chapter six

Zarek POV

"Where the hell is he?" Aziel's irritated voice rang behind me. With a quick glance to the side, the spot was empty. I let out a shaky breath. At least I didn't murder him.

I hadn't lifted my head up one bit, but I could already feel the tension in the air. Hard footsteps of men rushed about.

"North route, wounded."

"Make sure he doesn't get through the gates. Bring him alive," Aziel ordered, and this time he was definitely behind me as his presence pressed in.

“You really don’t learn, do you, kitten?” His words cut through the chaos in my head, and I could feel his piercing gaze boring into my skin. He took a step closer, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. "Eyes on me, kitten," he commanded.

I shut my eyes tightly, sweat dripping from my forehead.

"You really are trying my patience this fucking hard?"

His grip tightened, holding me steady. "I will not repeat myself. Open those eyes."

His voice vibrated through my body as I swallowed slowly and opened my eyes to meet his darkening gaze.

My breathing became heavier each second as I contemplated how to get out of this situation. I knew it was not going to be possible because I had successfully managed to screw up my chance yet again.

His gaze shifted to the window where the bedsheets were left hanging shamelessly. I bit down on my lip, watching his hand clench and unclench.

"What the fuck..."

"Don, we got him," Luciano's voice came, interrupting the moment.

Aziel let go, and I finally let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

He stepped toward the man being held in place by Luciano and another guy, one of his men.

"Enzo..."

Aziel called, his voice menacingly cold as he took a step toward the man.

"I knew you were the only one bold enough to ask for death by getting into my territory."

Without a blink, he drove his fist straight into Enzo’s nose.

A sickening crack split the air.

Enzo’s head snapped back, blood bursting instantly and spilling over Aziel’s knuckles before dripping to the ground. He did not give him time to recover. Another punch followed, harder, smashing into his cheek. I heard the dull thud of bone meeting bone and saw teeth scatter across the concrete.

Enzo collapsed to one knee, choking on his own blood.

Aziel grabbed him by the collar and hauled him upright like he weighed nothing.

Then he hit him again.

And again.

Flesh split and blood sprayed, Enzo’s groans turned wet and gargled, barely human.

Then came the kick.

Aziel’s boot drove into his stomach with enough force to lift him off the ground before slamming him back down. The air rushed out of Enzo in a broken wheeze as he curled inward, shaking.

"Oh God," I breathed, shocked at my own cracked voice.

"Did you say something, kitten?" he asked, turning to me, his knuckles blood red and veins popping on every side of his head.

I shook my head, placing both palms over my mouth, daring not to make noise or breathe loudly. In all my life, I had never witnessed this kind of violence, yet everyone stood there amused as if this was there regular morning routine.

Aziel grabbed him from the side and he groaned. That was when I noticed his bleeding knee, the accidental shot.

He chuckled, obviously enjoying the deafening cries. My stomach churned at the sickening display.

"Luka, get the car around," he ordered the guy standing by Luciano.

"Luciano, bring Knox from the cage," he barked. The men strode off, leaving us under Aziel's irritated glare.

He let the man fall to the side, certain he would not make it if he tried to run again.

I shifted uncontrollably on the ground, my body feeling numb with each passing second. The strong stench of cigarette smoke wrapped around the air, and I followed the trail of it to Aziel's hand as he exhaled a thick cloud.

A wave of nausea hit me, and my head dropped as I tried to force something out of my gut, but nothing came.

A loud bark split the air, and my brows furrowed. A large German Shepherd, held by a brown leash and collar, barked repeatedly as Luciano led it to Aziel.

When it reached him, it rushed to stand in front of him. He tossed the cigarette aside and patted it on the head, murmuring something I could not quite hear.

The screech of wheels cut through the moment as the car skidded to a stop. Luka stepped out.

"Keep this trash entertained until I come back," Aziel ordered.

Luka and Luciano grabbed Enzo, dragging him across the ground as he groaned. They disappeared in the opposite direction until the cries faded.

"Get in the car, kitten."

"Where do you want to take me?" I snapped.

"I do not like repeating myself, unless you want to keep Enzo company," he warned, his voice cold as ever.

I had seen enough in the past few hours. The last thing I wanted was to end up like one of his victims.

I pushed myself up, my legs wobbling, my bandaged arm so numb I could barely feel it.

I dragged myself to the car. He opened the front passenger door and I climbed in, fastening my seat belt. He shut it, then opened the back door.

"Get in, Knox."

The dog jumped inside. He closed the door, walked around to the driver's seat, started the engine, and sped off.

The tension between us thickened. The air inside the car felt hot and suffocating. The drive was short. The car came to a halt in front of a dense forest.

He gestured for me to get out, and I did. He came to my side with Knox already out of the car.

"Why are we here?" I asked, my brows creased.

This psycho could not be planning to kill me in a forest. Then again, with him, anything was possible. He could do whatever he wanted, and that thought made me swallow hard as the silence pressed in. He had not said a word. Only Knox's heavy breathing and the rush of wind filled the air.

"To give you freedom. Is that not what you want?"

"What?"

At the mention of freedom, my nostrils flared. Was he mocking me?

"Since you want to run away so badly and I do not want to keep you in my territory against your will, I have decided to let you leave."

I searched his face. His eyes were dead serious.

"You would really let me leave?" I whispered.

"Of course. It saves me the stress and babysitting."

"I am not a baby, and for the record, I did not want to come here in the first place."

"Enough talking. Here is what you are going to do."

He pulled out a folded paper and held it out to me. I hesitated. He glared once more before I took it.

"That is the map that will take you out. Since there is a bounty on your head, this is the safest route to reach home."

I unfolded it. It was an actual map.

"What is in it for you? You do not seem like someone who does things for free."

He chuckled softly. "True. Consider this a favor."

"Really? You expect me to believe that?"

He glanced at his watch, then back at me. "You have about thirty minutes to reach the main road. It will start raining in twenty."

I looked up at the clear sky. There was not a cloud in sight.

"You still have not answered my question. Why are you doing this? I do not trust you."

"You should start running, kitten. You would not want another bounty catching up with you," he taunted.

I turned toward the narrow path leading into the trees, but my legs refused to move.

This was what I wanted. A chance to be free. So why did it feel wrong?

"Move," he thundered.

My body stepped forward before my mind caught up.

"And remember, thirty minutes to the main road...else.... I also know your history with dogs from a trusted source," he added behind me.

My body tensed. I did not turn around. I held the paper tightly and glanced at my watch.

"Run, kitten. Run."