𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 | 𝟏𝟖+

21 | Leave

-Noah-

I open my eyes to see Maya's back facing me. I take in the view I have as I place a kiss on her hair. Last night was a lot for her, especially after 6 rounds.

I get off the bed and put on some shorts. I go to my bathroom to clean myself up really quick then go downstairs to get breakfast.

When I enter the kitchen, everyone stands there as I feel the tension. "What's going on?" I ask. Liam hands me a yellow folder. "We found this by the front door."
I open the folder to find a note.
'Hiding behind him is worse for you than better.'

I look under the note to find pictures of Maya and I in my office, on the balcony last night, at her college, the list goes on. I crumble the note and throw it across the room. I push the folder back to Liam as the pictures scatter around the island.

"I want this asshole to pay." I say. "We don't know who is doing this though." Elena says. "I don't care. I want to know who works behind this. Check the security cameras and find out who put this shit on my doorstep." I yell. I order Liam and Sophie to come with me while Jax and Elena go check the cameras.

I take Sophie and Liam to the basement. "I want a increase in security. I want this place guarded day and night." I order. "Get in touch with my father, do whatever you have to do, I don't care." I say as I take my gun off the rack.

"Maybe you should calm down." Liam says. "Calm down? Someone has been watching me and Maya for the past 2 months! I'm not gonna calm down until I have his head!" I scowl. "Could be a her." Sophie mutters. Both Liam and I send a glare to Sophie. "I'm just saying let's not assume genders!" She says as she raises her hands.

I go back upstairs to wake Maya up for school. One thing Liam was right about is that I needed to calm down. If Maya saw me like this she would ask too many questions that she doesn't need the answer to.

I take in my last deep breath as I open my door. I look to see my bed empty. I walk in and close my door behind me. Maya comes from the bathroom dressed and ready. "Hey, where did you go?" She asks. "I had to handle a few things." I say.

"Is everything okay?" She asks. I nod. Maya sends me a lopsided smile as she grabs her last few things.
"My legs still hurt." She says as she puts on her shoes. I chuckle to myself as memories of Maya and I last night flash in my mind. "Your welcome." I say, receiving a glare from her.

I take Maya to her college. "What time are you out?" I ask. "3 I think." "Okay, I'll be here." I place a small kiss on Maya's cheek before she exits my car. I drive away, calling Jax and Elena.

"Hello handsome." Jax jokingly says. "Cut the shit Jax." "Okay, we found a tape from last night of someone placing the folder by the front door." Jax says in our call. "The problem is this person is wearing a mask. It's obviously a girl but we can't get any face." Elena says.
I hit my steering wheel in frustration. "Fuck! Okay keep looking." I say before I hang up the call.

I press down on the gas pedal in frustration. I grip my steering wheel as I go down a dark road I've never seen before. I needed to get away. I need to leave for a moment, even for a second.

I sit in my car as I close my eyes. The world around me goes black and I feel myself suffocating for air. But I wasn't. I'm perfectly fine. Truth being, I'm perfectly fine with her.

I catch a glimpse of the same smile I see on Maya's face everyday. The smile I'm the reason for. That smile that is now my favorite thing to look at.

I open my eyes and look around the unknown road I'm at. I check my phone to see Maya's contact picture of her smiling while holding my hand.

Just as I was about to put my phone away, I receive a text. 'Can you pick me up at 1? The food here for lunch sucks.' Maya's text stares back at me before I text back. 'That sounds perfect.'

I am not someone who deserves love. I've hurt too many people. I'm the person your mother tells you not to talk to. I'm a lost man.
But I'm a lost man slowly finding the pieces of myself in Maya.

I turn my attention to my ringing phone. 'Unknown.'
I take the risk and answer the phone.

"Hello?" "Noah Slade. Good to hear from you again." I don't recognize the person on the other line. A woman talks to me like a child. I record our call for Jax and Elena to trace later.

"Who is this?" "The real question is what is happening to Maya as we speak?" I tighten my hand around my phone. "Don't you dare lay a finger on her!" I scowl into the phone. I hear the woman laugh at my angry state.
"You're so easy Slade. Maya is your weakness." The woman whispers.

One thing I was told growing up is weakness is both good and bad. I've watched my mom go through hell for my dad, but I've also watched him not send her even a glance.
Weakness puts those at risk, but burns a fire in you.

"What does Maya have that you want?" I say. "Our boss wants both of the Castillo siblings. They run a very high company, one that only can be taken through a signing, which we both know will never happen. That opens option B, death."

"Let's not forget the amazing cherry on top when we tell her the truth about your father." With that, the woman hung up the call.

Thank you for reading today's chapter.

I hope you are enjoying yourself with this book. Maya and Noah's story is probably my favorite of to write. (I still love Blake and Lilia though.)

I hope you enjoyed today's chapter. Stay healthy and safe, I love you babes. -R. <3