She didn't speak when she entered the café. Just nodded at the girl at the counter. Silent. Face pale.
Her steps were unsure. Mind somewhere else.
That honk still echoed in her ears. Her fingers… cold.
She hid it well. Just started working like nothing happened.
Across the street.
Backseat window half-down. James leaned back. Eyes fixed on her.
Didn't blink.
Didn't smile.
"She's got something…" he muttered.
Driver didn't ask what.
James glanced at his watch.
"Let's go. Zane's office."
A pause.
Then that same sick smile again.
"Then I'll taste her."
James Maddox walked into Thorne Holdings like he owned the place. Expensive cologne, slick suit, that fake charm dripping off his face.
Zane Thorne didn't even bother to stand.
They sat. Spoke. Smiled.
The contract lay between them, ready to be signed.
Zane picked up the pen.
His phone buzzed.
A glance. Jared.
He answered. "Yeah?"
"Zane," Jared's voice was tense, low. "James's men. They were seen around the café. Around her. I think they're planning something."
Zane didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe for a second.
Then—cold, deadly—he whispered into the phone, "Anyone touches her, I'll rip them apart with my bare hands."
He hung up.
And smiled at James. Calm. Controlled.
Until he tore the contract clean in half. Paper fluttered down like ash.
James blinked. "What the hell—?"
Zane stood.
Walked around the table.
Grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the glass wall.
"You really thought I wouldn't find out?" Zane hissed.
James struggled. "Find out what? What are you talking about?"
Zane's grip tightened.
"The girl you almost ran over today. The one you stared at like prey. She's mine. You even breathe in her direction again, I'll bury you alive."
James went still. "I—I didn't know—"
Zane leaned closer, eyes burning. "She's not yours to look at. Not yours to touch. She was mine before I ever spoke to her. You just made the mistake of thinking I'd let someone like you near her."
James shoved Zane back a little, adjusting his shirt. "You've lost your mind—"
"No," Zane said coldly. "You're about to."
James laughed it off, nervous now. "You're insane. Over a girl?"
Zane stepped closer again, voice dropping into something darker. "Not just a girl. She's the only thing in this world I want."
James didn't respond. But the fear—brief and sharp—flickered in his eyes.
He left. Quick.
But angry.
Humiliated.
And outside, in his car, he made a call.
"Grab the girl. Now."
Jean:
Jean stepped out of the café, apron still tied loosely at her back.
"See you tomorrow," she said to the girl at the counter.
Her voice was light. A little smile played on her lips.
For once…
She didn't hate the air around her.
The street wasn't loud. The people weren't too much.
No weight in her chest. No ache in her legs.
Just silence.
Peace.
She looked up at the sky gray, but not gloomy. Just enough cloud to feel soft.
She took a breath. Then another.
Her steps felt lighter than usual.
No running thoughts. No pressure.
She walked the familiar road to her apartment. A few blocks, not too far.
The kind of walk she used to dread.
Now? It felt okay.
She passed by a couple holding hands. A group of kids running with melting ice cream.
She didn't flinch or tense up.
She let it be.
Let life be.
And for the first time in years....
She felt like maybe she was healing.
But she didn't know someone was watching.
Didn't know someone had already made up his mind.
This peace?
It wouldn't last long.
Jean crossed the street. Her building stood right ahead.
She smiled when she saw the little boy Greyson sitting on the park bench. His mother sat beside him, scrolling through her phone."Hey, friend," Jean called.
The boy looked up and waved, his cheeks full of candy. He looked too cute.
She felt... good. Lighter than usual. For once, the air didn't feel heavy.
She walked toward her apartment, heart strangely calm. Her keys were in her hand when it happened.
A hand grabbed her from behind tight over her mouth.
Another wrapped around her waist and pulled her back fast.
Her keys slipped from her hand. Her eyes went wide.
She kicked, thrashed, but she couldn't scream. Nothing came out. Her lungs burned.
No one turned around. No one saw her.
She was dragged off the sidewalk into a van parked just beyond the line of sight.
The door slammed shut behind her.
It was dark. The engine started.
A cloth was shoved into her mouth. Her hands were pulled behind her, tied before she could fight.
Tears stung her eyes. Her body wouldn't stop shaking.
She looked around metal walls, no windows. A man sat across from her, face covered. He said nothing.
Her heart pounded.
She tried not to fall apart.
But her mind was spinning. She couldn't breathe right. Everything felt tight and wrong.
The boy Greyson. Did he see? Did he run? Would anyone even know she was gone?
She curled into herself, chest rising too fast. It felt like her body wasn't hers anymore.
Who did this? Why?
Was this the end?
Zane's office:
Zane was in the office working on some files.
He glanced down.
Jared.
Zane picked up.
"Talk."
Jared's voice was tense, rushed.
"Jean she's gone."
The room stilled around Zane.
Gone?
"What the hell do you mean gone?" His voice dropped, deadly calm.
"I was monitoring from across the street. Two men masks, gloves they grabbed her. Dragged her into a van. I lost them. I-I'm tracking the plates right now.."
"You were across the street?" Zane stood. His chair crashed to the floor. "Across the f**ing street?* And you let them touch her?"
"I didn't see it coming.."
"You had one job," Zane growled. "One."
The line crackled.
Zane's blood thundered. There was fire in his eyes. His jaw clenched.
He didn't need guesses. He already knew.
James Maddox.
"You find her now," he snapped. "And if anything's happened to her.." His voice dropped into something primal, animal. "I swear to God, I'll rip James apart with my bare hands. I'll bury him alive."
He ended the call, already storming out.
Warehouse - 28 minutes later
Zane's black SUV screeched to outside the rusted warehouse on the edge of the city. Jared got there just a minute before him. He was scared. But not more than Zane.
Zane didn't wait.
He kicked open the steel door metal howling under the force and charged in.
Inside, James's guards tried to block him.
Zane didn't even hesitate.
One punch jaw shattered.
The second reached for his belt.
Zane slammed him against the wall, kicked him in the gut and he collapsed.
"Where is she?" he shouted.
And then...
He saw her.
On the ground. Wrists tied.
Her lips bleeding, arms bruised, hair tangled. Her body shaking. Her eyes wide, terrified.
Zane's world snapped.
He dropped to his knees beside her. The one who didn't ever looked down get on to knees for her.
"Jean."
She flinched.
"Hey..no.." His voice cracked. He reached to untie her, hands shaking.
"I'm with you now," he whispered, more to himself than her.
She didn't know him. She didn't speak. Her breathing was slow, her eyes were barely opened.
Zane turned to Jared, who just stepped in.
"WHERE THE F*** WERE YOU?"
Jared froze.
"They dragged her like an animal!" Zane roared. "She was bleeding in the goddamn street and you were watching?!"
Jared dropped his gaze.
Zane looked back at Jean, touching her face carefully, hugging her slowly, like she'd break if he wasn't gentle.
"You're safe now," he whispered. "No one's touching you again. Ever."
Jean stared at him, too dazed to respond.
Zane wrapped his jacket around her. Lifted her in his arms.
As he carried her out, his voice dropped again. Cold, absolute.
"I'm going to kill James Maddox."
And this time, he meant every word.