara mentioned. We peeked inside... but no sign of her.
Hayden's whole vibe shifted. His pace quickened as he went up to the counter and asked the cashier. The response was worse than we feared-Yara had just left. My stomach dropped.
Hayden dialed her number again, walking outside like he was on a mission.
Her phone was still off, and he came back to ask for the security footage.
The cashier started playing it, and just as Yara appeared on the screen, Hayden's phone rang.
We were standing right next to each other, so I heard the voice loud and clear:
"Hayden, your girl's here having coffee with me. You want to come pick her up?"
Chapter 600
It was Bruno on the line.
At the same time, the security footage showed Yara sitting there with a coffee, only to be grabbed by two guys and shoved into a car. Bruno's men were on top of it, no time for her to react.
"So, you really can't wait to see me?" Hayden's voice was icy, his eyes locked on the screen.
"I'm dying to see you," Bruno replied, each word dripping with malice.
I could feel the venom in his voice. If Hayden actually went to meet him, this wasn't gonna end well.
"Alright, I'm coming," Hayden said.
"Oh, and bring Keira with you," Bruno added, sending a chill down my spine. I instinctively scanned the shop.
It was nearly empty, but when I glanced out the window, I spotted a car across the street with its window down.
Someone inside waved at me.
"There!" I pointed out the window.
Hayden saw it too. He walked out of the store, stopping just at the edge of the street, with Bruno's car across the road, almost within reach.
Bruno hung up, then yelled across the street, "I'll be waiting!" He even threw a wink my way before getting in his car and driving off.
As soon as Bruno was gone, Hayden turned to me. "Let's go. Get in the car."
I hurried after him, jumping into the car as he fired up the engine. I thought he was going after Bruno. "You should call Steve and the others," I said. "Going alone is too dangerous." Before I could say anything else, Hayden grabbed his phone. "Steve, meet me at the intersection near Route 818," he ordered.
"What's happening?" Steve's voice came through the speaker.
"Bruno took Yara. He wants me to come alone for the exchange. Keira's still with me-get her home," Hayden said, making me stare at him, wide-eyed.
"But Bruno specifically said I had to come too," I interrupted, snatching the phone from him.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how dumb they sounded. Bruno just wanted me there to use against Hayden.
1
I shouldn't go.
Hayden hung up without a word, pressing harder on the gas.
"Jace is with Bruno, and now Yara's in his hands. You're walking straight into enemy territory. You need backup," I insisted, unable to hold it back. +25 BOI
Chapter 600
Hayden's grip on the wheel tightened, but he responded calmly, "Bruno's after me. He's ot like Hernan."
1 was caught off guard. "Then why are you still going?"
He didn't answer.
But I understood. Yara was his fiancée. He couldn't just leave her there.
We drove in silence toward the meeting point with Steve. When we pulled up, Steve was already there.
He immediately opened my door and nodded to Hayden. "Going in solo is a bad idea. I've got the team or standby, ready to back you up."
Hayden gave a sharp nod, and only then did Steve turn to me. "Come on, let's go. You're coming with me.'
I felt a wave of frustration toward Hayden, but as I stepped out of the car, I glanced back at him, worry bubbling up.
But I knew there was nothing I could do. So, I let Steve shut the door behind me and watched as Hayden's car sped off.
"Worried about him?" Steve asked, reading me like an open book. "Then why not say it out loud?"