<b>Chapter </b><b>31 </b>
Third Person POV.
<b>“</b>Can you believe what Aria said? She actually used you of hurting her! God, I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous in my entire life<b>! </b><b>I </b><b>can’t </b>believe 1 ever treated her like a friend…”
Delh was right on Jace’s heels on their way back to the house. She was still ranting nonstop.
But Jace hadn’t said a single word on the entire walk. His face was dark, his mind somewhere else.
Delh didn’t stop. “I won’t forgive her this time. I swear! Seriously, that’s like the worst kind of betrayal! I’m starting to see why you hate her so much-<b>” </b>
“Are you done talking?” he suddenly exploded.
She jumped, startled by his outburst. Her expression turned hurt and confused. “Why are you yelling at me? I’m on your side!”
“Thanks for the support,” he snapped. “but it doesn’t mean shit when your dear brother still thinks I’m some fucking criminal does <b>it</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
He stormed off toward the garage. She tried to grab his arm. “Wait! Where are you going?”
He shook her off hard. “Leaving this damn house. I’m done with all of you Harts. Better walk off before you start thinking I’ll actually kill someone yourself!”
She yelled something behind him, but he wasn’t listening. He was already out the door.
The Porsche Delh had bought him a few days ago was parked right in the garage. He climbed in, mmed the door shut, and hit the gas.
The engine roared as he sped away from the estate.
His heart was racing, palms slick with sweat. He needed to get out–FAST. Every second under Grayson’s cold, dead stare felt like torture.
He needed to talk to someone.
40 minutester, Jace’s car pulled into a small town and stopped in front of a run–down bar. It was still early, so the ce was almost empty. Only one yawning bartender was behind the counter, polishing sses.
“Is he here?” Jace asked.
The bartender jerked his chin toward the shadows beside the bar.
There, slouched in a booth, was a scruffy man nursing a beer. He was muttering to himself, like a lunatic.
Jace walked over and grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him around.
“What the fuck did you do, Jonathan?!”
Th drunk gave a shudder. Then his eyes lit up.
“Oh hey, man! Right on time! Come on, we gotta celebrate-”
“No fucking celebration!” Jace growled, shoving the beer out of his hand. “Just fucking tell me where the hell were you today? What did <i>you </i>do a few hours ago?!”
Jonathan let out a sloppy burp andughed,
It hadn’t been that long since he got fired, but Jonathan already looked like a different person. The once–polished Apex executive was <b>now </b>just a <b>pathetic </b>drunk reeking of booze.
Jace didn’t think they’d ran into each other either.
Last night, after losing the deal with Zane, Jace stormed out of the house and randomly wandered into a pub. He almost didn’t <b>recognize </b><b>the </b>man who came stumbling over to hug him. But it was Jonathan. His best bud back at Apex.
So they started drinking. Talking.
They both fucking hated Aria. And Grayson.
Why wouldn’t they? Because of those two, Jace lost his manager title. And Jonathan? Fired, lost his penthouse, his sports car–no one wanted <b>to </b><b>hire </b><b>a </b>guy with a sexual harassment record. He was now down to cleaning toilets at a small pub.
Aria and Grayson pretty much ruined their lives!
Jace couldn’t remember everything he said that night. Probably a lot of bitching about Aria.
And maybe, just maybe! He said something like “God, I wish she was dead.”
Bute on. Who the hell takes drunk talk seriously?
“Stopughing you dumbass and answer the fucking question!” Jace shouted, grabbing Jonathan by the cor, his voice shaking. “You don’t understand -something huge happened today-”
“Oh what? That chick almost drowned? Big deal,” Jonathan snorted with a shrug.
Bib red
Jace stumbled back like he’d been hit. He stared at Jonathan, his face drained of color.
“Fuck… oh my god. It was you…”
“Even easier than I thought,” Jonathan slurred proudly. “When I came outta the woods, she was just there, floating in theke,pletely unaware of anything. Didn’t even summon her wolf when I pushed her under. Took less than 2 minutes to drown her ass…”
“What the fuck did you do?!”
Jace suddenly mmed him into the bar, smashing his back against the counter.
“Who the fuck told you to kill her? Who said you could hurt her?!”
“What’s your fucking problem?!” Jonathan shouted. “You forget
already? You’re the one who said you wished that bitch was dead. I’m doing you a favor<b>!</b><b>” </b>
“No. NO!” Jace was shaking. “You almost killed her. You nearly took her away from me…”
Jonathan blinked, then gave him a weird look.
“From you? Are you fucking serious? She’s Grayson’s bitch now. That uptight act she pulled with you? Total bullshit. She’s now a slut for him! Why? ‘Cause she thinks you’re beneath <i>her</i><i>. </i>Only a rich guy’s dick is what she wants! Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on that skanky chick-”
“Shut up. Shut the fuck up!” Jace roared.
Jonathan spat to the side, then red at him. “Now what did you mean by ALMOST? Don’t tell me she’s still alive.”
Jace copsed into a chair. He gripped his hair, breathing hard.
“Yeah she’s alive… Grayson saved her.”
Jonathan’s face twitched. “Shit.”
“Now Grayson’s got everyone searching for the attacker. You get what that means<b>, </b>right? He’s onto you. He’s onto us<b>, </b>man<b>!</b>”
“Well I’m not afraid of him!” Jonathan barked. But his pale face said otherwise.
<b>“</b>You should be,” Jace growled. “He could crush you like a fucking ant. Grayson’s not just powerful–he’s connected. Every <b>Alpha </b><b>in </b><b>the </b><b>region </b><b>and </b>west to him. It won’t take long before he finds you.”
Jonathan stared at him, swallowing hard. “So you’re ditching me now? Don’t forget this how–you’re the one who said you wanted her <b>dead</b><b>. </b>I just made it happen!”
“Shut up you dumb fuck.” Jace shoved a folder into his chest. “There’s a fake ID and everything you need in there. Get out. Leave the territory before <b>they </b>find you.”
He shoved Jonathan away and stormed out of the bar.
<b>“</b>You know that bitch deserves to die!” Jonathan cried behind him.
Jace didn’t respond.
Back in his car, he wiped the Porsche’s GPS history clean, then sat with his
head in his hands, taking a moment to steady his breathing. Then he drove <b>off</b><b>. </b>
By the time he got back to the estate, it waste. But the gates were still lit up
Jace pulled up and rolled down the window. “Open the gate.”
“Where were you, sir?” the security asked.
“I’m your fucking master <i>you </i>dumbass. Open the fucking gate!” he snapped.
The guard didn’t move, just eyeing him icily.
Then a tall figure stepped out from the shadows and walked up to the car.
Grayson.
“Out. Now.”
Jace swallowed hard but eventually obeyed.
and guarded.
“Look, Alpha Grayson, <i>I </i>just went out for a drink. Today was insane so I needed to clear my head, no big deal–AHHH!!!”
Before he could finish, Grayson punched him across the face, sending him flying backward to the ground. Pain shot through his whole body as he struggled to get up, but Grayson stomped on his <i>chest</i>, pinning him down again.
He’s freaked out. He tried to shift, but Grayson suddenly let out a terrifying long howl. His alpha aura swept across the air, freezing everyone in ce.
“I’m giving you one chance to tell <i>me </i>the truth.”
Those smokey grey eyes had turned pitch ck<i>. </i>Almost like the devil had <i>risen</i>.