24. Chapter 24
Chapter 2 4
ARGENT
A fter Starlet came back from her therapy session, she appeared different, yet familiar—her determination radiating like a glowing ember of closure. I didn’t pry too much, just proud of her progress.
Slowly, I stretch out, still nestled in bed, only to jolt upright when I feel the space next to me is empty. The tantalizing aroma of breakfast wafts through the air, causing a smile to creep across my lips. She’s not going to stop with this ‘breakfast duty’ is she?
Pulling myself out of bed, I make my way to where the smell is coming from, not bothering to put a shirt on. But I freeze in my tracks as I step into the kitchen .
Demitri and Chloe engage in conversation, while the sizzle of bacon fills the room and plates are arranged on the counter. Furrowing my brow, I step forward, capturing their attention.
Demitri’s head snaps towards me, confusion etched on his face. “Hey, I thought you left?” he asks, taking a seat at the counter.
“What do you mean?” My brow furrows further as I slowly approach him. “I noticed your car wasn’t in the driveway, so I assumed you left early this morning,” he explains, uncertainty lingering in his voice. My heart quickens its pace as I scan the room, searching for her.
“Have you seen Starlet?” I ask urgently. “We thought she was still asleep,” Chloe replies, and we exchange bewildered glances. Without hesitation, I spin around, sprint down the hallway, and retrieve my phone from the room. My car has a tracking device installed so I would be able to see where the hell it is.
A knot forms in my stomach as the screen displays its current location. “Fuck!” I yell, forcefully hurling my phone onto the bed. At that moment, my eyes catch sight of my desk drawer, barely ajar. My stomach plummets as I open it, revealing the dreaded sight .
My knife is gone.
“Goddammit Starlet,” I whisper to myself, slamming the drawer shut. Hastily, I pull clothes on and run back to the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Chloe asks, her voice trembling, the fear evident in her tone.
“Where’s your car keys?” I ask, ignoring her questions.
“My car is in for maintenance,” she replies, her voice slightly shaky. “Demitri picked me up.” Without hesitation, Demitri tosses me his motorbike keys and I swiftly grab his helmet off the table, rushing out the door.
As I step outside, the air feels crisp and cool against my skin, a light breeze rustling through the leaves of the surrounding trees.
I hope Starlet is not going to do what I think she is. She’s angry and wants revenge, but she’s not a killer.
Pulling the bike between the trees, I take off the helmet and run my hand through my hair before making my way towards the location where my car is. It only takes a few minutes of walking before I spot it parked in front of an old and worn cabin .
The cabin’s paint is faded and peeling, revealing the weathered wood underneath. This has to be where Starlet was held. Adrenaline courses through my veins like wildfire with each step I take.
As I approach the cabin, the creaking of the door catches my attention, the sound echoing in the quiet surroundings. I step inside, and the musty odor of dust and abandonment invades my senses, making me scrunch my nose in disgust.
I look around the place, the dim light filtering through the dirty windows, casting eerie shadows on the dilapidated furniture. It looks like no one has been here in years, the air heavy with neglect.
Suddenly, a low grunt catches my attention, the sound reverberating through the silence. I snap my head to where I heard it, my heart pounding in my chest. One of the couches is slightly lifted into the air, revealing a hidden staircase beneath it.
Confused yet determined, I lift the couch, feeling the strain in my muscles, and carefully make my way down the stairs, the steps creaking under my weight.
As I reach the bottom, my eyes fall upon another door, the cool metal handle sending a shiver down my spine as I grasp it. What kind of hell hole is this? Opening the second door, I’m met with another flight of stairs, the darkness swallowing the steps as I descend further.
The air grows colder, sending a chill down my spine, and I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. And then, I catch a glimpse of an unconscious Zavier, his pale face bruised and blood dripping from the side of his face, the metallic scent of blood filling the room.
“What the—Starlet?” My voice barely escapes my throat as I see her standing a few feet away from him. Her head snaps to me, her eyes wide with surprise, and her face pales even more. Her clothes are ripped, the fabric hanging loosely, and her shirt is stained with a few blood splatters.
“What are you doing here? How the hell do you keep finding me?” She yells, her voice filled with anger and frustration, the words echoing in the I'm taken aback by her outburst, taking cautious steps towards her.
“Give me the knife, Star,” I softly say, my hand reaching out to grab it, but she pulls away, taking a step back. I can see the glistening of tears in her beautiful hazel eyes, breaking my heart. Her voice breaks as she speaks, a mix of determination and vulnerability.
“No, I need to do this.” Her words hang in the air, filled with a raw emotion that I can almost taste. I can feel the weight of her pain, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Okay, okay, just… let me help you.”
“No, Argent!” Her voice carries a sense of urgency, and she steps further away, pointing behind me. Curious, I turn around to see a chair. Confusion furrows my eyebrows, and I turn back to face her.
“Sit.” Her voice drops, sending a jolt of anticipation through me. My heart pounds in my ears, and a warm sensation settles in the pit of my stomach. I comply without a word, taking a seat. She may be small, and I could easily overpower her but I’d rather not fuck with her right now.
Groaning, Zavier’s pained cries make our heads snap towards him. As he slowly regains consciousness, his eyes snap open, widening instantly with a mix of fear and disbelief.
The sight of his expression brings a twisted smile to my lips. Desperately, he tugs at his bound hands, his movements filled with frantic desperation before his gaze locks onto me once again.
“How—I thought I killed you,” he stammers, his voice trembling with each word. Leaning back in the chair, I bare my teeth, crossing my arms over my chest, relishing in his fear. “Not that easy, princess,” I taunt, my words dripping with satisfaction.
His throat bobs as he swallows hard, his gaze shifting to Starlet beside me. “Why are you doing this?” he pleads, his voice laced with confusion and desperation. She scoffs, her footsteps echoing across the cold, tiled floor as she approaches him, and I have to fight the urge to forcefully pull her back.
“Why? You must be fucking joking, right?” she retorts, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and pain. “You drugged me, kidnapped me, abused me...” Her words slice through the air, each syllable carrying the weight of her suffering.
She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing, her voice quivering with raw emotion. “You ruined everything. You took everything from me.”
I keep my gaze locked on her as she moves behind him, her head dipping close to his ear. And then, the words that escape her mouth ignite a fire within me, every fiber of my being burning with a newfound desire.
“ You had your fun… now, it’s my turn .”