Chapter 358
Chapter 358
Chapter 204: Who Is He?
Savannah
The drive to the address Chloe had given us felt longer than it was. By the time we pulled up to the building, every single expectation I’d
formed about Zane’s new life was confirmed.
Chloe’s directions had led us to a squat concrete building wedged between a liquor store and an antique shop. The weak neon sign flickered in broad daylight like it was gasping for its last breath. And there was a peeling poster which slapped against the wall with every
gust of wind.
A motorcycle leaned against the wall, its paint chipped and its owner clearly unbothered. The whole area felt like the kind of place where bad decisions were made… and worse ones were bought.
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit back and let me handle this?” Roman asked quietly, his voice low enough to blend into the hum of the
engine.
“No.” I unbuckled my seat belt and reached for the door. “Let’s get this over with and go home p>
He hesitated. I could see the fight forming in his jaw, but he let out a slow breath and nodded. He stepped out first, rounding the car to my side, and his hand slid into mine with familiar possessiveness as we approached the entrance.
A blast of sensory chaos hit the moment we stepped inside. Aggressive, bass–heavy, and vibrating music pounded from hidden speakers through the floor. The sharp buzzing of a tattoo gun could be heard even with the music blasting. The place smelled like ink, metal, and something vaguely citrus, like someone had tried to clean but gave up halfway.
And then I saw him. Zane.
He was exactly as I remembered him. The same lip ring. The same eyebrow ring. The same cocky slouch. He was hunched over a bikini- clad woman sprawled on the leather chair, shading her waist tattoo with deep concentration.
I cleared my throat. “Zane. ”
His head lifted. His eyes flicked toward me, widened, then brightened with a smile that was equal parts familiarity and surprise. “Savannah. Long time no see. ”
“Likewise,” I said, forcing a brittle smile. “You didn’t tell an old friend you were leaving LA. You just vanished after my sister went missing. That was rude, Zane. ”
The smile fell off his face like someone had slapped it off. He murmured something to the girl–something soft, hurried–and she gathered her things and slipped out the back without a glance at us.
1/2
9:49 Thu, Dec 25
Chapter 358
Roman’s grip on my hand tightened, just enough for me to feel the heat radiating off his skin. Not jealousy. Not anger. Something sharper. Something impatient.
The moment the girl disappeared, Zane’s expression hardened. “What do you want, Savannah?” His gaze flicked to Roman. “ And who is
he? ”
“This is Roman,” I said. “My fiancé p>
Zane didn’t bother hiding the way he sized Roman up. “Right. Cool. Uh … what’s up, man p>
Roman ignored the greeting and just stared at him like he was a stain he wanted to scrub off the earth. “What do you know that Chloe
and Paula don’t want us to find out p>
The color drained from Zane’s face instantly. “You’ve met Chloe p>
“Yes.” Roman stepped forward. “And she and Paula are being treated for gunshot wounds–hand and leg–as we speak. So I suggest you start talking, because I’m quite trigger–happy today, Zane p>
Zane blinked. “You shot Chloe p>
“She was wasting my time,” Roman said, tone flat. “Just like you’re doing right now. She wouldn’t shut up p>
Zane looked shaken, his mind racing. Then he ran a hand over his mouth and whispered, “Are they going to be okay? ”
“They’ll live,” Roman said. “Can’t say the same for you if you keep stalling p>
Zane let out a slow exhale and sank into the chair behind him, bracing his elbows on his knees like he needed to hold himself together.
“You need to get Chloe away from my sister,” he said finally, voice stripped of its usual bravado. “She’s not good for her p>
“No shit.” I muttered, folding my arms. “That’s really obvious, Zane p>
“No.” He shook his head, eyes desperate. “No, Savannah. You don’t understand. It’s not that simple. Paula is bad news. She–she’s been supplying Chloe drugs, and they’re messing her up. At first it was weed. I used to get her some back then. But it stopped helping p>
Comments
3
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.