Chapter 23



𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣

Eve's POV (ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕕𝕒𝕪)

It had to be done.

I was tired of Laura being steps ahead of us. If she wanted to use my family, then I was going to use hers. Lucas and Damien had kicked against it saying it was too risky, and Damien was too weak to travel, but I didn't give a damn.

I was going, and so were they. Especially Lucas. This was his war after all. Did he expect me to fight for him alone? If not for the fact that my mother suddenly became a priority, Lucas would be dead and buried.

Dead and buried. Really? Who are you kidding?

I shoved her away. That thought, that voice that wanted me to admit to some nonsensical logic about my feelings for him.

I strode into Elite's private jet. One of the pecks of owning your own plane was being able to choose your preferred location, and mine was first class.

With my Prada bag hung over my left shoulders, I stepped into the aisle of the plane intending to head towards my favourite spot, only to realise that someone was already occupying the position.

I looked towards the heavens in frustration.

Since my sleep-in experience with him, I had been actively avoiding him - which had proved to be harder than I had thought because Lucas was one persistent son of a gun. He kept trying to get me to glance at him, talk to him or even listen. And after a whole day of trying, it was as if he finally gave up and began avoiding me instead. For the past eight hours, the guys had only said five words to me. Two syllables each.

Truth was, I was scared. Scared that history would repeat itself. Scared of what would happen if I let him in again. Scared that I wouldn't be able to go through with my plans for him when the time came. And that last part was something I wasn't willing to jeopardise, feelings or not.

I was going to get my pound of flesh by blood or dirt. I didn't care how long it took. He had to pay.

I walked over to him and stood by the aisle, my eyes in slits as I glared at him, nose flaring. The guy just sat there with a magazine in hand, head buried in it as if it was the most important piece of document in the world.

I gritted my teeth. "Hey."

He raised his head and looked me over. "Hey." He replied, then went back to his reading.

Clenching my hands and taking a deep breath I tried again, trying my best not to bash his head in. "Lucas, you are sitting in my position."

He kept his gaze embedded in his magazine. "Is that so? I didn't see your name written on it."

The fuck? I was going to have to kill this guy sooner than later.

"Get out of my sit Lucas. Like right now."I growled with venom. It took every ounce of self-control I had not to hit him, and that control was draining really fast.

Lucas smirked. He fucking smirked. "Make me."

That was the last straw. My bag hit the floor the same moment my elbow landed on the back of his neck. He howled in pain and doubled over. It was as if everyone in the plane had gone still for a split second, then began sprinting towards us in the next. Before they could even get halfway, I attacked again, rage blinding me.

Grabbing him by his collar, I hauled him to his feet and dragged him out into the opposite seat. But Lucas had already regained himself. He grabbed my wrist from above his head and squeezed. I tried removing his hands but he was quicker. He twisted around with my wrist in his hands. Cracking the bone in the process.

I screamed out in pain and struck his sides with my free hand. He wasn't fast enough to deflect - for the blow caused him to release my wrist and fall backwards. I was about to attack again when strong hands grabbed me around the waist, pulling me backwards.

"Hell!" I heard Lucas curse from somewhere around the room as I was being dragged to the cockpit. Jay pushed me into the pilot back seat and growled.

"What the heck is wrong with you Eve? What's come over you?"

I was breathing so hard my chest hurt. "The bastard. After everything he put me through, after what he did to my family, my reputation, my-"

Jay's eyes popped. "Hold up, hold up. What the hell are you saying, Eve? I need you to explain it to me in plain terms."

I stared hard at Jay. "It's him."

"I don't understand Eve. Do you mean he's the guy you've been hunting for the past five years?" Jay asked, sitting down next to me. He picked up my left wrist and I winced.

"The one and only," I affirmed, my voice breaking. Jay began slowly massaging my wrist and I couldn't help but bit my lips to suppress a groan.

"Why didn't you tell me, Eve?"

"I-"

Jay applied pressure to my already swelling wrist and I choked on the pain, unable to complete whatever excuse I was about to cook up. I peered at him and pouted. Okay. He was angry.

"You had the opportunity to tell me when you called me to cover your tracks at the hospital. How dare you drag me into this without telling me the full detail? Was that the plan?"

