Chapter 13
Nathan's POV
It was already getting dark.
The sky had dimmed into soft shades of grey and orange as we drove back.
Zane hadn't spoken the entire ride.
Not once.
His eyes stayed on the road, his grip on the wheel steady—too steady.
It felt… distant.
Like something had shifted.
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
We were home.
I reached for the door and stepped out.
The air felt heavier than before.
When I looked up—
Kieran was already there.
Standing outside.
Waiting.
One hand in his pocket.
Like he had been expecting us.
My chest tightened.
I turned slightly, expecting Zane to step out.
He didn't.
He didn't even look at me.
The engine was still running.
Like I had already been dismissed.
I swallowed.
Then looked back at Kieran.
He started walking toward me.
Slow.
Unhurried.
I instinctively stepped back.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
A smirk appeared on his lips.
But instead of saying anything—
he walked past me.
Straight to the car.
My breath caught as he opened the passenger door and got in.
No explanation.
The door shut.
And just like that—
they drove off.
I stood there.
Frozen.
Trying to understand what had just happened.
What did he say to him?
What did he do?
My thoughts scattered all at once.
I turned slowly—
and froze again.
My mother was standing there.
Watching.
"Mum…"
I walked toward her.
She didn't respond.
She turned and began walking inside.
I followed quickly.
"Mum."
My voice came out softer this time.
She stopped.
Slowly.
Then turned.
"He… he just gave me a ride home," I said.
The words felt weak.
Unconvincing.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
"I didn't ask."
My chest tightened.
"We already had dinner," she continued calmly.
"You weren't there."
She stepped closer.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
"I was—"
"There's no need to lie."
The words cut through me.
Clean.
Cold.
A pause followed.
Then—
"Just don't ruin everything like you did the last time."
My breath hitched.
She turned before I could respond.
And walked away.
Just like that.
I stood there—
watching her leave.
The silence around me felt louder than anything.
My hands slowly curled into fists at my sides.
I exhaled.
Unsteady.
Just standing there alone.
----
Kieran's POV
The look on his face—
it had been satisfying.
Confusion.
Hurt.
Unanswered questions.
Exactly where he needed to be.
The car slowed as it pulled into the lot.
Zane parked.
The engine was cut.
We stepped out.
Marlon approached first.
"What took you guys so long?"
His tone was casual.
"Where is he?" Zane asked.
"In the trunk," Carl replied.
The trunk was opened.
A man was inside.
Tied.
Mouth taped.
Eyes wide with fear.
He was dragged out roughly, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.
A muffled sound escaped him.
Zane stepped forward, grabbing his hair and forcing his head up.
The man whimpered.
Another car pulled in.
Jasmine and Vicky stepped out.
"Hope we didn't miss the show," Vicky said.
Her eyes landed on the man—and she smiled.
"Oh, we didn't," Jasmine replied, removing her sunglasses.
She stepped closer, crouching slightly.
"Oh hey, Kent. How are we feeling today?"
The man shook his head violently.
"Let's get this over with," I said.
Carl brought out a suitcase and placed it on the hood.
It was opened.
Inside—tools.
Metal.
Cold.
The man panicked instantly.
Jasmine crouched in front of him.
"Honestly, this could have been avoided if you had simply listened." she said calmly.
"You should have chosen someone else to threaten."
Marlon ripped the tape off his mouth.
"Please—please, I'm sorry!" Kent rushed out.
"The tapes—they're all yours!"
His voice shook.
Desperate.
"I'll give you everything—just please—"
I stepped forward.
Carl handed me the bolt cutters.
The metal felt heavy in my grip.
Solid.
The man's eyes widened as he saw it.
"No—no, please—please—"
He tried to move back.
Carl gave me a leather apron.
Marlon held him in place.
Firm.
Unmoving.
Jasmine tilted her head slightly.
"You should've thought of that before trying to double-cross me."
Carl brought out a small box.
Inside—a flash drive.
She took it.
Looked at it.
Then dropped it.
Her heel crushed it without hesitation.
"Please!" Kent cried.
"You already have it—just let me go—"
Silence.
I stepped closer.
His hand was grabbed.
Forced still.
"No—no—please—!"
The bolt cutters were positioned.
For a brief second—
he froze.
Then—
a sharp snap.
A scream tore through the air.
High.
Raw.
But nobody could hear him.
We were middle of nowhere.
Blood followed.
Messy.
Immediate.
His body jerked violently before going limp.
He passed out.
Just like that.
I stepped back.
The cutters were handed off to Marlon.
And I took off the apron, handing it over as well.
"Ugh… I truly dislike mess." Jasmine muttered, fanning herself lightly.
Marlon wrapped the man's hand quickly, stopping the bleeding.
Efficient.
It wasn't his first time.
He was dragged back to the trunk.
Disposed of for now.
"How about a drink after this?" Marlon said casually.
"Sure, baby. I never say no to a drink," Vicky replied, already moving toward the car.
"No thanks," Jasmine said.
"Mama's going to start complaining if I miss curfew again."
She hooked her arm around Zane's, the other around mine, leaning slightly.
"How was your date, my love?"
My gaze shifted to Zane.
"Promising," he said.
There was something in his tone.
Subtle.
But it was there.
"K, baby… you've got a little blood on you," she said, glancing at me.
A faint stain marked my shirt.
"I've got a jacket in my car," Zane said, pulling out a cigarette.
It was lit.
He offered me one.
I took it.
He offered Jasmine as well.
She waved it off.
"No thanks. All hell will break loose if mama smells that on me."
She stepped back.
"I've got to go. Love you, my babies."
She blew a kiss before getting into her car and driving off.
Silence settled.
Just me and Zane.
The car door was opened.
I took the jacket from the back seat.
I removed my shirt, replaced it quickly.
Zipped up.
Zane leaned against the car, exhaling smoke into the night.
"The stars look really pretty tonight," he said.
A quiet chuckle left me.
He looked at me.
"It really does."
A pause.
"Come on," I said.
"Let's go."
We got into the car.
The engine started.
And we drove off—
like nothing had happened.