ARIEN

My right palm rested on the wall in front of me, the cold water from the shower cascading down my body.

My eyes were fixed on the spot on my knuckles where Zahria kissed me yesterday.

She was a dangerous woman. A single, chaste brush of her lips that too on my knuckles and I can't fucking stop thinking about it.

She is fucking controlling, playing mind games, trying to make me pity her.

All this ends now.

Horace and James are not my first priority now, she is. I don't care if she helps with my revenge, I am going to end her life. Right now.

Ever since yesterday, for the first time, I let my right hand under the water, washing away the tingles left by her kiss.

I turned off the shower, towel-dried myself and wore a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

I had every plan of choking her to death but then...she will struggle. It will hurt.

What is the most painless form of death?

Maybe I can crush some sleeping pills, add them to a drink and make her drink it.

When I entered her room, I found her on the bed, her body curled, the heating pad resting on her abdomen while she slept.

She slept on her side, legs pulled up to keep the heating pad in place, one arm under her head, the other extended. Hair spilling over her face, covering it.

Careless.

I slowly removed the heating pad, it was already very hot, and she could have burnt herself.

Gently I brushed away the hair from her face, her lips were in a pout, a frown on her forehead.

I ran my fingers over her throat, it would be easy to break her neck, finish this nuisance.

Yet my fingers paused.

My jaw locked tightly as I forced my fingers to wrap around her throat.

A whimper escaped her mouth the moment my fingers tightened around her throat.

I jerked my hand away as if her skin burnt. Fuck. I can't do this.

I have taken countless lives without any remorse then why the fuck is this so difficult? She is Horace's daughter, if that can't make me kill her then...nothing can.

Her eyes fluttered open making me take a step back.

"You", she mumbled sleepily when she saw me. "Why are you here? Always being a pervert...creep...assho..." Her eyes dropped shut as she fell asleep again.

My heart gave a dull throb, hands itching to grab her and pull her against me.

I am losing my fucking mind.

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I came to an abrupt pause as I reached downstairs, standing in the middle of the living room was a man with his back to me, the familiar brown hair made me glare at him.

"How the fuck did you get here?"

Elmer turned around, his hands planted on his hips as his eyes roamed around. "Quite an impressive mansion you have. I wonder why you never told us about buying this."

"How the fuck did you get my location?" I walked closer to him, close to bursting with anger.

He cocked his head. "There's a reason I am the most efficient one in the organisation when it comes to getting information."

My hand shot forward and grabbed his collar. "Get the fuck out of here."

All playfulness vanished and he gave me a stern look. "No. I'm here to end this madness. Where is she?"

Just the thought of Elmer looking at Ria made me tighten my hold around his collar. "No."

"Arien, let her go. You can't hold her here forever, she has a life for fuck's sake."

"She is not going anywhere," I stated firmly.

He yanked himself away from my hold and stepped away. "Yes, she will. Verena is so worried about her, so is Asael. Where is she?"

"Zahria stays with me." My body trembled with rage. "She is mine."

His eyebrows shot up at my statement. "Yours? Do you have feelings for her?"

"Shut up." I hissed.

"Is that supposed to be a yes?"

"No."

"Then in what sense is she yours? You have to let her go."

"She is not going anywhere!" I yelled, my fingers quivering badly, I was tempted to hurt him just for suggesting that.

I wanted to get rid of her just now then why did the thought of her being taken away from me make me see red?

His jaw clenched. "Repress, don't act."

"Don't fucking try to calm me. Zahria will remain with me for however long I want."

"Arien", he said softly. "Think about it. We agreed not to hurt innocent people. Isn't that what happened with you and your family? She is innocent too and hurting her--"

"I didn't hurt her," I growled. "She is safe."

He looked surprised as if he expected me to treat her like a slave. "Okay...okay."

He blew out a breath, running his fingers through his hair. "Okay. Let me see her once."

Another growl escaped me the moment he stepped forward. "You will not see her, let alone talk to her. If you care about yourself, get the fuck out of here."

