Chapter 526

A solid chest and a familiar scent made me freeze. I looked up, and there he was—Hayden. His face was tense, his eyes locked onto mine, filled with worry. I had no clue how he’d found me, but just seeing him melted the terror inside me. Any thought of our breakup faded as I clung to his shirt like he was my lifeline. His arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me. “Are you hurt?” he asked.

“No,” I managed, just as the sound of angry voices erupted outside, closing in fast. Before I could process what was happening, Hayden’s arm tightened around me, and suddenly, I felt myself lifted off the ground. Kicks, punches, and grunts filled the air around us. It was like an action scene straight out of a movie, only this was real—and happening right beside me.

I’d seen Hayden fight before, but not like this. Taking on an entire group and leaving them scattered on the ground? It was another level. No wonder he’s ex-military. He was… incredible.

I couldn’t help but remember something Jace once told me: someone had gone after Quartz Cue’s leader. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but watching Hayden take down these guys without breaking a sweat? It didn’t seem so far-fetched now. If it really was him behind all that, I knew this wouldn’t end easily for Hayden.

Before I could dwell on it, he took down the last guy and finally stilled, his arms still around me. He glanced at the bodies scattered on the ground, some groaning in pain, his voice low and deadly. “Tell your boss to keep his hands off my people.” Then he looked over at Sasha, still frozen in the doorway. She flinched, shaking her head wildly. “I didn’t mean to hurt Keira! I—I was here to help her leave!”

If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have been dragged here in the first place, but I was too exhausted to deal with Sasha right now. I tightened my grip on Hayden’s hand. “I just want to get out of here.”

Chapter 520

Hayden led me to his car, and even as we walked, I couldn’t bring myself to let go of his hand. I knew the danger had passed, but I kept holding on because I knew that once I let go, I might not have a reason to reach for him again. He looked down at my hand gripping his, then, after a moment, gently pried it away and lifted me into the passenger seat. His movements were soft, careful—just like the way he used to hold me, with so much affection. I caught his arm, refusing to let go.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to leave?” His voice, cold and distant, snapped me back to reality.

He got behind the wheel and started driving, not even bothering to ask where I wanted to go. But I found myself asking anyway, “Where are you taking me? And… how did you even know I was here?”

He didn’t answer. Just when I thought he’d ignore me, he finally spoke, his tone cutting. “Didn’t I tell you to stop digging into this?” His words made it clear he knew exactly why I’d been taken.

I stared at the back of his head. “If I don’t investigate, are you going to? After all this time, what have you even found? What have you told me? You stopped me from looking into it because you were my boyfriend. Now, you’re nothing to me.”

His grip tightened on the wheel, and his response was immediate, sharp. “And your ‘investigation’ nearly got you killed. Again.” Thorsten’s words echoed in my mind.

“I can’t just back down because I’m scared. I need to find out who killed my parents.” Hayden’s jaw tensed, a reminder that we were wading into painful territory—the person responsible for my parents’ deaths was his father. He was the one who messed with the brakes. It was this giant, unspoken weight between us, and neither of us wanted to touch it. But I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Taking a shaky breath, I said, “Thorsten mentioned your dad was paid off. I need to know—why did he do it? Was it for money, or… something else?”