CHAPTER 17

ELIX

“Fucking idiots.” I kept my hand on the wheelchair handle long after the car doors shut with the engines still running because I needed the pressure under my palm.

The doctor said Renzo was listening. Thankfully, I was present enough to catch those words. My lips curled delightfully at the fact that Renzo was now mine to manage, and not some weak headline those idiots with cameras were already drafting in their heads.

I hated that they saw him like that. But I loved it even more that Zaria was not here to see him like this.

The car ride back was quiet. Renzo’s breathing was slow as the machines were doing their job, and his face was pale in a way that made something ugly twist in my chest. I simply told myself not to feel it because feelings made mistakes, and mistakes got people buried.

The house staff scattered like mice the moment they saw me wheel Renzo into the mansion. That alone should have told May to stay the fuck out of my way.

But she didn’t.

I handed Renzo over to the private medical team, gave them brief instructions, and only then took my phone out of my pocket. I hadn’t checked it since the warehouse, and I already knew that was a mistake before I even unlocked the screen.

One message.

From Zaria.

Scoffing, I opened it. But as my eyes scanned the content of the message, the room went very still. I felt heat rise up my neck, slowly at first, then so fast that it nearly crippled me. Fuck! I read it again just to make sure I wasn’t imagining the audacity of it, just to make sure I wasn’t misreading the part where she decided to act like she had any fucking authority at all.

Last week, May told Zaria something without my permission. Though it worked according to my plans, she did that without my word, and now this?!

You're late. The message said.

It was all May's fault! I turned slowly, scanning the hallway for a particular red hair. Deep breaths, Eix. To rush is to be sloppy, and I didn't want that because of how furious I was. Sloppiness got blood on the wrong floor.

“May,” I called.

She appeared at the corner holding a tray of… whatever, eyes wide, shoulders stiff, already knowing she’d fucked up.

“Yes, Miss Elix…”

I crossed the space between us in three steps, and my hand connected with her face before she could finish the sentence. It was enough to snap her head sideways as the loud sound of skin on skin made everyone flinch and vanish. The tray tipped immediately. Cups crashed and shattered on the floor… hot tea splashing everywhere.

She gasped.

I didn’t give her time to breathe.

I grabbed her phone from her hand and flung it straight at her face, and it hit her cheek with a dull crack that made her cry out and stumble back against the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snarled, and my accent slipped right out… thick, ugly, and old… exactly the way I spoke before I learned how to sound soft for men like Renzo. “Who the fuck told you you could send messages in my house without my say?”

She shook her head, tears already spilling, one hand pressed to her cheek while the other trembled uselessly at her side.

“I…I just thought it was a good…”

“You thought?” I laughed again, louder this time, sharp and mean. “You don’t fuckin’ think. You listen. That’s your whole goddamn job, I do the thinking ”

I stepped closer, my index finger almost touching her chest.

“Renzo did not wake because I did not give the fuckin’ order,” I continued, dropping my voice low. “And you sent a message anyway? You did tell her anyway? Who the hell do you think you are, huh? His wife? His blood? His fucking keeper?”

She sobbed.

“I was worried about you,” she whispered. “I thought she was going to report to the police and end your plans… It was all for you, Ma’am.”

That stopped me. “Go on.”

“And I also… I…can't remember the last time she asked me to get…"

What? “You said what?”

May gulped. My lips pressed together slowly as the pieces clicked into place. Fucking hell. That bitch thought she could fool everyone.

However, “So you decided to play hero,” I deadpanned. “You decided to act outta order because you felt bad.”

I leaned in until my face was inches from hers, my eyes locked on hers, unblinking.

“Let me make this very fuckin’ clear,” I said. “You don’t get feelings. You don’t get to think. You don’t get instincts. You don’t get to protect anyone unless I say so. When I tell you to move, you move. When I tell you to speak, you speak. And you shut the fuck up the rest of the time. You understand me?”

She nodded frantically, choking on her breath.

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry, I swear…”

Footsteps rushed in.

I whirled around to see Grace running towards us.

“What’s going on?” She asked, alarmed. I shot her an angry look Her eyes darted from the broken cups to the tea on the floor to May’s red cheek that was already swelling. “Oh my God—May… your face… what happened?”

I straightened instantly. “May tripped.” The lie came out smoothly, not missing a beat. “She knocked her face on the side of the door and spilled the tea everywhere.”

Grace stared at me, then at May.

May hesitated.

I tilted my head slightly, just enough for her to see the warning in my eyes.

“Yes,” May whispered quickly. “I’m so sorry. It was my fault.”

Grace sighed, rubbing her temple.

“Oh dear,” she said. “Are you alright? That looks painful.”

“I’m fine,” May said, though her voice shook.

Grace bent down to help clean the mess, already apologizing.

I narrowed my eyes at the sly woman.