I set my eyes to the floor as guilt rushed through me. I had been wrong about not telling him. Jay had been our family doctor before I was even born. But he wasn't just our doctor, he had been my godfather too. After my parent's demise, I had needed a fresh start and Jay had made it happen. When I finally appeared years later, Jay had been the one to protect my identity. On the condition that I never keep anything from him. That was why I could understand his anger. It was justified.

"I'm sorry Jay, I thought I could handle it without involving you. I am so sorry." I pleaded, my eyes still to the ground.

Jay placed his fingers under my chin and raised my face to meet his. "I know you feel like the weight of the world is on you, Eve, but it's not. You wanna know why?"

I nodded. " It's because you have me. You'll always have me, Eve, because, to me, you are no less than a daughter. I pray that one day you see me as someone worthy enough to be considered as a father."

I raised my uninjured arm to wipe my cheeks and Jay immediately wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. I just rested my head on his shoulder and let go. I let the tears fall, let the pain out, I let the scars heal. I leaned on him and wept. I was tired. So, so worn. And for the first time in years, I wished I could just unwind. Just drop off on a beach somewhere and disappear. I cried till my voice became lost, till all I could afford was a whimper.

Someone opened the door and Jay slowly unwrapped his arms from me. We looked up to find my Captain pilot at the threshold. "We are ready for taking off."

"Yeah, yeah come in," I said and stood up. So did Jay. The captain and co-captain stepped into the cockpit and I set my gaze at them. "About what happened here-"

"What happened ma'am?" Dave - the captain - said with a frown on his brows.

I smiled. "We know you heard-"

"We heard nothing Ms Eve." He insisted. A reassuring look on his face. I couldn't help but smile some more. Another reason I loved Dave was his loyalty and secrecy. He was perfect for me.

I nodded and worked out of the room with Jay in tow. "I'll need to apply some ice to that wrist and some bandages to keep it still and help it heal. We still have a lot to talk about. But I'll let you rest for now okay?"

"Okay." I meekly responded and made my way to my seat. Thankfully, Lucas was no were to be found. I settled into my favourite spot and moved up the window blind. We would soon be in the air and all my problems would be carried away by the clouds.

Just as I thought it, the voice of our co-pilot came booming from the speakers.

Flight 457 is ready for taking off. So sit back and enjoy the ride. Hopefully, it's as smooth as the weather says.

I smiled and settled it, then turned to pick up a book only to see Rita settling into the seat across me. Rita picked up the magazine that Lucas had been holding minutes ago and began silently reading as if I wasn't even there.

Oh, this was bad.

"Just spill it out already," I muttered and Rita lifted her eyes from the magazine and stared at me, doe-eyed.

"Me? Are you talking to me?" She asked as she stared at me with fake confusion.

"Of course you know I'm talking to you Rita, stop acting coy." I jeered, eyes-rolling.

She sighed and placed the magazine in the seat beside her, then turned to me, lips twitching. "Well, because you asked."

I scoffed, and she continued as if she hadn't heard it. "I just wanted to ask if you were okay."

I raised my left brow. "Really? You came here brooding just to ask me that?"

"It's just that you've been acting weird this past few days and I thought-'

"And you haven't?" I sneered, eyes flashing.

Rita recoiled, her face a grim mask. "Agreed. We've all been acting weird, but I had thought we were a team. And teams are supposed to care for each other."  She got up, picking the magazine as she did.

"Rita-" I started but she was already gone. I reclined on the seat and sighed. This trip was becoming a disaster real quick and early. I just hoped it wasn't going to get worst from here.

Attention everyone, there is an incoming call from Senator Mathew. It looks like an emergency. Ms Eve, it's your call. Should we pick or not?

I frowned as Dave's voice boomed the question through the speakers. What could senator Matthew want right now? I thought we were done with him? I had even provided him with protection and all so what else could he want?  I watched as everyone began filing into the first-class section. Eager to know what the call was about.

I heaved a heavy sigh. "Pick it, Dave."

There were a click and the voice of senator - Senator Mathew's assistant? Why was he speaking through the Senator's line?

"Ms Eve, there's been a development." A breathless voice crashed through the speakers.

"Hello to you too Stone. Why are you talking to me and not Mathew?"

"That's what I called to talk about ma'am." There was a pause, then, "Senator Mathew is dead."

The fuck?