CHAPTER 85: WHY WOULD HE?

When was the last time you reached her?" Alessio asked.

Zayne responded, "About thirty minutes ago."

"Give me the phone."

He handed it over.

"You said she was on a date with Valerio Barcini, right?" Alessio asked.

Zayne nodded.

"If he kidnapped her, then they are no longer at the said location."

"Why?" Amber asked, panicking.

Alessio slowly eyed her. "Who kidnaps someone and stays at the same location?"

Amber broke down immediately, dropping to her knees. "This is all my fault. This is all my fault—"

"Shut the hell up." Alessio glared at her. "You convinced her to go on this date, and it’s a done deed already. Kneeling there and crying isn’t going to change a thing."

"I’m sorry," she apologized. "I’m really sorry. I didn’t know. If I had known, I wouldn’t have....I’m sorry..."

Her breathing was growing rapidly, hand clutching her chest.

Was she panicking?

Both men stared at her.

She was now shaking her head frantically, glancing around the room with widened eyes as if she were short of breath even though she wasn’t.

"What’s wrong with—"

Amber collapsed, losing consciousness instantly. Zayne was quick to catch her before she could hit the marble floor, lifting her into his arms.

He looked over at Alessio, saying, "She couldn’t have known. Don’t blame her."

Alessio held eye contact for a few short seconds and averted his gaze.

"Zayne, as much as I want to speed this up and find your mate, this is going to take me twenty-four hours or more."

"Why?" Zayne asked.

"Because Evelyn’s phone is off, it’s not traceable at all and I can no longer track it. So the only way I can do this as fast as possible is to investigate Valerio which should take me four hours. I need to figure out where he could possibly be and I’ll start with his social media."

Alessio added, "Are you going to inform the police?"

"Are you kidding me?" Zayne frowned with eyes pooled over by a pure golden glint. "I told you I’m going to kill that bastard. Evelyn is my mate and only I will handle anything that has to do with her."

"I agree." Alessio nodded. "It’s best not to involve humans in this case. Give me twenty-four hours at least. In the meantime, ask around with people who know Valerio. Like her brothers, or even...Lincoln."

Zayne agreed, laying Amber on the couch.

"Take care of her."

And he left.

Alessio glanced over at Amber. He felt sorry for her. He couldn’t imagine how she must feel knowing it was her fault Evelyn was in this situation. And he hadn’t even meant to be that rude to her. It was just...a slip of the tongue.

"I’ll apologize to you properly when you wake up."

He kept the laptop aside, made his way to his bedroom where he grabbed the blanket. Then he proceeded back, bending slightly to throw it over her frame. HIs fingers touched her face accidently and the sudden jolt of electric that zapped through him his flinching so hard he tripped by his own foot, falling backward on his butt and crawling back away from the couch.

"What the fuck?"

Did he just spark...with this human?

"Oh...fuck."

I am finished...

——

Brandon suddenly shot up from his bed, turning his head to the door. Someone was in his house, he could hear the footsteps as they made their way upstairs, approaching his room.

He wasn’t even sure since when he could hear things this—

His door was kicked open, dropping to the floor with a heavy thud.

He lifted his eyes and was met with Zayne who looked like he could kill anything in his path as of this moment.

He blinked at him, swallowing. "D-did you just kick down my door? And how did you get into my house?"

"Kicked every door down." Zayne’s tone was menacing, almost as if he was daring him to make any sort of remark. "Get down from there."

"Why?"

Brandon regarded him cautiously.

"Don’t make me drag you off that bed myself," Zayne warned.

Brandon stared at him, eyes narrowing. "What do you want from me, Zayne Mancini?"

"You know Valerio very well, don’t you?"

He hesitated, but nodded. "Yes... Why?"

"He’s kidnapped Evelyn."

Silence dropped between the two men. Brandon gazed at him unblinking, not until the information finally sank into his brain.

"What did you...just say?"

"I said, your friend kidnapped my woman, and when I find him, I’m going to kill him. And you—" Zayne smirked. "—You’re going to help me find him. Now, if you refuse, I will slit your throat and watch you bleed out on this floor, helplessly."

Brandon swallowed. "Do you just go around, threatening people?"

"No." Zayne smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Evelyn however, is the only person, and the only woman that can drive me to do such a thing. I would kill for her."

Brandon’s eyes flickered rapidly and he quickly shot off the bed.

"W-what even makes you think I wouldn’t cooperate?" he asked as he made his way to his closet where he grabbed a coat, wearing it over his night pants.

"Why would I think otherwise?" Zayne cocked a brow.

It seemed to have offended Brandon, because he grunted. "I’m not like that bastard Preston. Stop lumping me with him. I am my own freaking person."

"Keep deceiving yourself."

He spun around to glare. "Fuck you, Mr. Mancini."

Beats of silence passed, before he suddenly asked, "Why ever would Valerio kidnap Evelyn?"

No response from Zayne.

"He loved her..." Brandon muttered. "Or at least I thought he did. After all, I knew he left Italy a year ago because he felt he was out of her league. My father knew he wanted her, but he never agreed. My father said no, and it wasn’t even because of his status. He said that even if he was everything above this world, he still wouldn’t let him near Evelyn."

Zayne narrowed his eyes.

"He said that he was...a monster with a likable face and he would never allow a monster like him to ruin his..." Brandon’s words trailed off and he ran his fingers through his hair, confused. "Wait, I’m confused... Why did he say that? I mean, Valerio has never done anything that would make my father say something like that. He couldn’t have known that he would kidnap Evelyn right?"

"Follow me." Zayne turned around suddenly and left the room.

Brandon, who was putting on his shoes, hopped after him. He looked ridiculous. Who wears a night attire with a stupid coat and a pair of shoes?

"Wait for me, Zayne. Slow the heck down!"