Chapter 133
He grins slightly.
“Right p>
Aaron comes at me harder this time His punches are heavier now but less controlled
One clips my shoulder, Another grazes my jaw.
Pain flares briefly.
Good pain is good so I welcome it. Because the heat burning in my chest hasn’t cooled since Elaine walked out of this room.
Aaron throws another punch, I catch his wrist and twist then drive my knee into his thigh.
He grunts loudly and stumbles but I don’t give him time to recover as I deliver twp fast strikes to his ribs and a hook to the jaw.
Aaron barely blocks the last one but the force still sends him staggering sideways.
He laughs breathlessly.
“Alright,” he pants. “Now I know you’re pissed p>
I don’t answer, I just move this time faster than before.
Aaron tries to counter.
He’s good enough to keep up for a few seconds. But eventually the difference shows.
My fist connects clean with his cheek and his head snaps sideways. Before he can reset, I drive another punch into his stomach, that has air rusheing out of him in a harsh grunt.
Aaron drops to one knee but still stubborn enough to swing upward toward my ribs. I catch his arm and shove him backward and he hits the mat hard.
The thud echoing.
For a moment he just lies there breathing heavily as I wipe sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. My knuckles ache slightly.
Aaron groans.
“Okay,” he mutters from the floor. “That one might’ve cracked something p>
“You’ll live p>
He rolls onto his side slowly.
“Very comforting p>
I bend down and pick up my shirt from where I dropped it earlier, the fabric is damp when I pull it over my head and my muscles protest slightly as I move.
Good fight.
Aaron sits up, rubbing at his jaw.
I start walking toward the door but Aaron calls back to me.
“Boss p>
I don’t stop.
“Zane p>
My hand almost reaches the door handle but I stop.
“This is because of her, isn’t it p>
I pause for a second then continue walking.
Behind me Aaron exhales.
“You like her don’t you p>
That stops me and I turn slowly.
Aaron is still sitting on the mat, one arm draped over his knee, watching me carefully, probably wondering if he just signed his own death warrant.
I look at him for a long moment.
Then when I speak, my voice is calm.
“Say one more word p>
Aaron straightens slightly.
Silence drops like a weight as Aaron holds my gaze for a second.
Then he raises both hands slightly in surrender.
“Alright,” he mutters. “Message received p>
I turn back toward the door and walk out.
Elaine’s POV.
Morning comes slowly and when I finally open my eyes properly, the room is quiet. The curtains are half open, letting in thin lines of sunlight that stretch across the bedroom floor and climb the edge of the bed.
For a moment I just lie there, staring at the ceiling.
Then I turn my head, to see that other side of the bed is empty.
Of course it is.
Zane rarely stays long in the mornings. Even on the nights he does sleep here, he usually disappears before the sun properly rises.
Still, my eyes linger on that side of the mattress. The sheets are slightly wrinkled and there’s a clear dent where someone slept. I know he came in last night, I didn’t see him, but I felt the mattress dip sometime in the middle of the night. Half asleep, I remember shifting slightly and catching the faint scent of his cologne mixed with that woodsy addictive scent of his.
He didn’t wake me just got into bed and now he’s gone again.
I roll onto my back and rub a hand over my face. Nope. Not thinking about that this early in the morning.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stand, stretching the stiffness out of my arms. My muscles protest immediately, apparently punching someone repeatedly even if that someone is a giant brick wall like Zane has consequences. Even my ribs ache slightly when I stretch.
“Great,” I mutter.
I walk into the bathroom, wash up, and get dressed in something simple: black leggings and an oversized sweater that falls past my hips. Comfortable enough for the house, warm enough for the chilly morning air.
Once I’m done, I stare at my reflection for a moment. My face still looks slightly puffy from sleep, bt there’s something lighter about my expression today. Probably because I finally talked to my sister yesterday.
The thought makes me reach for my phone on the bedside table and I tap her contact. The ringing barely lasts two seconds before the screen lights up with Ivy’s face.
“Elaine p>
Her voice is bright enough to make me smile instantly.
“Ivy p>
Her camera wobbles for a second like she’s adjusting her phone.
She looks better today, there’s color in her cheeks, her hairs tied up into a messy bun with a blanket draped around her shoulders like she’s still curled up somewhere comfortable.
“How are you feeling?” I ask immediately.
“Better,” she says, stretching the word. “Actually bettr p>
“That’s good p>
She narrows her eyes at me through the screen.
“You look like you just woke up p>
“I did p>
“Lazy girl p>
“Oh please,” I scoff. “Some of us had a stressful day p>
Ivy grins.
“Married life already getting to you p>
I roll my eyes.
“Don’t start p>
“Too late p>
I lean back against the headboard, smiling despite myself.
“I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you yet,” I say after a moment. “I know everything has been a mess lately but I should’ve p>
“El p>
Her voice softens.
” I get it p>
“But uou shouldn’t have to p>
“But I do,” she insists gently. “Given the situation you’re in right now, it makes sense p>
I hesitate.
“I still should have been able to clme see you p>