“Ouch. Let go of my arm,” Ella spluttered, but Zane’s grip was firm. Reluctantly, Ella let him drag her along with his long strides, until they stood at the elevators. With his free hand, Zane slapped the lift recall button, refusing to speak to her or release her.
“For God’s sake, Zane, let me go. You’re hurting me,” she hissed.
This seemed to galvanise him into action. He dropped her arm and spun around to face her. “What the hell was that all about?” He glared at her as his voice reverberated off the walls. A vein twitched on his temple and his nostrils flared. “You couldn’t reply to a single message of mine? What about your mother? She told you not to come here, didn’t she?”
What? How does he know?
“And what the hell was that bullshit about me not being your boyfriend?”
Ella swallowed and tried to hide her pain. She had to do this, to protect him from her father’s wrath. Because she planned to goad her father to breaking point. He’d shown what he could do when pushed past his limit, and she couldn’t afford to have Zane caught up in this. She wouldn’t stop. Never. Not while her mother sat in jail.
She took a deep breath and stood her ground. “You heard me. I told you in Brisbane.” She dug her fingernails deeper into the soft skin of her palm and pinched herself. “Go home, Zane. I don’t need you here.”
“Bullshit!” he roared.
“Does someone need to be escorted away?”
They both spun to face the security guard, who’d approached silently.
“No,” they barked at the same time.
The guard took a step back at their raised voices as a lift opened behind them. None too gently, Zane grabbed her arm again and pulled her inside.
Alone in the elevator, Zane wrapped her in a hug. “You told me you loved me.” Her heart thumped against his chest. “In this very city, barely a week ago. Did it mean nothing to you?”
She bit her bottom lip to stop it from quivering and stepped back. She stumbled when the lift stopped and the doors opened to allow others in. But that didn’t stop Zane.
“What about the times we shared in bed? What? Still means nothing?” He’d raised his eyebrows, but his eyes were cold and hard, his anguish reflected in their depths.
Ella pressed her hands together behind her back. She kept her shoulders straight and tried to appear unaffected. But his words cut through her.
Someone coughed. Zane’s tirade was making others uncomfortable, but he didn’t seem to care. His gaze continued to bore right through her. “I warned you there were risks in searching for your father. You told me you could handle it, that no matter what happened you wanted me by your side.” He shook his head. “Shit, barely five minutes had passed after you got bad news and you told me to go. What the hell came over you? I know you’re scared, I get that, but did you really think I was in this just for the ride? You don’t think this affects me too?”
She swayed when the lift halted at another floor, the small space filling up fast.
But no crowds or strangers were going to stop Zane. “That bastard up there is going to squash you, and those were your mother’s words, just so you know.”
She stifled her gasp. He’s been to see Mum? Shit, Luke and the girls must be keeping him updated. How the heck am I going to shake him off if my family keep interfering?
The lift stopped on the ground floor and the occupants filed out. She couldn’t drag her gaze away from Zane’s. Hypnotically, she looked into his dark pools. Stop! A person’s eyes held the truth, and there was no way Ella could hide her feelings. She loved this man—he was everything she’d ever wanted. But she had a mission to accomplish—a man to squash beneath her heel. A wrong to make right so her mother could live the rest of her life without fear. Her mother who’d risked everything so her child could live a happy and carefree life without the constant threat of fear and violence. Ella had been gifted that life and lived it—now she was prepared to give it up for her mother. She wasn’t risking anyone else’s life. Just her own.
Resolutely making a decision, she squared her shoulders and bit down on her tongue to harden her resolve. “I said go home, Zane. I don’t want you here.”
“And I say bullshit.” His voice rose an octave. “You’re not facing your father alone again.”
“Excuse me, is everything okay?”
“Yes,” they both shouted as they turned towards the man holding the lift door open.
Ella groaned inwardly. It was the same pinstriped suited, arrogant man she’d encountered only days earlier. He looked directly at her, his gaze just as calculated and lecherous as the first time they’d met.
She huffed and stormed out of the lift. If she could get to her hotel a few blocks away, she would lock herself in her room and instruct reception to turn visitors away. Zane would eventually take the hint and leave—where he’d be out of harm’s way.
Zane followed her when she left the building. The afternoon sun hid behind the high-rise and cast a shadow over them. “Don’t walk away from me, Ella. I brought you here in the first place, dammit! Let me help you sort out this mess.”
No! You’re not to blame. Please don’t say that.
She came to an abrupt halt and spun around to face him. This had to end. Now. She had to get rid of Zane. God help her, she’d just witnessed the worst of her father. It was okay for her to die at his hands, but Zane didn’t deserve that. He needed to be completely out of the picture before she carried out her social media attacks. Once started, there would be no stopping her.
She took a deep breath and searched for her inner strength. Damn it, where was that stupid pride and independence she bragged about to her colleagues? She could do this. It wasn’t the first time she’d been challenged. But it was though the first time she would be braving it against someone with wealth and power—an entire city at his beck and call. While she’d never had that strength, there was no other option, even if it took every cent of her savings.
Only, dealing with Zane was different—heck, everything about Zane was, but the rules were the same. Be precise and clear—and don’t back down.
She exhaled slowly and squared her shoulders. “It’s over, Zane. I’m sorry, but everything has changed. You have to go.”
Anger at herself, her father, the whole world in general was helping her keep up this charade. No way would she let her father think they were entangled. She’d die an ugly death at his hands, and strangely, she was okay with that. She’d lived a good life and was lucky enough to have experienced true love. Ella was free to die. Every passing minute convinced her of the reason she was put on this earth—her death would finally put her father where he belonged—behind bars. Of this, she was certain. If she died and justice wasn’t served, she would haunt her father from the afterlife and make his life a living hell. She wouldn’t back down—dead or alive.
She made ready to flee, to leave Zane behind. To banish from her mind the hurt written all over his face, not to mention the anger and disbelief.
Then she heard, “Zane? Ella?”
She whirled around.
“Mum? Dad?” Zane spluttered. “Weren’t you going to the hotel?”
Zane’s mother eyed Ella warily. She was certain her last words to Zane would’ve rung out loud and clear, and shame crept its way up her neck and flooded her face.
“We decided to come for a walk. See how you were going,” Jonathan explained.
Tilly took a step closer and the expression on her face changed to concern. “Ella, my darling”—she opened her arms wide—“come here.”
Ella couldn’t move. Tilly did, and enfolded Ella against her chest and spoke softly. “Oh, Ella, it’s been so long since I last held you. I missed you so much when your mother and I parted.”
Hold it in. Hold it in. For goodness’ sake, don’t let them see how you’re hurting.
But she couldn’t. She burst out a quick apology before she turned and ran.