Chapter 48 DARK PLACE
THANE
I blanked out for a second, just staring.
Then Sarah’s face twisted into a frown as her eyes shifted over my shoulder to Rachel behind me, who looked just as shocked, if not even more.
“Uh… hi, Sarah,” I managed, sounding almost too cheerful for the kind of shock I haven't recovered from.
Although Sarah still looked confused, the frown stayed. It wasn’t like she saw anything obvious, but Rachel’s hair looked like she’d just gone ten rounds in a boxing ring. And those swollen lips… yeah, I wasn’t even going to pretend I hadn’t had something to do with that.
Still, I doubted Sarah’s wildest imagination would go there. At least, not with me and her daughter.
She exhaled slowly, her gaze moving between Rachel and me again. I kept my face neutral.
“Don’t ‘hi’ me, Thane,” she finally said, her tone firm like a mother scolding a five year old kid. “You’re already in big trouble with your dad, and I’d advise you to hurry up and meet the cab guy downstairs.”
I exhaled. “Gosh… I’m so sorry, Sarah. He didn’t have to send you up for that. I feel bad.”
“Well, you should’ve picked up your calls,” she replied. “I had something to grab in my room anyway, so it’s fine.”
“Alright, I get it. I’ll be down in five.”
Then, because I couldn’t help myself, I added with a teasing grin, “You smell nice, by the way.”
I winked at her and walked back inside, but I caught the way Sarah’s eyes followed me as I leaned down and whispered something into Rachel’s ear—something that would’ve made her blush if her mum wasn’t standing there like someone was performing a live magic she couldn’t wrap her head around.
“Are you just going to stand there and stare, Rachel Muna?” Sarah said sharply.
Muna? That was new.
I had no idea my girl had a name like that. I caught the glare Rachel shot her mum before her eyes flicked to me, and yeah, she definitely knew what I was thinking.
“Let’s go, Mum,” she said quickly, grabbing Sarah’s arm and dragging her awkwardly out of the room.
I chuckled under my breath. Sorry, Muna. That name’s not going anywhere.
The door slammed behind them, and the room fell quiet again. I grabbed my bag from the bed, slinging it over my shoulder before heading out.
I finished off the look with my sun shades and walked past Rachel’s room, catching the sound of her still talking with Sarah. Before I reached the stairs, my phone buzzed. I brought it out of my pocket and stared at the screen.
Noah: Murphy is out of prison. Called me, so I had to leave. We still need to talk later, man. A lot to talk about.
I sighed, wiping my forehead carefully so I didn’t mess up my hair.
Murphy being out already didn’t sit right with me. I have a damn bad feeling about it. The man was nothing but trouble. I didn’t think anyone could top my father, but Noah’s dad came pretty damn close.
This was his third time in jail, excluding the other times it could have added up if it weren't for Noah and sometimes, me. The first one got him five years for pickpocketing with no bail. And that was because I pushed Noah to let him serve the full sentence, hoping it would knock some sense into him. Clearly, it didn’t.
Now he was out again, and knowing Noah, he’d probably let him back into his space. And in less than two weeks, something would go wrong again, and the idiot would get dragged into it.
I locked my phone and shoved it into my pocket. If Murphy tried anything this time… I wouldn’t let it slide. I just hope he won't.
I made my way down the stairs. The second I hit the last step, my entire expression changed. My fists tightened at my sides. My jaw locked so hard I felt the pressure against my gum. Something sharp burned behind my eyes as I glared.
Fucking J.
His eyes locked onto mine as I walked toward him. “What the fuck do you want?” I asked, my voice rough with restrained old spite and anger.
He looked calm, but I wanted to knock that look right off his face if I wasn’t reminding myself to stay cool.
“I’m here to see Rachel,” he said evenly. “Sarah told me to wait, so… you can go ahead.”
A dry, disbelieving scoff left me. “Fuck,” I muttered, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “This is my house. You don’t get to tell me when to leave or stay. I don’t need to remind you of that, do I?”
