Chapter 824

He’d do it. But what could I possibly give him when I had nothing?

“Well, stop wasting time and bury me already,” I said, sounding almost bored. Fear wasn’t something I felt anymore—not after everything I’d been through.

“Cole, you’ve seen it yourself—there’s nothing here,” I added, my voice steady. “Hayden told me he left something in this spot, and that’s why I kept quiet. But guess what? He fooled me too.” I let out a bitter laugh, hoping it sounded convincing.

This was my only shot—to make Cole believe Hayden had played me, just like everyone else. If he bought it, maybe he’d stop digging and forget about Yara entirely.

“Don’t try that crap on me,” Cole snapped, narrowing his eyes. “You two are cunning. I know you’re hiding something.”

One of his goons cut in hesitantly. “Uh, sir? Maybe we should keep digging? Could be deeper.”

I rolled my eyes. Genius idea.

“Then get moving!” Cole barked, yanking me closer to the grave as his men started digging again.

They kept at it, going deeper until the pit was practically a crater. But eventually, even they had to admit defeat.

“There’s… really nothing here,” one guy mumbled hesitantly.

Without hesitation, Cole raised his leg and kicked him square in the chest, sending him sprawling into the pit.

“Nothing? Then rot down there!” Cole roared, his anger boiling over.

As his fury subsided, his eyes found me again. I stood my ground, meeting his glare head-on.

Cole gave me a slow, deliberate nod, his lips curling into a dark smile. “Not talking, huh? Fine. If I can’t find the device, you’ll do just fine as leverage. If Hayden crosses me, you’re done.”

A flash of memory hit me—Hayden once using Lena as a bargaining chip.

“Hayden? Cross you?” I said, forcing a calm tone. “He’s already working with you! He kidnapped my best friend, for crying out loud. And you still don’t trust him?”

Chapter 674

Cole laughed, loud and sharp, the sound echoing like some kind of villain’s trademark.

“And here I thought you two were inseparable. Turns out, you don’t even know your own man,” he sneered.

His words gave me pause. Then it hit me he wasn’t talking about Hayden. He meant Xander.

But hadn’t Hayden told me something happened to Xander? Clearly, another lie.

Still, relief washed over me. If Xander wasn’t Hayden, it meant Hayden wasn’t under Cole’s control—and, more importantly, he wasn’t the one who’d taken Lena.

“And Hayden? Where is he?” I asked, keeping my voice casual.

Cole leaned in close, his grin sharp as a blade. “Want to find out? Hand over the device, and maybe he’ll show up.”

More pressure, more games. I stayed quiet.

When I didn’t respond, Cole straightened and motioned to his men. “We’re leaving.”

He grabbed my arm roughly, yanking me forward so hard I nearly tripped.

“Let go,” I snapped, jerking free. “I can walk.”

Cole glared at me but released his grip.

He stomped ahead, pulling out his phone. I couldn’t catch what the person on the other end was saying, but his reply was sharp and bitter: “Nothing. Not a damn thing. Just a stupid ring.”

Once we were in the car, he grabbed a bottle of liquor and took a couple of long swigs.

I held out my hand.

“What?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“Give it to me.”

“Give you what?”

I pointed at his hand. “The ring. That’s Hayden’s. It belongs to me.”

He smirked. “Oh, really? If he wanted you to have it, he wouldn’t have shoved it in an urn. And even if I gave it to you, would you even dare to wear it?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I shot back, unfazed. “I’m not afraid of ghosts—or demons.”

Before he could stop me, I reached for the ring myself.