5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

-Jared-

I pushed myself to the limit in the indoor gym, working until my lungs screamed for air and my muscles protested with every movement. Eventually, I relented, deciding to take a shower and seek out a second distraction for the day. Despite my exhaustion, anxiety gnawed at my heart, demanding that I bring back what I deemed as mine. But I had made a promise, and I needed Astrid on my side.

Ascending the stairs, I headed toward my room when I caught a faint sound of murmuring. My curiosity piqued, I glanced toward the direction of the office and approached cautiously. The murmurs grew louder, and as I neared the closed door, I realized Astrid wasn't alone. She hadn't mentioned anyone visiting.

Was she finally making progress with Alison? Or was she plotting against me? I wouldn't put it past her to have her own agenda, despite the debt I owed her. Astrid was more akin to a snake than a wolf. She operated alone, relishing the element of surprise.

Stepping away from the door, I resolved to inquire about the meeting later. Interrupting her now would be ill-advised. After a brisk shower, I dressed in casual attire, but the voices from the office persisted, growing louder. Unable to resist, I approached the bedroom door and cautiously peeked out.

I couldn't discern where she had come from, but I spotted Astrid standing by the staircase, looking somewhat queasy. As I approached, I noticed her eyes were closed, and she leaned against the wall, clearly fatigued. However, she opened her eyes upon sensing my presence nearby.

A smile spread across her lips, but its nature eluded me. "You had a meeting," I observed.

"I have plenty of those," she quipped. "But they're not as enjoyable when you're battling nausea courtesy of a tiny fetus. I'm relieved I didn't vomit during the session."

Pushing away from the wall, Astrid began to walk toward the office. I fell into step beside her, and she glanced back at me from the doorway. "Need something?" she teased.

"Is it about Alison or simply seeking more support?" I inquired.

"I can't divulge that just yet."

"Yes, you can. Honesty between us is crucial for this partnership to succeed," I insisted, but her smile remained cryptic.

"Astrid," I growled.

"Jared, you just need to be patient. You've proven you're capable of that. How many years did you spend plotting revenge against Alison?" she pointed out.

I crossed my arms, averting my gaze. "A little over a decade..."

"Then waiting less than 48 hours should be manageable."

"So you do have an answer? Or are you withholding information because you already know something?" I pressed.

"I cannot say," she replied, maintaining her enigmatic demeanor.

"You know, I thought Alison was a frustrating person, but you certainly take the top position," I groaned.

"Good, I've been practicing," Astrid quipped.

"I don't think practice is necessary. It's simply who you are."

Astrid chuckled, but my determination remained unshaken. As she made to enter the office again, I reached out and gently held her back. Turning to face me, she looked perplexed.

"What do you know?" I asked, urgency lacing my tone.

"I know nothing," she replied.

"Astrid! This is important," I insisted, my frustration evident.

"Yes, I know, but I don't think knowing anything will help ease your mind," she explained with a sigh.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I believe more information will only exacerbate your anxiety," she clarified, her voice soft but firm.

"Just tell me something. Anything," I pleaded.

"You really want to know a little detail?"

"Yes. I need to know. Is she even alive, or am I going to find a corpse?" I growled, my voice tinged with anger and fear as I stepped closer to Astrid.

She sighed, her arms folding across her chest, but then she seemed to reach a decision.

"Come in here," she ordered, leading the way into the office.

I closed the door behind me, and Astrid settled into her chair behind the desk as if preparing for a serious conversation. I remained standing, unable to sit still with the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.

"So?" I pressed.

"She's alive," Astrid confirmed, and a rush of relief flooded through me, momentarily overwhelming my senses. The burden of not knowing whether I was searching for parts of Alison or her as a whole had been crushing.

"Goodness, that had quite an effect on you, didn't it?" Astrid remarked.

I nodded, unable to contain the mixture of emotions swirling within me.

"But I'm sure you understand that being alive doesn't necessarily mean she's been spared," Astrid reminded me, her words a sobering reality check that reignited my anger and fear.

"I'm aware. But knowing she is alive is what I needed to keep going," I confessed.

"I think you would have searched for her even if all her parts had been thrown into the ocean. Am I not right?" Astrid inquired.

"Perhaps," I murmured, but we both knew my dedication to locating Alison would unquestionably have led me to attempt to gather all her parts. "But she is alive? And whole?"

"As far as I know," she explained.

"Who told you this? The person you just saw?" I questioned.

"You don't really need to know, do you?" she countered.

"Of course I do! I need to know more."

"No, you don't."

"Astrid, I fucking do!"

"Jared, are you in or are you not?" she challenged, rising from her seat.

"Sorry?"

"You say you want no part in Vince's business or in the wolves'. So I am asking you, are you in or not?" she repeated.

"I already told you!"

"And yet you demand answers from people who work for me. You of all people know what too much knowledge does. Why else is Alison now in the claws of someone else?" she pointed out.

"Someone else? Does that mean a singular person?" I inquired, and Astrid remained motionless, indicating I had struck a chord.

"Is she not with Vince?" I asked, but Astrid didn't reply to my question. "She is not. But she is with someone," I mused to myself.

"It's too bad you never became a detective," she groaned, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"Not with Vince, but with someone else. With your father?" I inquired.

"Jared!"

"What?" I snarled.

