Page 44 of Dreams and Desires

Cora steps in behind him, her eyes blazing with anger. She doesn’t waste a second and slaps me. Hard. My head jerks sideways. “You bastard!” she screams, her voice trembling.

I’m left standing there, trying to figure out why they’re here. “Look, Cody is business. People have more jobs because of the resort.“

“I don’t give a damn about Cody or its people!” Cora cuts me off, her voice shaking with fury. “I care about Juniper!”

A chill runs down my spine. “What happened to her?”

Cora’s eyes are filled with rage. “She’s been missing for two months! Since you threw her under the bus and left her to take the fall, you jerk!”

I’m stunned. “Brian told me everything was under control. He said Juniper was fine.”

Cora laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Fine? You think she’s fine? She disappeared, Zade! She stopped doing her work; her phone’s off. I thought it was because of her brother. But after two months, I called her home. Her mom said Juniper’s dead to them. Her brother told me everything. I came here to kill you!”

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. No, this can’t be happening. My mind races, trying to make sense of it all. “I didn’t know.” I stammer. “I didn’t want this.”

Axel’s eyes are cold and full of contempt. “You never wanted anything but your own success. Look at what you’ve done, Zade. She’s gone because of you.”

I stagger back, their words slamming into me like a freight train. My chest tightens, and my breath comes in short, panicked gasps. “I have to find her,” I say, more to myself than to them.

Cora shakes her head, her eyes filled with tears. “You better hope she’s still alive, Zade. Because if she’s not, I swear I’ll make you wish you were never born.”

They leave, slamming the door behind them. I collapse onto the floor, my body shaking. How could I have been so blind? How could I have let this happen?

Chapter Twenty

Zade

I pack my bags with quick, precise movements, but my mind is a chaotic mess. Every fold of clothing and every item added to the suitcase feels like a small step closer to something I’m not sure I’m ready to face. The silence in my penthouse feels louder than any noise, pressing down on me as I get ready. My thoughts won’t stop spinning, but one thing is clear: I won’t stop until I find Juniper. I won’t rest until I make things right, even if it kills me.

The drive to the airport is a blur. Neon signs flash by, but they barely register. The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror, clearly picking up on my mood but keeping quiet, which is a wise choice. By the time I’m on my private jet, the luxury that usually feels comforting now feels like a hollow shell. The flight is torture, each second dragging out like an eternity. I can’t stop replaying every decision, every mistake that led me here.

“Mr. Patterson,” the flight attendant offers softly, holding out a drink.

I wave her off without even looking up. “No, thanks.” My eyes stay glued to the window, staring at the endless sky like it might give me answers. But even up here, far above everything, I can’t shake the guilt of what I’ve done.

When I land in Cody, I don’t go to the hotel. I head straight for Juniper’s house. My heart is racing, like it’s trying to run without me. When I reach her door, my hand hesitates on the bell, but I force myself to press it. Her mom opens the door, and I don’t waste time. “Where’s Juniper?”

Her mom’s face twists with anger, her lips curling into a sneer. “She’s dead to us,” she spits out, the venom in her voice cutting through me. “All because of you!”

I’m thrown by the coldness in her eyes, the finality of her words. “You don’t understand,” I begin, but her dad steps forward, fists clenched tight.

“Leave us alone,” he growls. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”

Before I can respond, Jacob comes down the stairs, his face pale, eyes blazing with anger. Without warning, he lunges at me, his fists connecting with my chest. “You bastard! Because of you, my sister’s life is ruined!”

I grab his wrists, holding him back. “Jacob, listen to me!”

He shoves me back with pure rage in his eyes. “Listen to what? More lies? You made her convince the whole town you pulled out of the project that you were different! You played her, Zade. You broke her heart.”

I take a breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “I did care for her. I still do. I never wanted her to get involved inthis mess. Brian assured me she was safe.”

Jacob laughs bitterly. “Brian? That piece of crap hates Juniper! He would do anything to see her suffer.”

His words leave me breathless, hollow inside. I feel the ground sway beneath me, my vision blurring as the reality of what I’ve done sets in. “I have to find her,” I say, my words quivering. “I have to make this right.”

I leave the house, and it’s then that everything I’ve done feels like it's closing in, making it hard to breathe. I need to find her. I need to make this right.

On my way, I grab my phone and dial Brian’s number. My voice comes out colder than I expected. “Meet me at The Opal. Now.”

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