Chapter 38 #2
Letting Haven go isn’t an option. If I have to tie her up in the back of the bus, I will.
“What if she calls her father right now?”
Ash shakes his head. “She can’t, Declan has her phone.”
I slump into the cushions, and my hand runs through my hair as the thought of Declan following in his car gives me a moment’s reprieve from my panic.
“Girl can throw a punch, I’ll give her that,” Vex tosses out into the silence, and I can’t help the smirk that crosses my lips.
“Hell yeah, she can. I thought she was going to kill that chick,” Ash adds. “Pow. Pow. Pow.” He mimics what took place, then hits me with a smile. “It was hot. You got her to prove that she’s jealous.”
“Yeah.”
But at what cost?
Shit went sideways so fast. That wasn’t how I pictured it going.
Am I too much? Too possessive?
Probably. But when it comes to Haven, I don’t see straight. I’ve never given a fuck about anyone except her. I paraded girls in front of her to get a reaction. The more she rolled her eyes and walked away, the more I worked at getting a response. Apparently, I haven’t matured much.
The rumble of conversation continues, but I ignore it as we drive to the hotel. I’m relieved that no fans are waiting for us when we pull up.
The bus hasn’t even fully stopped when I spot him out the window—Charles. He’s standing under the hotel lights as if he belongs there, like he has a right to be near Haven.
He has pretty-boy looks and a dark, expensive, tailored suit. The kind that screams control, money, and a man who thinks the world belongs to him. Pretentious as hell.
Something inside me goes cold.
I’m going to rip his fucking heart out.
The door hisses open, and I’m off the bus before anyone says a word or knows what is happening.
“Cy—” someone calls, but it barely registers behind me.
All I see is him.
He notices me halfway across the parking lot and straightens like he’s been waiting. He lifts his chin, arrogant and sure of himself, as if this is a meeting he scheduled.
“Cyrus Vale,” he says, smoothly. If I had hackles, they would be standing. “About time you—”
“You have some fucking nerve,” I cut in, voice low and threatening. “Bold move. I didn’t think you had the balls. Or are you just stupid?”
His jaw ticks.
“I’m here to fix my relationship. The one you’re determined to ruin.”
I step closer. Close enough to see the irritation and the crack in Charles’s composure.
“Your relationship is over,” I say. “You didn’t need my help for that.”
He puffs up his chest like that will intimidate me.
“What goes on between Haven and me is none of your business. She is my fiancée.”
A short, dangerous laugh leaves me as I get right up in his face.
“Everything about Haven is my business. Always has been, always will be. If you’re smart, you’ll get in your car, leave, and never come back.”
“You don’t get to decide that,” he snaps, but his voice isn’t as confident now. “You’re a distraction. A mistake she’ll walk away from. I’m her future.”
I tilt my head, studying him like I’m deciding how much damage I can do to his pretty-boy face.
“Did she tell you that,” I ask quietly, “or are you just assuming? Because from where I’m standing—and the fact that I was between her legs earlier—you’re just praying you didn’t fuck it up too badly. But let’s be real, you know she’s never taking you back.”
His hands smack against my chest. The shove sends me back a step. And that’s all it takes for the very thin thread of my sanity to sheer clean off.
My fist connects with his jaw, snapping his head sideways. The sound of it carries, loud enough to echo into the night. The pain in my hand is more intense than normal and shoots up my arm, turning it numb. My limbs are heavy and slow, but nothing will stop me from teaching this prick a lesson.
Charles stumbles, and I don’t give him time to recover.
I’m on him before he finds his footing, driving him backward.
Grabbing the front of that perfect suit, I slam him into the nearest car hard enough to rattle it and set off the alarm.
The blaring is loud and my head pounds from the shrill noise, but the rage is riding me like a wild animal, and I block it out.
“You fucking piece of shit,” I snarl, fist pulling back and driving into his face again. It gives me an outlet for frustration that exceeds way beyond fuckface Charles. “You cheated on her. You used her. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as her, let alone touch her.”
Each accusation is accompanied by another blow, but the words ring in my conscience that I’m no better. I treat Haven like shit. I hurt Haven. I flaunt women in front of her.
I want to erase the pain attacking my body, the parts I hate in myself that I cannot cut out. Most of all, I want to erase him.
Charles swings back, catching me in the mouth.
Good.
I grin as I taste the blood.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” I growl, fisting his suit, tossing him to the ground, and landing another blow to his perfect jawline.
“Fuck you. You’re nothing but an asshole and an addict, who will burn down your life and end up in an early grave. I won’t let you drag Haven down with you,” he spews and blocks my punch.
“Like you’re any better with your dick in every woman that comes along.”
“I made a mistake. You are a mistake,” Charles says.
We go at each other, fists landing, bodies colliding, no rhythm, no rules.
Charles is fast, I’ll give him that, but he’s not built for this.
Not like I am. I’m forged by anger, molded from pain, and fueled by a dark love.
He’s lucky I don’t have a gun. I’d put it to his forehead and pull the trigger. No guilt.
Charles fights as if he has something to prove. I fight as if I’ve already seen how it ends…with him lying dead at my feet.
My knuckles crack against his cheek, and there is a sharp stabbing sensation. It feels like all the bones have broken in two. My hand looks normal, so I do what I do best…ignore it.
His breath leaves him in a grunt when I drive my fist into his ribs. He grabs at me, trying to throw me off balance.
Doesn’t work. I run him back and slam into the bus this time. Bang. It shakes from the impact.
“Cyrus, this is going too far,” Eren tries to get through to me.
“Cy man, stop,” Vex orders and grabs my arm, but I yank it away.
“Fuck dude, don’t kill him,” Ledger says.
“You never should have come here. I warned you. I fucking warned you,” I growl, grabbing his collar and dragging Charles forward just to hit him again. His head lolls from the impact.