Bound by Shadows

6

As the private jet took off, my discomfort intensified as I sank into the plush seat. Meanwhile, Zavian engaged in flirtatious banter with the flight attendant, exchanging numbers in the process.

He shot a wink at the flight attendant before walking towards me, choosing a seat on the opposite side. Crossing his legs, he took a leisurely sip of the wine poured by another attendant earlier.

In the midst of this, a heavy silence hung between us, overshadowed by the events that unfolded at the house. I sat in stillness, nervously fiddling with my fingers, hesitating to utter a single word despite him being my brother. The discomfort intensified; my stomach, devoid of breakfast, churned with nausea, and I found myself clutching it, trying to ease the pain.

"I promised to share everything I know, so here it is," he began, cautiously ensuring the flight attendant was out of earshot. "Our family name carries weight in certain circles worldwide. We run a discreet business that operates beneath the surface. You don't need the details—"

"Everything," I interjected, my tone stern. Fed up with beating around the bush, I tighten my grip on my stomach, concealing the discomfort by lifting my legs until my knees met my chest.

He sighs and continues, "We're involved in an illicit business. Drugs. It's a family affair, but you're not part of it. Currently, I oversee the operations. The title passed to me when Father died. Hudson and I first crossed paths during a drug transaction. I utilize his men for cargo since our main clientele is in LA, and he receives the cash. We met frequently, and you know the rest. You were the one who had a relationship with him behind my back."

Yes, I was familiar with the story, though Caelus filtered the drug-related details. Our paths first crossed in an LA club after I fell victim to a robbery. Caelus personally escorted me home and was taken aback when he discovered I was his friend's sister. Coincidental encounters kept on happening, and after a while, I took the initiative to ask him out. Despite the multiple rejections, Caelus finally agreed.

"Hudson approached me for a favor. He sought information about his parents' murder, only to find out our father's involvement," Zavian's voice tightened as he swallowed. "At that point, you and Caelus were deeply in love, so I chose to keep it a secret. However, your husband discovered the truth on your wedding day, according to my sources. That explains his less-than-friendly behavior."

"That can't be true. Our father, he murdered his entire family? Why? No, why would he do something so horrific?" I stammered, shaking my head in disbelief.

"I don't have all the details, but the old man was the sole survivor of the shooting. Every sign pointed to him as the culprit. Unfortunately, in our line of business, sometimes taking lives is just part of the job, something you couldn't bring yourself to do."

My head began to spin, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. Zavian stared out the window, clenching his jaw. The weight of the truth, that Caelus had unknowingly married the daughter of his parents' killer, hung heavily in the air.

Despite the damning truth, Caelus showed me kindness and love. Rather than seeking forgiveness, I accepted his affection willingly, deepening that sense of guilt and remorse.

"You should have told him," I argued, frustration mounting. "You should have!"

Zavian turned sharply toward me, his jaw still clenched. "Did you think I never considered telling him?! I kept it to myself for both of your happiness!"

This didn't sit right with me. "You're a selfish bastard! Instead of being truthful, you chose to keep playing him like an idiot. How could you be so shameless?" The ache in my stomach intensified with each breath.

He scoffed in response, leaning forward, "I hate to break it to you, but he made your life miserable the moment he gave you that ring," he added with a mere glance. "Have you remembered anything yet, Zanya?" His voice taunted, "Just a little bit to make you crawl back to me for salvation?"

Just as I was about to retort, a groan of pain escaped as he immediately rushed to my side. "What's wrong?"

I winced, clutching my stomach.

"It's nothing," I dismissed weakly, attempting to hide the pain. But Zavian wasn't convinced; his gaze lingered, searching for signs beyond the physical.

Stepping away, he approached the flight attendant, returning with stomach relief medication. Silently, he adjusted the seat for me, wordlessly understanding what I needed without a single exchange. As I shut my eyes, curled up with a blanket my brother had put over me, thoughts of Caelus clawed their way back into my consciousness.

Bound by denial, I recoiled from the unsettling truth, yearning for the bliss of ignorance. I should have remained in the shadows, embracing any punishment Caelus deemed fit. The indelible stain of a past sin, a burden impossible to shed, loomed over me. As my father's child, there was no escape.

Caelus had promised he would come, but I wish he wouldn't. It would break me into a million pieces to face him even for a second. In that moment, I cried my heart out, not caring if Zavian had heard me.