Page 81 of Dreams and Desires

As the jet touches down, my insides twist like a storm. I keep my face calm, not letting it show. Juniper sits beside me, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside me. I force a reassuring smile as we disembark.

“Let’s get you settled back at the cabin,” I say, sounding far too calm given the turmoil inside. She nods, offering me a look that suggests she actually thinks I’m a decent guy. It’s almost endearing, how she always manages to see the best in people—even me. Poor, naive thing.

Once we’re at the cabin, I help her with her bags, maintaining the façade of the composed gentleman. I catch a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror—hair perfectly tousled, clothes immaculate. You’d never guess that beneath this cool exterior lies a cauldron of rage just waiting to boil over. “You good here?” I ask, smiling like I’ve got my life together.

“Yeah, thanks, Zade,” she replies softly, her eyes warm and trusting.

“Great. I’ve got a few errands to run. Don’t burn the place down while I’m gone.” I toss her a wink before heading out, closing the door behind me with a quiet click. As soon asI’m in the car, my expression hardens, the mask slipping away. Time to pay a little visit to Brian.

If Juniper knew what I was about to do, she’d probably lose her mind. But this isn’t something she needs to know about. Not yet.

I park outside Brian’s office, inhale a sharp breath, and force myself to stay calm. I stride inside, ignoring the receptionist’s weak protest as I march down the hall.

“Hey, Brian!” I announce cheerfully as I burst into his office. The room smells like stale coffee and desperation—fitting for a man like him. He barely has time to react before my fist connects with his jaw. The satisfying crunch of bone fills the room, a sweet symphony to my ears.

“Zade! What the hell?” he sputters, stumbling back, clutching his face as blood trickles from his nose, staining his pristine white shirt.

“Oh, did I interrupt your day?” I ask, my voice oozing sarcasm. “I was just passing by and thought, ‘Hey, why not drop in and give Brian the ass-kicking he deserves?’“ I watch as the bravado drains from his face, replaced by fear.

Brian scans the hall, eyes ping-ponging off every face. “You can’t do this—I’ll call the cops!” The words stumble out, more bluff than threat.

“Go ahead,” I say, grabbing his collar and yanking him close. His cheap cologne assaults my senses, making me want to gag. “Call them. And while you’re at it, tell them all about your little side deals and corruption. I’m sure they’d love to hear all about it.”

His face turns an interesting shade of green, like he’s about to puke. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, Brian, you have no idea what I dare,” I hiss, the words laced with menace.

Just then, the door flies open, and Dominique rushes in with the kids in tow. They’re clearly dressed for a family outing. It seems they were ready to pick up Brian and head out. The moment she registers what's happening, she grips her two kids tightly. “Zade, please!” Her voice trembles as she pleads. “Not in front of the kids!”

I glance at the children—wide-eyed, confused, and terrified. I release Brian with a sneer. “Fine. I’ll let them keep their illusions for now. But mark my words, Brian—your day is coming. And it’s going to be spectacular.”

With one last glare, I turn and stride out of the office. “Enjoy your evening, folks. See you in hell, Brian.” The door slams shut behind me, and I walk back to the car, the night air feeling cooler, cleaner somehow. Brian’s going to pay for what he did to Juniper. This is just the beginning.

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When I pull up to the cabin, my muscles are still tense, my knuckles throbbing. I glance down at my hands—bloodied and swollen from the impact. I slip inside quietly, heading straight for the bathroom to clean up. The running water is a soothing backdrop to the chaos still simmering inside me.

But before I can rinse away the evidence, the bathroom door swings open. Juniper stands there, eyes wide with shock. “Zade! What did you do?”

I freeze, meeting her gaze. The concern in her eyes cuts through the haze of my anger like a sharp wind. “Juniper, it’s not what you think,” I start, but the words sound hollow even to me.

She steps closer, her eyes fixed on my battered knuckles. “Your hands... they’re covered in blood. Zade, what happened?”

I sigh, the stress of the night pressing down on me. “I took care of something. For you. For us.”

Her eyes fill with tears, confusion and fear mingling in their depths. “Zade, this isn’t the way. You can’t just...”

“He had it coming,” I interrupt in a firm tone. “He hurt you. He deserved it.”

She shakes her head, tears spilling over. “This isn’t you. This isn’t how we fix things.”

I reach out, my heart aching at the sight of her tears. “Juniper, I’m doing this to protect you. To make things right.”

She pulls back, her voice trembling. “No, Zade. This isn’t right. We need to find another way. A better way.”

Her words hit me hard, and I know she’s right. This isn’t the answer. But it’s too late—the damage is done.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”

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