"Let it be!"

"Why?"

"Because you are no longer in charge, nor do you want to be. But if I disclose too much, it means you are a part of this. It means you will have to stay. Isn't it better to simply leave it to me? If you let me handle it, then when you have Alison in your arms again, you can leave whenever you desire. We will figure out a solution," she assured me.

"So you agree we shouldn't stay either," I pointed out.

"That's up to you. I think you two would be more interested in starting over somewhere else. Maybe you'd like a sunnier place? Southern Spain?" she taunted. "Or perhaps you seek more privacy and want to head to the mountains. However, the more involved you get, the harder it will be to get out. And you want out, don't you? You never desired to be the leader, merely the soldier who follows orders."

Astrid had good points. I had warned Astrid of the very same thing, but it was hard not to ask when it felt like she was both close and far away.

Taking a deep breath, I released the tension in my body and nodded slightly. "You're correct. I don't want to be the leader. I want a peaceful life now."

"We never get true peace, but something resembling it, I think we can manage," she assured me before sitting down again, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "A quiet life with your bully," she mused, a chuckle escaping her lips.

It did sound odd, but things had changed between Alison and me, and our fates were simply too intertwined. Was a quiet life really so bad with Alison?

"I never saw you as a man who would want to settle down. Maybe you dream of suburban life after all, the one you never had," she remarked.

I couldn't admit there might be a little longing for normalcy, but that was unattainable. I could only hope for something resembling the prospect.

"I want a divorce too," I informed her. "And don't worry, I will sign over all rights to you regarding the child."

"I was expecting you to. However, the divorce," she began.

"What about it?"

"That I will have to consider."

"Come on, Astrid, why stay married to me after I get Alison back?" I questioned.

"Because I still need you. You're still the front figure until I get things turned around," she explained.

"Kill your father and be done with it," I retorted.

"You know it's more complicated than that."

I groaned, shaking my head. "So what do you suggest? Staying married until we die?"

"No, maybe just until our child has turned old enough to be a front figure."

"You do know it could be a girl, right?" I inquired.

"I'm aware, but hopefully by the time she's grown up, I won't be challenged from so many directions merely because I don't have a dick," she growled.

I shook my head slightly. "You do realize that means 18 years of marriage, right?"

"I'm aware."

Her sinister smile persisted, and I despised that grin. It was like something out of a horror movie, perhaps even reminiscent of the Joker's signature smirk. Whenever she looked at me like that, I knew she was about to say something I wouldn't like.

"I will give you 10 years," I offered.

"Do you think you have any power to bargain with me, Jared? Without me, you will never reach Alison. You have no experience in leading, and the wolves expect you to be the one to come looking for her. You need me just as much as I need you."

"And what about when I get her? What leverage do you have then?"

"Come now, we both know the sort of leverage I have. If I want to, I can just kill her, and then you and I will simply spend our lives together, you as my sweet pet," she taunted.

"You know, I don't know what sort of hole in hell you crawled out of, but I can't wait for the day when you return to it," I retorted.

Astrid merely began laughing, finding my comeback amusing. But as her laughter died down, she leaned back in that large, brown leather chair, exuding the air of the queen she desired to be perceived as.

"You know what? I can't wait to go back either. Then at least I'll have your soul to torment for eternity. Face it, Jared, you and Alison might be locked together, but so are you and I. Once you married me, we became intertwined as well, and wherever you go, I always follow," she reminded me, making my skin crawl at the thought of never ridding myself of Astrid. Even her gaze made my blood turn to ice.

"When I leave from here, it doesn't matter what a piece of paper says. We are through," I told her firmly.

"Without me, who will keep you two safe?" she challenged.

"I will handle it," I assured.

"You're quick and cunning, Jared. I won't undermine your abilities. But you also know you have a vulnerability now. You've lost her once already. Consider my offer of protection."

"I want you out of my life," I snarled.

"Don't fret. It's just 18 years," she chuckled. "Unless, should we consider baby number two?"

"We definitely won't be," I growled, her smile widening.

"No, I'm sure you'll be busy with Alison. Oh, wait, she can't get pregnant."

I glared at her as Astrid looked smug, but I wasn't going to engage in this verbal sparring.

"10 years," I insisted, reverting to my previous offer.

"18. You don't have a better offer."

"You don't think you can turn things around before 18 years have passed?" I asked.

"I don't know. That's why it's a precaution. 18 years," she repeated.

"You're unbelievable," I muttered. "Don't you want me gone as well? Doesn't the sight of me irritate you?"

She let her eyes slowly roam down my body, like a predator sizing up its prey, before meeting my gaze again.

"Actually, you turn me on a bit," she admitted.

"You're lying. You want to disgust me with the idea of arousing you."

"I'm not lying. You do have that wicked tongue you know how to use. I really enjoy it when you—"

"Astrid!" I interrupted, making her laugh.

"You turn me on, and I don't mind looking at you," she confessed, sending a chill down my spine.

"With you, I can never be sure what's the truth," I murmured.

"A gift of mine. But take comfort in knowing she is alive."

"It won't change the fact that I'll be going out unless you bring her to me first," I growled.

"Don't worry."

"Don't tell me not to worry. Around you, I have every reason to," I snarled.

She remained relaxed in her seat, and I shot her a final warning glance before turning away.