Chapter 795

“They’re fighting! Someone’s fighting outside!” a panicked voice yelled from the hallway.

I ran out just in time to see Cole swing his fist at Jace.

“Stop it! Cole, stop!” I shouted, rushing over to pull him back.

Cole shoved me aside. My back hit the wall hard, my head cracking against it. Everything blurred for a second—my vision, my thoughts, everything.

Jace, who hadn’t fought back until now, called out to me, his voice filled with concern. Rea…

But the second he looked away, his fist shot up, landing a clean hit on Cole. And just like that, they were going at it—a full-on, no-holds-barred brawl.

I pressed my hand against the side of my head, trying to steady myself, but the fight was spiraling out of control. There was no stopping them. Desperate, I flagged someone down and told them to call security.

By the time they were finally pulled apart, both looked like they’d gone ten rounds in a boxing ring. Jace was bleeding heavily from his nose, pressing tissues against it as blood dripped down his hands.

I wanted to know what had started the fight, but the steady stream of blood from Jace’s nose pushed that thought aside. I stepped toward him, worry overtaking my frustration. “Jace, you need to see a doctor.”

Instead of moving, he looked at me. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. Not because I wasn’t okay, but because this wasn’t about me. “I’m fine. Let me take you to a doctor.”

“No need,” he muttered. “It’ll stop.”

Before I could argue, Cole’s voice snapped through the air like a whip. “Jace, you piece of shit! Where’s my mom? Tell me where she is!”

I froze. Mrs. Drago was confirmed dead—what was he talking about?

“Cole, what the hell is wrong with you?” I yelled.

Cole shot me an icy glare. “Why don’t you ask him?”

“Don’t waste your energy. He’s nothing but a rabid dog,” Jace snapped, grabbing my arm and pulling me away.

Behind us, Cole’s shouts echoed down the hallway, but Jace didn’t stop walking. Blood still poured from his nose, soaking through the tissues.

I felt a wave of dizziness at the sight. “Jace, this isn’t normal. Your nose won’t stop. It could be broken; you need to see a doctor.”

Jace shook his head. He slumped onto a nearby bench, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes. Under the harsh hospital lights, he looked almost translucent, the blood loss draining all color from his face.

“Don’t just sit there. Get up and see a doctor,” I said, tugging at his arm.

He didn’t budge, stubborn as ever. I couldn’t wrap my head around why he was being so difficult, but I wasn’t going to stand by and watch him bleed out. Frustrated, I stormed off to find a doctor myself.

When I came back, dragging the doctor behind me, Cole stepped into the hallway, blocking my path.

After everything that had just happened, I braced myself. He looked like he was ready to pick another fight, and my head still throbbed from when he shoved me earlier.

“You can’t find your mom? Go talk to the police instead of acting like a rabid dog biting everyone around you,” I snapped, my patience completely gone.

Cole didn’t say a word. He just took a step closer.

I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves, and every instinct screamed at me to run.

But he was faster.

With one swift move, his arm shot out, and he grabbed me by the waist.

“Cole! Let go of me!” I shouted, struggling against his hold.

He didn’t even flinch. In one smooth motion, he hoisted me up like I weighed nothing and threw me over his shoulder.

At five-seven and over a hundred pounds, I wasn’t exactly petite, but he carried me like I was a pillow.

People in the hallway stopped and stared, their eyes wide with shock. Some whispered; others pointed. But Cole just kept walking, his long strides steady and unbothered by the attention.

Upside down and disoriented, I felt nausea creep up as the world spun around me. I kicked and thrashed, pounding my fists against his back with everything I had. But it was useless—he was solid as a rock, completely unfazed.

“Put me down! Let me go!” I screamed.

When he didn’t respond, I switched tactics and did the only thing I could think of.

“Help! Somebody, help me!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, hoping someone—anyone—would step in and stop him.