Chapter 95: The Monster
[Music: Human By Rag’n’Bone Man]
A Night Ago
ZADE
I caught Anastasia before her body dropped to the floor. I scooped her up in my arms, and her body sagged against mine. I examined her closely and realized she was only unconscious.
My grip tightened against her frame as my jaw clenched. I knew this day would come.
The frustration that consumed me when I told her the things I needed her to hear.
I have done questionable things in my life, things I’ve never looked back on or even given a fucking thought about, but this... it affected me.
Being the monster had never troubled me. I’d spent my entire life making decisions others lacked the stomach to make. Their judgment had never bothered me, nor did their hatred.
But this was the only way.
Let her hate me, let her bring her wrath toward me with everything she has, I’ll take it all.
Shifting her gently in my arms, I made my way toward her room.
When I got to the door, I unlocked it with my free hand, stepped inside, and pushed it closed with my foot.
I walked closer to the bed and lay her down, brushing the dark strands on her face.
Dots of blood dribbled on her cheek, and I wiped them away with my thumb before straightening my spine.
I angled my neck to check the cut on the decorative mirror beside her headboard and caught sight of the red mark.
I dipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, resting it against the cut.
My other pocket vibrated, and I brought out my phone to check.
Dr. Keller.
I stared at it for a while until the call ended, but it came in again, and I decided to answer.
"Mr. Salvero. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t take my call. I saw your text and—"
"She asked me."
There was a pause in the line before he said. "What did she ask?"
I took one more look at Anastasia before walking toward the window, checking the handkerchief already smeared with blood.
"She asked about Annabeth."
"What did you tell her?"
"What she needed to hear."
"This would have been the opportunity."
"There’s no need to push it. You said so yourself," I said.
"I did, but with this it’d have come naturally. She asked you herself and it wasn’t forced on her."
"I know, but I’ve made my decision. I’ll update you about any changes."
I ended the call.
An opportunity.
Yes, it could have been but I knew what was more important. Anastasia held Annabeth in such high esteem that she practically worshiped her and kept her close to her heart.
I can’t let that change.
~☆~
The Next Day
My fist slammed into the bag, sending it swinging violently as the sharp thud echoed through the gym.
I stopped, breathing roughly as I held the bag to stay in place and rested my forehead against it.
Chills ran down my spine as I felt sweat trickling down my skin.
"Don’t tell me there’s someone in there. The last time that happened, the poor man could barely speak after. Made getting the information we needed more cumbersome."
I leaned away and moved my eyes to the doorway where Elliot leaned with his hands buried in his pocket. After a moment, he withdrew one and checked his Rolex.
"I came here five hours ago. And here you are... still at it. A bit too much stress to be released or is there something bothering you?"
I grabbed the bottle of water from the bench and twisted the cap, chugging everything in one go.
"Pretty bandage there."
"Reason number one why I don’t want my wife playing with sharp things," I replied. "Then again, who am I to judge?"
"Ah, she’s mad at you."
"The inevitable."
"Dare I ask what happened?"
"Don’t." I dropped the bottle and raised my clenched fist to resume.
"I did warn you she would only hate you more if you keep this up."
I punched the bag with far too much force, sending it swinging all the way toward Elliot. He caught it with one hand before shoving it back in my direction.
"And I’m not in the mood to hear you say I told you so."
"Understandable. It’s rare not to see you entertained, especially when you were simply enjoying yourself the whole time. And now it seems as if all that is drained away."
My chest rose as I let out a breath. "Your point is?"
"All this trouble can cease if you just—"
I pointed a finger at him, and his words died in his throat. "Keep your fucking mouth shut."
"I have. We all have."
"As you all should."
Silence stretched, before he released a sigh.
"Let’s hope she doesn’t cut open your throat next time."
"I already have my will prepared."
"I’m sure you do."
He left.
I ripped the boxing tapes off my hands. The ache from hours of boxing finally caught up to me.
I walked to grab the dumbbells to expel more of this stress, but my eyes caught something. I neared the window and caught sight of Gabriel.
I followed his movement, and a muscle ticked in my jaw when I saw his destination.
I dropped the dumbbell, grabbed my shirt, and walked out of the gym.
I slipped on my shirt as I headed out of the manor, my expression hardening the moment I spotted them.
He was standing behind her, too damn close.
I walked closer, yet neither of them noticed. So I picked up the rifle, rested it against my shoulder, and took aim.
I shot at the targets, taking down mostly the red ones, before my actions ceased.
Anastasia had her eyes on me now, drifting briefly to the bandage on my neck, a flicker of worry behind them before she blinked.
Gabriel spoke, and I replied as intended. Anastasia was getting nervous by the second, as though she couldn’t tolerate me.
But a stranger was more tolerable, it seems.
