Chapter 179 I want Elena dead

Chapter 179 I want Elena dead
Rowan's POV
My eyes suddenly drifted open, taking in the dark room. I'd been sleeping when I suddenly woke up with a dry throat.

I let out a cough. 

For a few seconds, I lay there staring at the ceiling, trying to decide whether I was thirsty enough to get out of bed.

With a tired sigh, I pushed myself up and climbed out of bed. The entire house was dark and silent as I made my way downstairs.

I headed straight for the kitchen, rubbing my eyes. When I there, I grabbed a glass and filled it with water. I took a few long gulps, letting the cold water soothe my throat.

As the last gulp went down my throat, I heard a sound.

I stopped.

My hand remained around the glass as I listened, trying to figure out who or what it was.

I heard my mother's voice. 

Carefully, I placed the glass on the counter. A few seconds later, Mom walked past me, her phone pressed against her ear.

She didn't notice me.

I watched her walk into the living room and sit on one of the chairs near the large window. She crossed one leg over the other, still talking quietly into the phone. 

I almost clicked my tongue in annoyance.

Another one of her phone calls.

At this point, I was beginning to feel like a fucking detective in my own house. I was exhausted and sick of discovering things I wasn't supposed to know

First, finding out about Zayne and his mom. Then the flash drive. And now these strange phone calls that always seemed to keep my mother busy. 

I carefully shifted backward, positioning myself where she wouldn't be able to see me from where she sat.

"I told you, we can't rush this," she said.

I could hear her clearly.

There was a pause before she spoke again.

"No. That's not going to work."

I leaned against the wall, listening.

"I can't allow Elena and her children come into my family and destroy everything I've built over the years."

My eyes narrowed, my interest piquing. 

Another pause. Then—

"I want Elena dead." Her voice was cold and firm.

My entire body went still. It felt like I had been stuck to the wall with a strong glue.

Wait, what? Did I hear her correctly?

She continued speaking as if she'd just said something completely ordinary. "No matter what happy, you can't let her live. I don't care how you do it. Just make sure it looks clean."

My heart gave a hard thud against my chest. My lips parted. I stared at her from where I stood, barely breathing.

Fuck everything I used to believe.

How could she? 

I'd been protecting this woman because after everything, she was my mother, and I owed her that.

I'd kept her secret because I couldn't bear the thought of exposing her. But here she was planning to kill someone else. 

Oh my God.

"I know that my husband keeps security there," she continued. "You're going to have to infiltrate them first. I need you to get close enough to understand how they're protecting her."

I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into my palms.

No. No fucking way. She couldn't be serious.

"I'll see what I can do about compromising the security," she continued. "But you need to handle your part."

My breathing became shallow. I pressed myself further against the wall, afraid even the slightest movement would give me away.

What the hell was I listening to?

She paused again, listening to whatever the person on the other end was saying.

Then she sighed. "I don't care how difficult it is. I want it done."

I almost scoffed.

There was no misunderstanding anymore. She meant it. She actually wanted Zayne's mother dead.

I looked at her like I was seeing her for the first time.

She was sitting there so calmly, staring out through the window as though she wasn't casually discussing someone's murder.

What kind of person was she? What would she gain?

Satisfaction? I don't know why she just can't accept that Zayne's mother was a constant in Dad's life.

I'd spent so much time convincing myself that maybe there was a good explanation to why she'd been hiding things. I'd spent so much time telling myself that she maybe she wasn't as bad as every discovery I made suggested. 

I had even kept the flash drive from Zayne because I was protecting her. I was protecting my mother who was scheming to end another person's life.

What a fucking idiot I'd been.

I slowly shook my head, my eyes burning with disbelief.

My curiosity to discover more of her secrets died instantly. I was afraid of them.

I quietly backed away from the wall.

I needed to get upstairs to my room and think. Because whatever happened next, there was no way I'd ever protect her again. 

She finally ended the call.

I couldn't go up to my room with her still sitting there. So I waited. 

It almost felt like I could see that cruel smile in her face. Yeah, I knew she was smiling, happy to plan a murder. 

It was painful to stand there and watch her without thinking about all that I had discovered.

Finally, she stood up, pulled her nightgown closer and walked up to her room.

I didn't go upstairs until I heard my her bedroom door close. Only then did I finally move.

I hurried up the stairs, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my ears. The moment I reached my room, I shut the door behind me and locked it.

What was I supposed to do now?

I dragged both hands through my hair and started pacing back and forth.