Chapter Twenty
Zade
I pack my bags with quick, precise movements, but my mind is a chaotic mess.
Every fold of clothing and every item added to the suitcase feels like a small step closer to something I’m not sure I’m ready to face.
The silence in my penthouse feels louder than any noise, pressing down on me as I get ready.
My thoughts won’t stop spinning, but one thing is clear: I won’t stop until I find Juniper.
I won’t rest until I make things right, even if it kills me.
The drive to the airport is a blur. Neon signs flash by, but they barely register.
The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror, clearly picking up on my mood but keeping quiet, which is a wise choice.
By the time I’m on my private jet, the luxury that usually feels comforting now feels like a hollow shell.
The flight is torture, each second dragging out like an eternity.
I can’t stop replaying every decision, every mistake that led me here.
“Mr. Patterson,” the flight attendant offers softly, holding out a drink.
I wave her off without even looking up. “No, thanks.” My eyes stay glued to the window, sta ring at the endless sky like it might give me answers. But even up here, far above everything, I can’t shake the guilt of what I’ve done.
When I land in Cody, I don’t go to the hotel. I head straight for Juniper’s house. My heart is racing, like it’s trying to run without me. When I reach her door, my hand hesitates on the bell, but I force myself to press it. Her mom opens the door, and I don’t waste time. “Where’s Juniper?”
Her mom’s face twists with anger, her lips curling into a sneer. “She’s dead to us,” she spits out, the venom in her voice cutting through me. “All because of you!”
I’m thrown by the coldness in her eyes, the finality of her words. “You don’t understand,” I begin, but her dad steps forward, fists clenched tight.
“Leave us alone,” he growls. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”
Before I can respond, Jacob comes down the stairs, his face pale, eyes blazing with anger. Without warning, he lunges at me, his fists connecting with my chest. “You bastard! Because of you, my sister’s life is ruined!”
I grab his wrists, holding him back. “Jacob, listen to me!”
He shoves me back with pure rage in his eyes. “Listen to what? More lies? You made her convince the whole town you pulled out of the project that you were different! You played her, Zade. You broke her heart.”
I take a breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “I did care for her. I still do. I never wanted her to get involved in this mess. Brian assured me she was safe.”
Jacob laughs bitterly. “Brian? That piece of crap hates Juniper! He would do anything to see her suffer.”
His words leave me breathless, hollow inside. I feel the ground sway beneath me, my vision blurring as the reality of what I’ve done sets in. “I have to find her,” I say, my words quivering. “I have to make this right.”
I leave the house, and it’s then that everything I’ve done feels like it's closing in, making it hard to breathe. I need to find her. I need to make this right.
On my way, I grab my phone and dial Brian’s number. My voice comes out colder than I expected. “Meet me at The Opal. Now.”
I head straight to my suite, the silence in the car only amplifying the chaos in my head. When I get there, it’s like stepping into a pressure cooker; everything is too quiet and too tense. I pour myself a drink; the clink of ice against glass is the only sound in the room.
The doorbell rings, slicing through the quiet like a knife. I set the glass down, the liquid barely quivering, and move to answer the door. My movements are precise and deliberate, each step bringing me closer to the storm that’s about to break.
Brian enters with his usual smug confidence and a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
He’s like a shark disguised as a goldfish, pretending to be harmless while hiding the true danger beneath the surface.
He extends a hand, but I ignore it, instead gesturing him toward the living room and the bar .
“Whiskey?” I offer, trying to act calm, betraying the intensity simmering beneath the surface.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Brian replies, his gaze lingering on the bottles lining the bar. “Something strong, I hope?”
I pour him a measure of my finest single malt. “Only the best for special occasions,” I say, handing him the glass. The sound of our glasses clinking is subtle, but it’s the first move in the duel about to take place.
Brian takes a slow sip, his eyes never leaving mine. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asks, every word oozes fake curiosity.
“This isn’t a social visit, Brian,” I state, my tone cold as I step closer, invading his personal space to assert control. “It’s about Juniper.”
The mention of her name causes a flicker of something in Brian’s eyes—a tightening at the corners of his mouth, a slight stiffening of his posture. But he recovers quickly, his smirk returning. “What about her?” he asks, trying to maintain his composure.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I press, my voice low and menacing. “Why did you drag her into this?”
His smirk widens, and there is a nasty glint in his eyes.
“She was the perfect scapegoat,” he says with a shrug.
“Elections are coming up, and people weren’t too happy knowing I was in bed with you.
But you were giving her so much attention, and she convinced the town you’d pulled out of the resort deal. So, I used her .”
My hands curl into fists, and my knuckles turn white. “She’s not collateral, Brian.”
He laughs—a harsh, grating sound that makes my blood boil. “She is collateral, Zade. That’s all she ever was. I can get you ten girls like her, even younger ones. She’s just an old maid now.”
The casual cruelty in his words sends a surge of anger through me, but I keep my voice steady, my tone turning icy. “If you ever talk about her like that again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
For a moment, the smirk falters, but Brian quickly regains his composure. “Come on, Zade. It’s just business.”
I step even closer, my gaze piercing through him. “This isn’t just business, Brian. It’s personal. And if you don’t help me find her and clear her name, I’ll destroy you. You won’t just lose the election—you’ll lose everything.”
He stares at me, my threat sinking in. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Zade,” he mumbles, sounding less cocky now.
I don’t back down. “A game you started, Brian. I’m just finishing it.”
The silence between us is charged with unspoken threats and the understanding that there’s no going back from this.
Brian sets his drink down; his face pales, and the smirk is completely gone now.
Without another word, he turns and leaves, his footsteps echoing in the hallway as the door clicks shut behind him.
I lean against the door, closing my eyes for a moment, to absorb the gravity of everything that just happened. The stakes are high, higher than they’ve ever been, but I’m committed. For Juniper’s sake, I’ll play this game to the bitter end. There’s no turning back now.