Keifer's PoV
For a heartbeat—the laughter was still in the air. Echos of it like a song that might fade. I stood there, in midst of it all.
Ryann, my close friend. Maybe not so close. We met at the press meeting, and figured that he would be a nice companion.
"Your brother" hesitation lingered in his voice, raw, guilty "your brother got into an accident"
I paused, as if my mind didn't cooperate with my body, unable to process. Jay gasped in shock, and slowly held my hand.
"Your brother" hesitation lingered in his voice, raw, guilty "your brother got into an accident"
I paused, as if my mind didn't cooperate with my body, unable to process
"What??" I didn't realise I was running until I reached my room, damn where the fuck is my phone?
"Your brother" hesitation lingered in his voice, raw, guilty "your brother got into an accident"
I paused, as if my mind didn't cooperate with my body, unable to process
"What??" I didn't realise I was running until I reached my room, damn where the fuck is my phone?
My hands fumbled through the mess on my desk—papers, chargers, a half eaten granola bar —none of it was what I needed
"Come on…." I muttered, I yanked open every drawer, somehow louder than the last.
Then I saw it, buried beneath the hoodie on my bed, I grabbed the phone, my hands suddenly clumsy, slipping, like they didn't belong to me
Call driver. Declined.
Call again. Switch off.
Fuck!! I stumbled downstairs, two at a time, barely catching myself on the railings. My heart was in my throat. Pounding like it was trying to break out of my chest.
"Mister" I shouted at him "where"
"ci-city med" he said, as fear leces his voice. But I saw…..a flicker, a smirk trying to escape his lips. But I didn't care, all I care about now is my brother.
"Keif—let me come" jay asked
I was about to nod but worry took over. She can't come to the hospital. What if she catches a cold or something worse.
"No, I need to go alone" I said voice still heavy.
I grabbed my keys and kisses her forehead before leaving. Just as I stepped out and was about to get in the car..... "how are you, jay" he asked. Ryann asked.
"Who the hell are you? And why arw you still hear? Get out!!" Jay shouted at him
"Oohh. Looks like my baby doesn't remember me" he said mockingly. My blood already boiling. I decided to stay, but hidden
"Who are you" she repeated
"Your ex-best friend"
"I'm sorry, what? Whatever you mean I don't care. I never had friends until now you idiot"
I heard his laughter, evil, infuriating, agitating, fucking annoying.
"You really don't remember?" He scoffed "New York? Mr. Mariano? Your dad arranged your wedding remember?"
I thought I was going crazy. Maybe imagining stuff, like hallucinating. But no, it was real, this is real.
"I'm here to get you back at any cost" Jay laughed at him. She laughed so hard, she snorted
"You think you can take me away from him. From keifer. Oh no, no, no darling, I'll never come, not even if someone dies"
Jay's back hit the wall hard, as he stepped closer and closer
The moment Ryann's hand moved, something inside me snapped—dark, cold, final. Time folded itself. Jay's laugh had already died in the air; that look changed from dare-you to pleading.
My boots were soundless until they weren't. I stepped out of the doorway like a blade, the light catching on my skin like a warning.
"Ryann"
My voice was slow, threading with everything I swallowed for too long. For a beat l saw the man he could be, then what he chose to be—a violent thing, larger than haye but smaller than mercy.
"Let her go" my voice didn't shake. It felt like frost on his skin.
He moved like a cornered animal, I moved like winter thet flows—inevitably and merciless
We met between cracked plaster and air smelling like cigarette smoke. Fist to chest, then jaw. My world narrowed into hos fall and wilderness of his hands. He was scraping for dominance and I was there to end it clean.
He probably tasted the metal and the attempts—attempts to own, to claim. But I wasn't gonna let that happen, not again. Cause now….she has me. She owns me and I'll protect her and my child at any cost. Because they belong to me only me….and no fucking idiot can lay a hand on them.
Each strike I threw wasn't to push him to pain, but it was rather a punishment. A punishment for tearing her, for breaking, for ruining my world. And he needed to pay.
I walked towards her, slowly, not wanting to regret my moments. "Jay are you okay" I asked. Crouching infront of her, tugging her close, held her as she broke, "I love you" I whispered even if it wouldn't make a difference.
[end of chapter 35]
Sorry for the late update. It took me a while to develop this chapter.
If you have any suggestions comment it down below or you can reach me on discord: Ayla