"You are being possessive for no reason." He pointed out, lips pressing together. "I only want to talk to her once."

My control snapped and I threw a punch at his jaw making him stumble back with a groan.

He rubbed at his jaw, glaring at me. "You don't wanna do this, Arien."

"You take her away from me and I'll do worse."

"You are not thinking straight. I promise to find Horace and James for you but you don't need to drag Zahria into this."

I didn't like hearing him say her name. I didn't like the idea of him thinking about her, of him seeing her, talking to her.

Zahria was mine alone.

When I punched him again, he was quick to throw a punch back which caused my lips to burst open.

With a snarl, I charged at him and then we were full-on fighting. Punches, kicks, shoving.

Minutes passed by, don't know how much but by the time we were done, we both were lying on the floor, panting, our faces bloodied.

My whole body ached and the pained groan Elmer let out from beside me confirmed he felt the same.

Fucking deserved that.

"What the fuck?!"

Zahria's shocked voice caused us both to jerk up in a sitting position.

She stood at the bottom of the stairs, eyes wide as she took in our state.

Her eyes paused on Elmer and she frowned. "Who are you?"

I gritted my teeth when she continued to stare at him. I wanted to throw him off the cliff.

Elmer immediately slid into his gentlemanly state as he stood up slowly, wincing as he rubbed his ribs.

Should have hit harder.

"I'm Elmer and I am here to escort you back, Ms Connors."

She looked unsure as her eyes flickered between us and she took a hesitant step back.

I was curious to see her reaction.

Is she going to leave with him?

She obviously will after all that's what she wanted--

Her expression hardened, eyes narrowing at Elmer. "And why should I believe you?"

Pride surged through me. That's my girl.

I shot up to my feet ignoring the pain in my body just in time to see Elmer taken aback by her answer.

I limped towards Ria and my heart warmed when she took a step towards me while giving Elmer an unsure look.

She trusted me over him.

Overwhelmed with the realisation, I put my arm around her waist and pulled her into my side, holding her tightly.

Her fingers clutched my t-shirt at my back and glanced up at me looking perplexed.

At my side she felt fucking perfect, she felt like mine.

Elmer watched us both with a calculated gaze. "Arien..."

"Leave."

He turned his attention to Zahria. "Ms Connors, I promise to escort you back to your family safely."

Her face fell on the word 'family' but she composed herself. She sighed softly. "I don't trust you."

"That's...understandable", Elmer muttered sounding disappointed. "But do you wish to stay here forever?"

"If you are really here to save me then come back with someone I know and trust. Maybe Verena or Asael--"

My fingers digged into her waist as I put her behind me, cutting her off.

I glared at Elmer. "If you dare to disclose my location to Asael, I am going to hunt you down, Elmer and once I do, it won't be pretty."

Elmer mirrored my glare. "You are being ridiculous, Arien."

"Get. Out."

"Asael knows you have her, he is already searching, it won't be long before he finds you."

Whatever Zahria realised from that single sentence made her attempt to get out from behind me but I didn't let her.

"LEAVE!" I bellowed.

He shook his head and started to walk towards the backdoor leading to my helipad.

"Go to your room", I told Zahria as Elmer turned his back to us.

"Is he telling the truth?"

"Zahria, please. Go to your room."

"Arien..."

"Go."

Chewing on her lips, she walked back upstairs quietly.

I instantly followed Elmer out of the backdoor to where another helicopter was waiting for him beside mine.

It was a special helicopter, the ones that make no noise hence I couldn't hear him come here.

He stood near it as if expecting me already, this time his expression was soft.

"I am doing what's right for you, Arien."

I shoved my pointer finger against his chest. "You don't need to act like my elder brother, you don't need to look after me."

"I do care for you. You are like a little brother to me." He placed his palm on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

"Zahria is innocent." He added. "You need to let her go."

"Leave."

He sighed loudly. "I won't tell Asael but give it a thought. Please."

Turning around, I walked back inside without a reply.