Burn Me Right

Chapter 63

Zyler's car screeched to a halt in front of a building. The sun just started to come up on the horizon. He slammed on the brakes, flung the door open, and immediately spotted Cole waiting by the entrance. "Is everything in order?" Zyler inquired, his voice laced with urgency as he opened the car door and gently lifted April's unconscious form into his arms.

Cole had already arranged a setup inside the house for April's arrival. He stepped aside to make way for Zyler. "I am scared," Cole made way for Zyler, and he paid no attention to the man. Was he scared? No, but he wasn't sure if he made the right move by kidnapping the woman that Liam was so hell-bent on keeping a secret.

"I want someone to watch over her 24/7—no sloppy guards. This is important," Zyler gently put her on the bed.

"What will Liam do when he finds out she is gone?" He feared that this daring move might ignite a full-fledged gang war, with Zyler showing no restraint.

"Let me worry about that." He locked the door and walked out of the house. He got in his car and drove home. The house was silent. He knew she must've been asleep, or maybe she wasn't. She loves that dog too much to leave him alone and fall asleep. Now that she had reunited with him after a long time, she would have spent more time with him.

A wave of unease washed over him as he pushed open the door to their room. The room was vacant, and a growing worry gnawed at him as his eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her. Then he heard the laughter that had trapped him, making him captive to her whims.

He followed it like a siren song. His fingers brushed the curtain aside, revealing her on the balcony, playing with the wretched animal. She twirled the dog around, kissing and tickling the creature.

Zyler's eyes closed, his senses drowning in the intoxicating atmosphere. Her silky hair brushed gently against his rugged face, a scent uniquely hers. He couldn't help but envision a future with her, a life where they shared children, and he returned home each day, weary but comforted by the sight of her. Just as they did now, her smile and presence had the uncanny ability to ease his deepest tensions, even in the darkest recesses of his world.

He watched her with Peaches in her bubble, unaware of his gaze at her, just as he had done the first time, the very thing that led him here, the very thing that started this whole consuming obsession. The dog barked at him, bursting the bubble of that beautiful moment. She turned around and noticed him standing there. She turned. Her free stance was gone.

"What are you doing here?" She settled into the chair, cradling her baby in her lap while tenderly stroking the dog's fur. His eyes fixated on the animal, a seething jealousy simmering within him. That was his place.

The dog, blissfully unaware, let out a contented yawn.

"This is my house, after all, isn't it?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to her.

Autumn chucked, "Right. I will leave then," she got up, ready to head out.

"No, wait," he immediately got up with her. He didn't want that moment to end.

She let out a weary sigh, sinking back into her seat. A tense silence settled over them, and Autumn's gaze was fixed on her dog and his gaze on her.

Autumn cleared her throat. "What did you do with the woman you talked about earlier?"

Zyler smirked. "Now she talks," he settled back into his chair and removed his jacket, throwing it on the floor. "Why do you care?" he loosened his tie and threw it on the floor, unbuttoning it and letting the air in.

Anger rose into her veins, but she didn't want to yell at him. She wanted to have a proper conversation with him.

"Tell me." He crossed his legs.