Mr. Ruthless

Chapter 21

Picture of Zander and Eleanor.

Eleanor's POV

He held my hand in his, examining the injury. I felt witless, once again I made a fool out of myself. The thoughts he must have of me.

"It's not deep." My eyes travelled up to meet his only to find him already staring back at me. I nodded. Trying to pull my hand out of his grasp but he simply tightened his calloused hand around my wrist, giving me a defying glare. Daring me to pull away.

"There's a first aid kit in the bathroom." He grabbed a clean towel and wrapped my hand with it using my other hand to apply pressure on it. Why was he helping me? Why wasn't he getting mad at me for breaking one of his plates.

"Keep it like that." he turned around and walked ahead, me following behind him towards the bathroom. We walked down the hallway. I felt nerves bubble up inside me as we passed the bathroom he had pointed out to me when I got here. I had no idea where he was taking me. Was there another bathroom?

He stopped in front of another door, pushing it open and leading me inside, I gasped. Why did he bring me to his bedroom? My heart was thumping erratically against my chest. He came to a halt, noticing I had stopped following him.

"Well come on." He ushered me inside, hesitantly I entered the dim lit room that held an obscure aura. Before I could question him he lead me into an en-suite bathroom. Hesitantly I entered, my eyes scanning around the shimmery walls, entranced by the lightness of the small en-suite room.

He rummaged through the cabinets as I awkwardly stood there. Blood was starting to show through the towel. I hadn't realized the cut was this big. I unwrapped the cloth from the wound, wanting to see how bad it was when out of nowhere a hand shot out, pressing the towel back onto the wound.

"I told you to keep pressure on it." I blushed, I felt like a kid being scolded. He just sighed and ushered me further into the bathroom placing the first aid kit on the sink top. Silence roamed around us. He looked down at me, the corners of his mouth tucking up in an amused smirk.

"You're pretty small aren't you."

"hey!" I protested, I hated being called small. People don't have to point it out, it's not like I'm not aware of it.

Zander watched my pout in amusement. Glad I was entertaining him. He chuckled and tilted me up, placing me on the edge of the sink. It keeps surprising me how effortlessly it looks when he picks me up. As if it was nothing.

I stared at him in surprise. He had this unusual habit of reaching out to me and picking me up without a warning, that seriously needs to stop. I opened my mouth to argue but decided against it, not wanting to get into another discussion with him.

He opened the kit, grabbing some of the material and started cleaning my injured hand. I simply sat there, observing his every move. He looked so flawless, despite the many flaws that were obvious on his skin.

Those scars, they were so strange. White lines marring his features, how did he get those. What happened to him?

"Could you stop staring." He growled. My eyes widened and a blush tingled on my cheeks. I felt like being caught stealing a cookie before dinner. My gaze dropped, not able to hold his scrutinizing gaze. I stared at the hand in my lap noticing he was nearly done wrapping it up.

He sighed again, starting another wave of silence.

He tightened the bandage around my hand making sure it wouldn't come off. I wanted to thank him but was too afraid to break the eerie draft of calmth around us. I have come to realize that he's a man of few words. He enjoys the quiet. Or perhaps it was just me he didn't want to talk to.

"Thank you." I looked up, startled by his voice. I gaped like a fish above water. Why was he thanking me?

"For diner I mean" he clarified, "you shouldn't have done that" I frowned. He was acting strange around the whole concept. I had noticed his defensive reaction when I asked him earlier today.

"You're making a big deal out of it. I was simply trying to be nice." I admitted, shrugging it off. He shook his head.

"You shouldn't be." He stepped away from me, allowing me to jump off the counter. He was right, I shouldn't be.

He kidnapped me and even though I didn't feel much like a prisoner, I did have a right to know why. I wanted to go home.

We just stared at each other. His eyes looked distant, his mind was elsewhere. I coughed, trying to break the trance he was in. I felt out of place in his room. Can you be intimidated by a room? I think you can.

"I-I should go." I mumbled, carefully trying to walk passed him without bumping into his broad chest. Once I reached the door I turned to face him again. His eyes were still on me, following me across the room but he didn't move.

"Thank you." I offered him a soft smile. I waited for him to respond but all I got was a scrutinizing gaze. He looked troubled, like he was having an inner battle with himself. I wanted to ask him about it but didn't think it would be any of my business.

Zander's POV

I couldn't help but stare at her. I had never seen a person look this much like an angel. She seems so innocent, fragile. I still couldn't believe how anyone could lay a harmful finger on her. I curse the men who tainted her like this, those who hurt her will suffer, and they will die.

"Thank you." She showed her pearly white teeth before turning around and walking away.

I closed my eyes. What am I doing. I kidnapped a girl, because I'm intrigued by her? I shrugged the thought away and dropped myself onto my bed in exhaustion. And before I knew it I drifted off in a long needed sleep.

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My eyes snapped open as I shot up in my bed. I scanned my surroundings, noticing the dark gloaming of the falling night through the window. How long was I out for?

I quickly gathered myself onto my feet, making my way into the hallway. Would Eleanor still be awake? How could I have been so guardless. My heart pounded against my chest as I entered the living room.

My attention landing on the couch with Eleanor peacefully sleeping. I sighed in relieve to see her like this, like no harm was ever done to her. I shook my head, she didn't deserve to be held here against her will.

I walked closer to her, pondering over whether to wake her and put her to bed or leave her here. There's no way she could be comfortable like this. My hand reached closer to her, placing it over her shoulder. She stirred. I frowned.

She looked tired, I felt like a monster to wake her up. How ironic.

I slid one arm underneath her knees and another one behind her back. Carefully lifting her up, letting the small figure slide closer to my. She moaned, I halted, giving her time to adjust before she would wake up.

I carried her down the hall reaching the guest room, I maneuvered her body around so I could open the door, blindly looking for the light switch before walking her to the bed. My heart stammered for a moment as I took in the light grey walls.

It had been a while since I'd seen this room. I barely come here, it was meant for my sister if she ever stayed here. She never does. I won't allow her. This room reminded me of how much I was distancing myself from the only family I had left.

I laid Eleanor on the bed and tucked her in. I was about to leave when a small tender hand shot out and grabbed my bicep.

"Zander?" her voice sounded sleepy and I wasn't sure if she was fully awake but this was the first time I heard her say my first name out loud.

"Sleep Eleanor, we'll talk tomorrow." I pushed her hand away from my arm, letting it drop sleepily onto the matrass.

"I want to go home." Her voice sounded sad and pained. How much I wanted to take away that pain, if only I wasn't the cause of it. Her breath followed a steady pattern, convincing me she was asleep again.

"I'm sorry," I muttered, leaving the room.

"But I can't let you go."