/Zane's POV/
She probably thinks I'm nuts—maybe I am. But there's no way I'm letting those assholes get away with what they did to Allison and the idea struck me the moment I caught a glimpse of her while climbing up the stairs during my brief time accounting for what happened to the police.
They looked so much alike, it was unsettling.
While Allison's warm ivory skin and dark golden brown hair looked healthier, without spa treatments and expensive skincare, something tells me Allison would have looked just like Madison's reflection in the mirror.
If Allison was stabbed three times, it meant they wanted to be certain she was dead. Whoever sent that man wouldn't stop until they knew the job was finished. Which meant… if Allison "returned," they'd come again. I just need to lure those bastards out.
"You want me to pretend to be my sister?" Madison asked as if she'd heard me wrong the first time.
"Just until we catch them... don't you want to? I'm sure you also want to get those fuckers back for what they did to your sister. She's your last family member, is she not?" I pressed.
There was no way I'd mistaken that look in her eyes as she asked me about the assailant earlier—a look of pure rage.
"What you're asking me is insane. Allison's an actress.
A fucking famous one at that, you want me to impersonate her; what makes you think I'm capable of pulling that off?" She scrunched her face at me. "Why do you even trust me? We just met!"
"Because I saw you fight for her," I said. "You didn't run. You got her to the hospital. That counts for something."
Not entirely true. A part of me still doubted her, what if she actually did that because she didn't want people to suspect her?— their estrangement was suspicious. But whether I trusted her or not, she was perfect for the role.
I can keep her under watch in case she has anything to do with what happened or make her draw out the real people behind what happened, I'll be killing two birds with one stone.
"Look," I pushed on. "Allison and I have been together for five years; she was my life and you can imagine how much that life is crumbling right now because they took her away from me. I'm not just going to let them walk away—
"The police will handle it," she cut in, voice tight, but her expression remained scrunched up as if pained by her own words.
"Yeah, eventually. But I want it done fast. Please. This could flush them out."
I didn't see myself pleading to anyone again in my life but if it's for Allison, I'd do it a thousand times over.
"Help me," I said. "Even if the police do catch them, those bastards deserved more than just some jail time." The last words slipped out, low and bitter, but I didn't care.
Madison scoffed. "Zane, you seem like a decent guy, and I can see you loved my sister. But this? This could blow up in our faces."
"If you're scared of getting hurt, I promise I'll protect you. With my life if I have to.. You're Allison's sibling. I wouldn't want you to get hurt and I understand if you want to play it safe," I stated, thinking perhaps she was just scared to do it.
"Oh, please. It's not about fear." Her jaw tightened, eyes burning. "They stabbed her three times — to make sure she stayed dead. Maybe you're right. Maybe this will lure them out. But do you really want your hands dirty?" She gritted, her rage leaking through her words and expression.
"I already got my hands dirty, with my fiancee's blood. The only way to wash it off is with those bastards' blood," I interjected confidently.
"But what about Allison, I'm sure people already figured out by now that she's dead. How can you explain that? How'd you even expect this to work?" Her questions were enough assurance.
I felt hopeful knowing she was leaning towards the positive, even if she was trying hard not to show it…she wants this as much as I do; I just have to push a little more.
"I'm sorry the whole situation made me into a mess; I didn't have time to introduce myself. I'm Zane Antler, CEO of Bambi Entertainment Company, the same company your sister works with, I can assure you. I'll make it happen. I'll make it so nobody will question it because I own the media."
She arched a brow, face skeptical and gaze doubtful.
"Don't mean to brag but the media will believe anything I want them to believe and if I say Allison is alive, well, that's what it's going to be... so, help me lure out her killers. If you want something in return, I can get it for you" I promised.
"I don't want your money; I don't need anything from you. If I'm doing this. I'm doing it for my sister. I owe her that much."
Pain and guilt spread through her face as she said in a low, anguished tone that laid bare her grief-stricken heart. Madison sighed and turned away from me.
"So… are you in?" I asked quietly while she stared blankly into the sky, contemplating.
"If you promise me... you'll find them, no matter what, then I don't care being the bait... if that's all I have to do."
A smirk played at the corner of my lips while my phone vibrated to signify a new text.
'We've moved her' I eye-read the text, clenched my jaw and slipped the phone back into my pocket.
Just wait, Allison, I'm not letting them get away with this; I won't let them get to you again…I'll find them, even if it's the last thing I do. I vowed.
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