33. Zane

Chapter thirty-three

Zane

W ater cascades down, enveloping me in a steamy mist that makes the world beyond the shower stall feel distant and irrelevant.

She said she loves me.

Droplets race along my skin, tracing paths over tense muscles and rinsing away the remnants of my lovemaking.

Jasmine said she loves me.

I linger beneath the hot spray, savouring the sensation, wishing I could wash away the responsibilities that await beyond the house walls. Closing my eyes, I allow the warmth to seep into my bones, dreading the moment I must step out and confront the day—dreading leaving Jasmine even more.

Jasmine. The woman who loves me.

The reality of time and duty press against my solitude for just one more minute hidden in the downpour. With a reluctant sigh, I turn off the water, the sudden silence magnifying my reluctance. Cool air greets me as I step onto the tiled floor, reaching for a towel and briskly dry off.

In the bedroom, Jasmine sits in bed, patiently awaiting her turn in the shower. For a long moment, I simply stand there, watching her in silent admiration.

"Hey," she murmurs without looking up from her magazine. "You don't need to worry. I'll be fine here on my own."

I thread my belt through the loops of my trousers. Her assurance should be comforting, but my heart still twists at the thought of leaving. It's not that I think she'll run away, I just don't want to leave her.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Absolutely." Jasmine climbs from the bed, her perfect body paces towards me. "I know how important your work is. Go. I'm not the one who needs looking after."

I nod, accepting her words while a tightness grips my chest.

"Call me if you need anything," I say, the words sounding like a feeble excuse to hear from her.

She smiles, lifting onto tiptoes to kiss me. "I will. Now go, or you'll be late."

With one last look at her, I grab my jacket and wallet, steeling myself against the pull of her presence.

"I promise I'll still be here," she whispers.

"I know. It doesn't make it any easier to leave you." I gesture to her nakedness then press a kiss into her lips.

***

In the kitchen, I move on autopilot, fetching the coffee canister and scooping grounds into the machine with practised ease. The gurgle and hiss of brewing coffee fill the silence left by Jasmine's absence upstairs. I've made a thermos flask of coffee before work every morning for the last twenty-odd years, and I've never felt alone before. As I wait for the dark liquid to fill the pot, I contemplate the day ahead, hoping for a task that will keep me busy all day. Otherwise, the hours will drag on until I can get home to Jasmine once again. Maybe I could help Lenny track down Mrs Marley and explain her husband's crime within the family. Or I could visit Knox and work out what is going on with him and this boy who has as tight a grip on his heart as Jasmine has on mine. That sounds like the better option; I need to shield myself from the risk that comes with this life and celebrate a mutual new beginning with the heir.

The sharp trill of my phone shatters the quiet moment I'm enjoying, a jarring note that makes me flinch. I set the mug down, a trail of steam curling upwards as I capture the heat within the twist cap. My screen displays Edward's face as the caller and a weight settles on my shoulders. I can expect bad news if he calls me before I get to work.

"Edward?" My voice is tight with apprehension, the name escaping as a question that already tastes of dread.

"Ronan's missing," comes Edward's blunt reply, his words clipped and carrying an urgency that drives my pulse.

A cold shiver runs down my spine, and I lean heavily against the kitchen counter for support. I knew Edward's idea was ridiculous, and would do nothing to ease Desmond's interest in Jasmine.

"Missing how? Since when?" I press, my mind reeling as it grapples with the implications. I should have protested harder against the plan.

"Since last night," Edward says. "He never checked in after his visit to Desmond's club."

My heart sinks when I realise what this could mean. Ronan hasn't just gone missing; it could have been up to twelve hours ago. There is a limit to how long any man can keep his mouth closed, and I'm not sure Ronan's loyalty is twelve hours long. I have to work on the assumption that Ronan is dead and Desmond knows everything. The only benefit to this is that Desmond is fair game now he has laid his hands on one of the family.

"I'm on my way in."

"We will find him," Edward encourages. He knows how good we are at finding people. That isn't in doubt. It's finding him alive that worries me.

"Keep me posted. I'm on my way." I hang up the phone and grab my coffee. I've lost Ronan and William to the follies of the two Thayers.

The cold grip of guilt clenches at my stomach as I snatch the keys from the hook. Why didn't I say something? It's all I can think about as I drive to Edward's house.

Our business involves controlling the city, something we can't do from an office building, so the location of my work depends on what I need to do. I need to speak to Edward and find out everything, and then round up some volunteers to be my muscle against Desmond. I won't be short of volunteers for this kind of work; Ronan is well-liked by many.

Lenny's car is parked on Edward's grand driveway, looking beat up compared to Edward's luxury Rolls Royce. That boy dings his car too often to justify an upgrade, but I'm still curious why he's here, although the unknown saloon beside his might explain something.

"Good Morning," I call to the doorman, entering the house without invitation.

"Dad," Lenny greets me. "Mrs Marley isn't a happy bunny."

I manage a brief smile, not that he expected anything different. But running to the boss's home is a bold move on her part. She isn't going to keep me from speaking to Edward about Ronan, so I knock on the office door despite the raised voices inside.

"Ah, Zane." Edward looks relieved as he pokes his head around the door. "I've ordered all the men who went with Ronan to meet with you at the club on Witcham Road. Take Lenny with you, I'll take care of Mrs Marley for him."

"Thank you."

Edward fucked up and here I am thanking him. His idea of taking care of something will have me back here to clean up behind him later, I have no doubt.

"Lenny, follow me to Witcham Road." I'm chasing a twelve-hour head start; every second counts.