Chapter 65 65
Roman's Pov
Silence permeated the car as we drove back to the pack mansion.
Xavier sat in the backseat, snoring and drooling, while a stone-faced Maisie stared out the window from the passenger seat, her shoulders tight.
I didn’t mind silence, , I craved it but there was something I loathed more than incessant, pointless conversation — not hearing Maisie's voice.
I wanted to annoy her into speaking but I chose to do something else. I turned on the radio halfway through the drive, though I left the volume so low I almost couldn’t hear the music.
“It was for your own good,” I said over the teeny-tiny beats of the latest rap hit.
Maisie turned her body further away and didn’t respond.
Fine. She could be mad all she wanted. The only thing I regretted was not smashing Xavier's face altogether for getting too close to her.
‘You’re not supposed to be this attached to her when the plan is almost over.’ my wolf scolded.
I fixed my gaze on the road and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
It wasn’t like I cared about Maisie's silent treatment. Not one bit. All I wanted was both her blood and Xavier's on my hand.
When we arrived at the pack, I gave Xavier over to the guards and practically dragged Maisie towards our suite.
She still played the silent treatment. Refusing to eat dinner or take a shower together like we'd usually do. Instead, she changed into her sleep wear and walked to the balcony of our suite.
I wanted to ignore her and focus on what move to make the following day but seeing that balcony with the city lights reflecting in her eyes made me lose my resolve.
I found my feet moving towards her before I could stop myself. Maisie didn't turn when I approached her.
“You got what you wanted.” I said quietly.
“Yes,” she finally spoke. “I did.”
Dominion Industries was finally hers on paper, in law and in blood. It was a victory she'd chased with precision and achieved in a few months. I should've been proud. Instead, I felt like I was watching a fuse burn towards something neither of us could stop.
“You should be celebrating,” I added. “Not planning his murder.”
She laughed softly. “It feels like hearing those words from you.”
“Well, I say weird things all the time.” I said playfully. She was finally opening up. I knew Maisie couldn't give me the cold shoulder for long. She barely slept without me.
“What exactly do you feel right now, Maisie?” I stepped closer. “Rage? Mirth? Satisfaction? Discontentment?”
Her fingers around the railing. “To be honest…”
“Yeah?” I coaxed gently.
A sharp breath escapes her. “It… feels like I'm on a floor that won't stop collapsing.”
I reached for her, testing my hands on her shoulders.
“Xavier won't let go,” I said. “You know that.”
“I know.” She finally turned to face me. “But he's finished.”
I studied her face. The calm, controlled mask she wore better than anyone I'd ever met, was slipping away.
“You think taking company's won't end this?”
Her gaze sharpened. “It won't.”
“It would.” My voice was low. “We planned to humiliate him in the best way possible. To watch him break the same way he broke us. And if we would resort to murder, I would be carried out by who?”
She searched my face, her eyes filling. “You.”
I cupped her face then leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Get some rest, darling. You've had a long day.”
She nodded and when she walked away, I knew deep in my bones that this wasn't over. Maisie bore the anger of not just one person but four — Clyde, Emma, Aria and herself included. She wouldn't just let this go. Xavier would pay with his blood.
Just then, I received a text from Clyde. It was what I'd been waiting to hear all evening.
Clyde : “They've reopened the case.”
I stared at the yellowed reports and redacted names attached to the text and replied.
Roman : “How’d you manage to convince the judge?”
Clyde : “Blackmail the daylights out of her. Besides, she knew about the murder of your brother. Her mother was the one who gave the verdict from the first hearing.”
I grinned. “Perfect.”
Clyde : “Don't worry about Xavier slipping away. This time we found substantial evidence. His fingerprints are all over it.”
Roman : “Good job.”
I closed the chat and stuffed my phone back into my pocket.
The fire that burned through my chest when I was a teenager, returned. Xavier's recklessness had destroyed my family. Jason's death left a chasm in our hearts. I managed to recover but my parents never did. The pain drove them to their deaths.
‘Maisie's name came up,’ Emma said through mind-link.
I trusted Clyde to dig into Xavier while Emma dug into Maisie. Clyde was more loyal to Maisie and what he discovers might fog his judgement but Emma… was less empathetic and more practical despite the funny schemes she pulls off.
What she said had gotten my attention.
“Maisie's came up?” I repeated her words.
“Yes.” Emma went on. “She was listed as a major shareholder in Dominion Industries, one of those who funded Xavier's case against you.”
I froze when she called out dates, figures, and even mentioned a signature.
‘She was part of this? No wonder it makes sense to kill her!’ My wolf hissed.
I leaned back, pressing my fingers to my temples. I'd planned for betrayal. For blood. I'd even contemplated setting her free only to find out she was a major part of this?
‘But here's the twist,’ Emma's voice interrupted my thoughts. ‘Maisie didn't really sign it.’
My brows furrowed. ‘What do you mean?’
‘It was all forged,’ Emma went on. ‘Xavier was newly married to her then but it was an arranged marriage. He never fancied Maisie for one day and thought of ways to kill her. Your brother's death was the perfect excuse. If he had lost, she would've taken the fall.’
My teeth clenched at her words. ‘That bastard!’
‘Maisie doesn't know it yet and neither does Clyde,’ she sighed. ‘But when she does, I don't think Xavier will survive.’
‘So Maisie is innocent?’ My wolf mumbled. ‘I didn't know.’
‘Xavier deserves to die for this.’ I grounded my teeth.
‘And he will,’ I heard the chuckle in her voice. Tonight, Maisie was supposed to stab him with the weaponized Red Howl Virus. The bastard knew little Aria had been infected and did nothing. I pray when Maisie stabs him with it, she reveals her true identity so he'll know who truly killed him.’
I hugged a sigh. ‘Maisie didn't do any of that.’
She paused. ‘I don't understand.’
‘I stopped her from going further with the plan.’
Emma snapped. “What?! How dare you drive Maisie off that?! It's been 3 fucking years! We both know what she went through!’
‘I know better than anyone because I was there with her!’ I snapped back.
Three years ago was hell for all of us. The worst was Maisie. She'd bottle up everything inside until one day, she broke down. She had the worst nightmare scares, slept for days and barely slept. I had to force her to see a therapist before she could get back on her feet again. It wasn't easy.
‘If you know then why'd you do it!’ Emma yelled.
‘Because I don't want her to get blood on her hands!’ I growled into the air. Initially, I'd planned to destroy Maisie along with Xavier but now, I … I didn't want that. I feared that if I lost her, I would lose a part of myself.
‘I'll handle Xavier alone. All his assets have been transferred to Maisie which means we can proceed with the next phase of our plan. Xavier isn't quite finished and neither am I.’
Emma sighed. ‘Sure.’
‘Good. We'll talk later.’
I dragged my hand through my hair and turned when I heard slow footsteps behind me.
“Aren't you coming… to bed?” Maisie asked shyly.
I peeled off my jacket and turned to her. “I am, darling.”
When she melted into my arms, I cradled her softly, basking in her warmth. She was fast asleep but I wasn't. I ran my fingers down her brown hair, my other hand stroking her back softly.
Tonight, my goals had changed.
I would do everything in my power to protect Maisie and utilize everything within me to destroy Xavier once and for all.