C H A P T E R 14: 5 Days With Zane

ALISA:

I watched as Zane yanked the cable tighter around Lucas's arms, his movements precise and brutal. Lucas let out a low grunt, his smugness replaced by fury, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel satisfying. For once, we had the upper hand, and it felt damn good.

"You should've stayed in the shadows," Zane growled, his voice thick with barely restrained anger. He secured Lucas to the beam like he was tying up a package to be shipped off. "Now you're part of the cargo."

Lucas sneered, but I could see the edges of his confidence fraying. "You're making a mistake. My men—"

"Will do nothing," I cut in, stepping beside Zane and meeting Lucas's gaze head-on. "We're already locked on course. By the time we dock, the Feds will be waiting, and you'll be out of moves."

It felt good to say. Even if Zane had done most of the work, I wasn't about to let him take all the credit.

Zane leaned against the beam, smirking. "You hear that, Lucas? Even she thinks you're pathetic."

Lucas's expression twisted into something dark, but he stayed quiet. Good. Let him stew in his own failure.

The ship lurched again, signaling we were close to docking. My heart hammered with a mix of adrenaline and relief. This nightmare was almost over.

But when the ship settled and the doors hissed open, the sight outside turned that relief into ice.

Men. Armed men. Lucas's men.

I barely had time to process it before Zane was moving. He grabbed my arm, pulling me back into the shadows.

"Change of plans," he muttered, his voice low and clipped.

"Wait—what are you doing?" I hissed, trying to yank my arm free.

"Saving your life, sweetheart," he shot back, dragging me along as if I weighed nothing.

I twisted to look back at Lucas, who was still tied to the beam, his grin returning like he'd just won the lottery. "You won't get far," he called after us.

Zane ignored him, moving faster.

We ducked through the corridors, the sound of boots echoing behind us. My pulse was in my throat.

"Zane, stop—" I started, but he cut me off.

"Unless you want to die here, *shut up and move*."

I didn't argue. Not because he was right (even if he was), but because the fury in his voice left no room for debate.

When we reached the cargo bay's emergency exit, Zane shoved it open, revealing the thick, dark woods surrounding the landing site.

"You can't be serious," I said, glaring at him as the cool night air hit my face.

"You're welcome to stay and chat with Lucas's goons," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see you."

He didn't wait for my response, tugging me outside and letting the door slam shut behind us.

###

We ran for what felt like hours, the trees blurring together as the sound of pursuit faded into the distance. My legs burned, my lungs ached, and Zane's iron grip on my wrist was the only thing keeping me upright.

Finally, he pulled me into a cave hidden behind a thick cluster of brush.

"This'll do," he said, scanning the space with a critical eye before turning to me.

I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. "You can't just—"

"I just did," he snapped, his eyes dark and furious. "Or would you rather I left you back there to get shot?"

I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. "I could've handled it."

He barked a laugh, the sound harsh and humorless. "Sure, because you've been doing such a great job so far."

"Don't start with me, Zane."

"Oh, I'm already started," he shot back, stepping closer, his presence suffocating. "You think this is a game? Those men out there won't hesitate to kill you. And if I have to drag you kicking and screaming to keep you alive, I will."

"Great. Add 'caveman' to your list of charming qualities," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might explode. But instead, he stepped back, running a hand through his hair.

"We're stuck here for five days," he muttered, his voice quieter now but no less intense. "Five days until help gets here. So do me a favor, Alisa—try not to make it harder than it already is."

I bit back a retort, the weight of the situation finally sinking in. Five days. Trapped with Zane.

Fantastic.

I moved to the far side of the cave, sitting with my back against the wall. I didn't look at him, didn't acknowledge the tension crackling between us like a live wire.

But I felt it. And I knew he did too.

**

The silence in the cave was thick enough to choke on, broken only by the distant rustling of leaves outside. I stared at the jagged wall opposite me, willing myself not to look at him. Not to notice the way his broad shoulders moved as he paced back and forth like a caged predator.

Five days. I just had to survive five days.

"You planning to glare at that wall for the rest of the night?" Zane's voice cut through the silence, low and sharp.

"Better than looking at you," I shot back, not bothering to turn.

He laughed—if you could call the rough, bitter sound a laugh. "Still throwing daggers, huh? You've got a real talent for gratitude."

I whipped my head around, my temper flaring. "Gratitude? You dragged me into this, Zane!"

He stopped pacing, his dark eyes locking onto mine. The intensity in his gaze made my stomach twist, though I refused to let it show.

"Dragged you?" he repeated, his voice dangerously calm. "Let me remind you, sweetheart, that you were the one who volunteered to dance with the devil. If I hadn't stepped in, Lucas would've put a bullet in you *and* left me for dead."

I pushed to my feet, ignoring the ache in my legs. "Oh, please. Like you're some noble hero. You didn't save me—you saved your own skin."

He moved toward me, slow and deliberate, until there was barely a breath of space between us. I refused to back down, even as my heart raced.

"You think I'd risk my neck just for me?" His voice was low, almost a growl. "Newsflash, Alisa—I don't do charity. If I'm keeping you alive, it's because I don't plan on losing you. Not to Lucas, not to his goons, and definitely not to your own damn stubbornness."

I hated the way his words made my chest tighten, the way his presence felt like gravity pulling me closer. But I hated the truth in what he said even more.

"Fine," I muttered, stepping back to put some distance between us. "But don't think for a second that I owe you anything."

He smirked, but it wasn't his usual cocky grin. This one was sharper, more dangerous. "Trust me, Alisa. When I want something, I don't need you to owe me. I take it."

The air between us practically crackled, and for a moment, I was sure he was going to close the gap again. Instead, he turned and stalked toward the cave entrance, his shoulders rigid.

"Get some rest," he said over his shoulder, his voice gruff. "You're going to need it."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and sank back against the wall. Sleep was the last thing on my mind, but I wasn't about to let him see how much he got under my skin.

Zane leaned against the entrance, his silhouette outlined by the faint moonlight. He looked like he belonged there—wild, untamed, and maddeningly confident.

Five days. That's all it was.

And if I didn't strangle him by the end of it, it'd be a miracle.