He nodded slowly. “Right. And you can’t tell me to leave either, Thane.”
The way he said it, like a challenge. That made something snap inside me. Just like that time, I still felt that damn anger, the fucking rush of blood boiling through me unless I had the chance to…
I forced myself to breathe. In… then out. Just like Nancy always said. It worked. Barely.
I stepped closer. He stood up immediately, bracing himself like I was about to swing my fist at him. But, he was wrong. Not today, at least. I knew I'd end up the bad guy in front of Shorty again.
I slipped one hand into my pocket and stood tall in front of him, my aura filling the space between us. “Stay away from her,” I said in a menacing, calm tone, though the edge in my voice was almost breaking from bitterness. “If you value your peace.”
He blinked, masking whatever flicker crossed his face with a wry smile. “For the first time since I got back, you sound like yourself again,” he said. “What happened before? Forgot how you'd wanted me dead?” A smirk slowly pulled at his lips. “I’m not scared of you, man. Try harder.”
I nodded slowly, like that didn’t hit a nerve. Then I reached out, resting my hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, Jay,” I said quietly. “You are.” I leaned in just slightly. “The only difference now… is I won’t give you a chance to run to daddy this time. Not even back to that hole you crawled out from.” His heartbeat picked up, I could feel it underneath his shirt.
And yeah… that gave me a dark kind of satisfaction. I hadn’t forgiven him. Not even close. Having the balls to come back was one thing. But being anywhere near Rachel?
That crossed a line.
When I straightened and looked into his eyes, he was glaring at me now. That calm, cool look was gone, replaced by the same darkness I carried.
But slowly, his expression shifted. His eyes softened a little, his throat moving as he swallowed whatever was building up inside him. I didn’t miss the faint red thread in his eyes, like he was holding back something we both never resolved, and probably never wanted to.
Hell, he could go on acting like none of this was his fault for all I care. But I’d make sure he kept feeling every bit of this until I got the truth out of him.
I wasn’t going to rest.
“It’s this Friday,” he said quietly.
My grip tightened around the strap of my duffel bag, but I didn’t respond. I’d almost managed to push him out of my head, and now he dragged it all back.
“You’ve gotten better,” I said sarcastically, my voice low. “Almost believed you.”
I took two steps back, still holding his gaze, then turned toward the door.
“You can keep drowning in grief,” he said, making me stop mid-step. “But I’m done blaming myself for…” He paused but I heard the crack in his voice. “We both loved her. Damn it, I loved her more than I've ever loved anyone, that's why I’m not gonna keep doing this with you anymore, alright?”
My heart plummeted deep into my stomach. I didn’t even notice the tear until it slipped free. I wiped it off almost immediately before it could fall any further.
I turned back sharply. “Loved?” I repeated, my voice cracking slightly. This was the moment. That moment I slipped straight into that dark place in my head where I stopped thinking and just reacted.
I started walking back toward him. “Say that one more fucking time,” I said.
Not because I wanted to hear it. But because I dared him to. He went quiet, like he was staring at something dangerous standing in front of him.
“You can’t, huh?” I muttered, dropping my duffel bag as I closed the distance between us.
“She was my woman. What do you think—”
I didn’t let him finish that pathetic line. Those words drove me crazy, my fist slammed straight into his nose in one brutal blow.
He staggered back, almost losing his balance, and somewhere in the background, I heard Sarah’s voice. “Thane!”
But it didn’t register in my brain. I’d already grabbed him again, ready to swing, but Sarah rushed in and caught my wrist. “You need to stop this right now!” she shouted.
I didn’t care. I yanked my hand free, still holding onto J so he wouldn’t slip away. When she grabbed me again, I completely lost my the remaining resistance i had left. “Stay out of this!” I growled, shoving her off as J slipped out of my grip.
That was it… Bang!
Everything froze. The next thing I saw… Sarah hit the floor hard.