Lunar Temptations

Ch 35

"I-" I had begun to say when he cut me off.

"I am leaving for Castillo Estate in 10 minutes, and you are coming with me." He stated once again, and I was really getting tired of it, but his earlier words had left me dumbfounded to muster any proper retort.

He wasn't going to punish me, though, was he? He wasn't that type of man, but again a lot of things had changed about him, and the Zayden I used to know was barely there now. Though something about his words made a shiver run down my spine. The thought of being punished by him made a part of me edge towards rebellion. But I quickly shook it off, reminding myself what happened the last time I was bewitched by him.

"Why would I be coming with you?" I said, trying hard not to be intimidated by him. I put each of my hands on either side of my waist and gave him a bored look. He mimicked me, except his hands were in his side pockets. His smugness already gave away the tone of his upcoming remark.

"I thought you were interested in Macy Jenkins' case?" His head was slightly high as he looked down at me, his gaze challenging me. He didn't let me ask but explained it himself, "I have arranged a meeting at the Estate. Her case will also be discussed."

The wheels started to turn in my head. A meeting at the Castillo Estate, where Esther Castillo basically resided. It was like going into the lion's den and discussing its next prey except he wanted to eat it and we wanted to protect it. If my doubt was right and Esther was really behind it, then Zayden was too oblivious to her reality. What was more important was that I would have to be there, and for a moment, I couldn't help but feel a little excited that he was offering me to come along.

"I'll come," I said, biting my lips to stop myself from smiling. A plan was already forming in my head, and it might be a risk to hold this meeting at the Estate, but it was a great chance for me to ask around about this case. I might find a witness since Paula mentioned that the incident happened at the Estate. It was truly awful to even think of what poor Macy went through. The thoughts only fueled my dedication to put those assholes through the worst hell than the one they had put Macy through. There couldn't possibly be anything worse than that, but I would make sure I put them through enough. What was worst was the fact that it wasn't even the doing of one man but several. I didn't know many details about the case, but I would ask Zayden to let me take a look at the case file later.

"Just give me a few minutes," I said and hurried upstairs to grab a few things. I ran to my room and grabbed my bag, phone, and several other things. Just as I was turning around to leave, it hit me.

My ring.

I quickly took it out and put it on. I never thought I would feel this way, but for the first time since Zayden had put it on my finger, I was pausing to look at it. A square diamond was fixed at the centre by the left and right ends of the ring from either side, holding it from top and bottom respectively. It was in silver and looked breathtakingly beautiful. Its shine was blinding, and I bet it could glisten in the darkness too.

I stole my eyes from it and headed downstairs. Zayden waited there for me, busy on a call with someone. My footsteps caught his attention, and he spared me a glance. His gaze lingered a little longer before he looked away to speak something into the phone. A moment later, he put it down and found me standing there, tying my hair into a ponytail. His eyes followed my left hand, the looks shifting. He might have seen the ring because the next moment, he took my hand in his and slowly placed a kiss on it.

My heart fluttered for reasons it shouldn't be fluttering for, yet I couldn't help it. That man could hurt me and make me feel like the most special woman in the whole wide world at the same time. How could I stay away from him when he continued to lure me into his trap?

Suddenly he pulled me to him and placed another kiss on my cheek. My eyes widened momentarily, and I thought I would choke on my saliva until he whispered into my ear.

"Danna's watching."

Whatever flush was appearing on my face vanished when I heard those words. I simply nodded at him. There it was, he was just playing with me, and I thought he liked that ring on my finger. When he lingered for a little longer, I finally pushed him off.

"She's gone," I said.

He was slightly taken aback but narrowed his eyes in on me. "Let's go. Your 10 minutes are up." I said and stormed outside. I was internally fuming at the stupid act he had pulled inside. If he thought he could get away with things like these, this easily, then he was wrong. I could play at his game too, except I was pissed at him still for what he had done that night. It suddenly hit me that I hadn't asked Winnie about it.

I opened my phone and dropped her a text, to call me whenever she was free. Even though some of me was afraid that it was really the normal Zayden that night who did all of that, I still needed to know for sure. Because no matter how much he changed, those marks on that wall were sinister.

I was already by the car when I realized and turned around,

"Wait, aren't Nico and Jax coming?" I asked, and Zayden followed up to me, calmly as if he hadn't pissed me off seconds ago. His hand vanished inside his black coat to reappear with shades matching his coat. He put it on, and only then did he address my question. I was already distracted by his appearance and couldn't help but stare at him, helplessly for a moment. That man was f*****g breathtaking and everything about him shouted power.

"I am still here, Red, in case you've forgotten." He smirked and stepped up to open the car door for me. "And-" he paused, blocking my way inside, "Don't go begging another man to train you again." he scoffed at me.

I clenched my jaws tightly and stepped up to him, challengingly. Who the hell did he think he was? I wasn't asking them to hook up with me; he didn't have to pretend to be protective of me. "Or else?"

Even with shades, I could guess that his eyes had darkened dangerously because this time he was the one clenching his jaw.

"Or else they won't have hands to train you with." The chill of his words could be felt even under the scorching sunlight.