Beneath the surface

Jasper's POV 

Regret? Nonsense. It was a foreign word to me. I had never bothered regretting about the lives I took, the pain I crossed or the several destruction I had left in my wake.

But as I stood in the silence of my room, staring at the broken glass I had shattered in my anger earlier, I realised something that I had never ever felt.

I regretted letting Mia leave. I should have done everything to make her stay, instead I stood there like an arrogant fool watching the only woman that gave me life closure leave.

I regretted being the monster she saw me as. This was the first time, I had cared about someone's perspective about me.

I had convinced myself that letting her go was for the best. But now, the restless and unforgiving ache in my chest proved otherwise.

And Jayden wasn't helping at all.

"She loved you, Jasper," he said his voice laced with a mix of irritation and frustration. "She fucking loved you more than anyone else , and you let her go. What kind of man are you?"

I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening. "She had no place in my world. It's would only dim her shine."

Jayden scoffed as if my words were nonsense. And maybe they were. "Then why does it look like she are the one who's at lost here?"

I didn't respond.

He was right. I was lost. So fucking lost, and the only woman who had tried to find me had left me at the middle of the journey.

For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. No, I couldn't do anything.

But where had she gone?

The question clawed at me.

Mia had nowhere else to go. Her mother was in a coma. She had no family. No home. Which meant.....

The hospital.

She had to be there.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed my coat and left ignoring Jasper's calls of 'where are you going '. I had to bring my woman home. Now.

******

At the hospital, the nurses and doctors stared warily, but none dared stop me. My presence and expression was enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine. I'm a man on a mission.

Reaching the reception, I slammed my fists on the desk, my patience running thin. "Mia Montana. Where is she?"

The receptionist shrieked, her fingers trembling as she quickly scanned through the records. "S-She was here, but she left."

My body stiffened. "Left? With who?"

The woman swallowed hard, her eyes gleaming with fear. "Her father."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Her father? Hell no. That was impossible.

Mia had once told me she had no father. She had talked about how her scumbag father had abandoned them, and how she'd get jealous of kids with both parents.

Unless.....

My heart thumping in my chest.

Who could have taken her? Who?

Maybe one of my enemies had decided to take the opportunity and kidnap?

Or worse— Blake.

A cold sweat broke through my forehead as different possibilities ran through my mind.

Fuck! I'll never be able to live if anything happens to Mia. I would never forgive myself should anything happen to her.

I had to find her. Quick.

****

 By the time, I reached the mansion, I couldn't compose myself anymore. Several unanswered questions raced through my mind as I listed every possible enemy who could have taken her.

I needed answers.

And I knew exactly who to ask.

Elise.

Mia and Elise were close, and if anyone would know where Mia could've gone, then it'd be here.

I headed for the kitchen, but as I approached, I froze.

Elise was on the phone, whispering words that I had never exy. "Yeah, I saw her leave with them." A pause. "No, Jasper doesn't know yet.... But when he finds out —"

Know? What was I supposed to know? 

Rage burned through me, my patience thinning.

I stormed into the room, snatching the phone from her grip before she knows what was happening.

"Who the fuck are you?" I growled into the phone, but before I could get a response the line went dead.

I turned my attention to Elise, whose eyes widened in shock, or perhaps fear 

"Who were you talking to?* I demanded, my voice sharp.

Elise remained silent, her jaw clenched.

I stepped closer, gripping her chin hard between my fingers. "Answer me, now."

She glared at me defiantly.

Then, in a move I didn't expect, she shoved me back, reaching for a knife on the counter.

She lunged.

I sidestepped, grabbing her wrist and twisting it behind her back. She struggled, kicking and thrashing, but I was stronger.

She was no ordinary maid.

She had training —not just basic self-defence techniques.

She had skill.

And that only fuelled my suspicions. She knew something about Mia that I don't know. She had been spying on me. And perhaps..... her cohorts might have taken Mia.

I tightened my grip around her chin. "Who the fuck are you, Elise?"

She gritted her teeth. "Let me go, you bastard."

Bastard? Interesting. 

She was brave too.

I didn't. Instead, I pulled her against mine, my voice low and dangerous. "You're more than just a maid, aren't you?"

Silence.

I smiled darkly. "Fine. Have it your way."

****

In the dimly lit room, Elise was tied to a chair, her wrists bound behind her back. Blood dripping from the cut on her lips, but her eyes still burned with defiance.

I crouched in front of her, my knife glinting under the light.

"Tell me. Where is Mia?"

She spat blood onto the floor. "Go to hell."

I pressed the blade against her cheek, just enough to make her feel it. "I can make you feel pain that would make you wish for death instead, Elise."

She smirked darkly. "I have endured worse."

I pressed the knife into her skin. She hissed but didn't scream.

Interesting.

She was strong too.

"You don't know who you're dealing with. " Then I took a handful of her hair in my hand, yanking her head backward. 

She panted, pain flickering in her eyes. But then, she smiled. Why the hell was she smiling?

"I'm curious if you would still be able to act like this if you discovered the true identity of your darling Mia."