Chapter 882

 882:
“Zenia!” Linsey’s arms trembled as she pushed herself upright, her voice cracking with desperation. “Where is my daughter?”
Nothing came back to her—not even a breath of acknowledgment. Her face hardened, and the fear in her eyes turned to steel.
With sudden force, she latched onto Gorman’s arm, her grip tight and shaking. “Tell me what you did to Zenia. Where is she?”
Despite the frantic clutch of her hand, Gorman remained perfectly still, not a flicker of irritation crossing his face. His brows lifted, and his voice came soft, like damp air on skin. It was quiet, but cold enough to chill.
“Why are you panicking, Linsey? Didn’t you arrange for Zander to be taken to Collin? He’s the one who looks too much like his father. If I had to choose, I’d be more inclined to resent him. You’ve already done what it takes to keep your son safe. So why are you still afraid?” A low chuckle slipped from his mouth, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The sound was dry, and something cruel lingered underneath it.
“Zenia reminds me of you. That’s why I’ve always looked at her differently. She matters to me. Hurting her wouldn’t make sense,” he continued.
Color drained from Linsey’s cheeks, and her eyes filled with a hatred she no longer tried to hide.
“You’re vile,” she hissed. Each word came loaded with disgust.
Once she confirmed that Zander was with Collin, she didn’t waste another second. She packed up what she needed and intended to take Zenia straight to the safe house Dolores had arranged.
𝓐𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓴 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓬𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝗀ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗲𝗅𝗌﹒𝗰𝗼𝗺
Living in that hotel suite came with a risk—Gorman could appear out of nowhere.
By noon, hunger kicked in. Linsey asked Caylee to keep packing and watch Zenia while she stepped out to grab lunch.
She didn’t make it far. The second she left the building, she caught sight of Gorman.
One small gesture from him was all it took. Her vision went black before a single word escaped her lips.
Not when she stirred awake did she realize he had orchestrated this. Every move had been calculated. He had been patient, waiting for the one moment she would be alone and unprepared.
The realization hit her hard. Her eyes stung, rimmed red with rage that boiled up from helplessness.
Rather than flinch at her fury, Gorman looked as though he had just received a gift. Her anger delighted him.
He let out a full-bodied laugh, then sighed like a man satisfied by a long-awaited indulgence. “I forgot how alive you look when you stop pretending not to care.”
Without hesitation, he leaned in, his eyes gleaming with something close to joy—twisted and bare.
For a moment, he lost himself in the sight of her. Her pupils, wide and dilated, reflected only him. It mesmerized him.
.
.
.