~Aaron~
I left the hospital once Joan had fallen asleep. There weren’t enough words to describe how I felt when I walked into that room and those green eyes turned to me. I wanted to fall to my knees, but the mild confusion in them kept me standing. The last thing I wanted was to startle her.
I headed down to the basement, Louis and another guy trailing behind me. The air was thick with the damp, metallic scent of the underground space. I barely spared a glance at the figure tied to the chair-blindfolded, gagged, and completely helpless.
“I want to believe none of you touched her,” I said, my voice even but laced with a warning. They both gave a curt nod. I was in for a lot of things, but rape wasn’t one of them. Women were a rarity here, and I had made it clear-no one was to lay a finger on them. I gave the orders, and that was one line I refused to let anyone cross.
She jerked against the restraints, wrists rubbing raw against the coarse rope. I watched the skin turn red where it bit into her flesh.
“You can leave us. I’ll be done in a few minutes.” They nodded again and stepped out, though I knew they’d be standing just outside, listening. Making sure everything went as planned.
I pulled off the blindfold, and her wide eyes locked onto mine. Recognition flickered in them, followed by something closer to fear.
Unfortunately for her, Denzel had dug up everything. That’s how I found out about her little affair with Private Investigator Stefan Larry-the same man who’d been following Joan for months.
That was all it took for me to send my men after her. They had barely gotten to her when Adrian found the video-grainy footage from the next street over, showing a group of hooded figures, their faces hidden and unidentifiable. I’d eventually fish them out.
I removed the gag, and she immediately glared at me.
“What the fuck?” she snapped, blinking in surprise before her expression darkened. “Aaron? What the hell are you doing here?” Then, as if it finally clicked, her face twisted with anger. “You know those boys, don’t you? Tell them to let me go right now! They have no right to keep me in here for days without my permission!”
Disgust prickled under my skin. How far was she willing to go? The idea that she had hired thugs to end Joan’s life-all because of what? Me? It still seemed unbelievable.
I leaned down and wrapped my fingers around her throat, squeezing just enough to cut off her air.
“Listen to me, and listen carefully,” I said, my voice calm, deliberate. “If Joan had died, you would have been joining her. And trust me-it wouldn’t have been an easy death.”
That’s when I saw it. The fear. It clung to her thick and suffocating, probably more real than the pain in her wrists. I could almost taste it.
Her face reddened, her mouth opening in a silent gasp. I held on a second longer before releasing her. She sucked in a desperate breath, her chest heaving, a red imprint left behind where my hand had been.
“What… God, what are you saying?” she choked out, voice hoarse.
I tilted my head slightly, studying her.
“Still pretending?” I muttered before turning toward the table. A neat row of tools waited. I picked up a knife, rolling it between my fingers before brandishing it just enough for her to see.
Her body went rigid. “What… What are you doing?”
I shook my head. “You’re going to tell me everything. Why you hired a private investigator to follow Joan. Why you hired thugs to kill her. Every single detail. You leave one out, and you’re dead meat.”
For a moment, she stayed silent. Then, unbelievably, she chuckled. “You can’t possibly hurt me.” A smug smirk curled at her lips. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
I smiled-humorless, sharp. Then, in one swift motion, I slashed the knife upward, grazing her side.
She gasped. The sound was sharp as her dress ripped, exposing a thin line of red welling against her skin.
“What was that about me not being able to hurt you?” My voice hardened. “Last chance.”
Tears welled in her eyes now. This time, when she spoke, she didn’t hesitate. She spilled everything.
I listened, unmoving. I had every intention of killing her if Joan hadn’t woken up. It wouldn’t have brought her justice, but it would have been something.
But Joan was awake. And that changed everything.
Instead, I had other plans for Angelina. The same place I sent Matthew-the penitentiary. There, she’d be far away, her chances of release slim to none. Both of them had tried to kill Joan, and that was something I couldn’t let go.
“I’m sorry,” she whimpered. “I never knew she meant that much to you.”
I hummed. Weak excuse. Even if Joan had meant nothing to me, that still wouldn’t have given her the right to take a life.
“Too late.”
“I’m a celebrity, Aaron. Just pardon me this once. I swear, I’ll never do it again.”
I scoffed. “And that’s exactly why you need to be punished. People look up to you-young, old. They want to be like you. And you do shit like this?” I shook my head. “You don’t deserve the spotlight.”
I straightened. “Tomorrow, you leave. If you’re lucky and behave, maybe you’ll come out someday. If not… everything’s gone.”
I turned away, dropping the knife onto the table before walking out ignoring her pleas.
Right now, I had more important things to focus on.
Joan was awake. And nothing else mattered.