457 Unbelievable News
(Cass)
I jolt awake to the sound of the front door slamming open. Damn I must have dozed off on the sofa. What the fuck?! Flashbacks of being kidnapped hit me and panic rises. Have they found me?
My heart leaps into my throat, and I grab the closest thing to me-a lamp. My brain is too groggy to process anything logical. I'm not going without a fight this time. Although I'm not drugged either. "Who the hell-"
"It's me," Viktor's voice cuts through the darkness, calm and even.
I lower the lamp, scowling as I flip on the bedside light. "What the actual fuck, Viktor? You don't knock? You just break into people's homes now?"
He stands in the doorway of the living room, completely unbothered, his broad frame blocking most of the light from the hall. "It's urgent. Get up. Now."
I blink, still half-asleep. "Excuse me? What gives you the right to barge in here like "
"Cass," he interrupts, his tone clipped. "This isn't about you. There's been a shooting in London. Lance and Judy are involved."
The words hit me like a freight train. "What? What do you mean involved?"
He doesn't answer immediately, just stares at me with that cold, unreadable expression. "Get dressed. Grab a bag. The helicopter will be here in ten minutes." "You can't just "
"I can and I am," he says, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Jayden needs us. He's on his way to the scene now, and I can't leave you here alone."
I stare at him, my stomach twisting into knots. "You're serious."
"Dead serious," he replies, his words heavy.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.
I'm wearing sweatpants and a sweater Winona left for me. My hands shake as I shove my feet into socks and sneakers. "Do you know what happened? Is Lance... is he "
"I don't have all the details yet," Viktor says, his voice slightly softer. "But the situation is bad."
"Jesus," I mutter, running a hand through my hair. Lance? He was like a brother to me when I first moved to the States. He helped me get on my feet when I had no one.
And Judy... well, Judy was Judy. Complicated as hell. But this? I mean why would Judy shoot Lance?
Then the pieces fall into place. Oh my fucking God! "Lance took her out for Jayden and Winona, didn't he?" I say with a raised voice.
Viktor checks his watch as I grab my bag. "The chopper's landing in five."
As we step outside, the cold night air bites at my skin. My mind races, replaying every interaction I've had with Lance in the past year. He was fun. Lance always looked out for me like I was his little sister. He made me laugh harder than anyone ever could. I never got to laugh much before I met him. I liked that best about him.
"Why are you dragging me into this?" I ask as we make our way to the landing pad. "I have work shifts I need to be at."
"Because Jayden will need all the
support he can get," Viktor says matter-of-factly. "And because I'm not leaving you here alone when there's still a risk your past troubles could follow you."
"My past troubles?" I snap, glaring at him. "I'm not some liability, Viktor. I'm not using anymore. I've moved on."
He doesn't look at me, his gaze fixed ahead. "Moving on doesn't erase the past. And Jayden was clear-your safety is non-negotiable."
I grind my teeth, frustration bubbling under my skin. "You're unbelievable. What about my job? The kitchen?"
"I'll sort it," he replies, his tone dismissive. "There will be no repercussions."
The sound of the helicopter blades cuts through the silence as we reach the pad. The wind whips around us.
As we climb aboard, I can't shake the sinking feeling in my gut. Jayden may have just lost his mother and his best friend. Viktor straps in across from me, his expression as stoic as ever.
"Do you even care?" I blurt out, the words escaping before I can stop them.
His gaze flicks to mine, his face unreadable. "Care about what?"
"About any of this," I snap, gesturing wildly. "Lance, Judy, Jayden. Do you have emotions, or are you just a robot in a suit?"
His eyes narrow slightly, but he
doesn't rise to the bait. "I care about
my job And my job is to protect
Jayden and his family. That ineludes
you, whether you, or I, like it or not."
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I shake my head, leaning back in the seat. "You're impossible. Jayden needs a friend right now."
He doesn't respond, just looks out the window as the city lights blur below us.
The silence stretches, heavy and uncomfortable. My mind races with questions, with worry. What if Lance... what if he's-
"Lance was a good guy," I say, more to myself than to Viktor.
Viktor doesn't say anything. Of course, he's made his mind up about Lance after all of this crap happening lately.
"He wasn't perfect, but he cared. He looked out for me."
"I'm not here to debate his character," Viktor says, his tone cool. "I'm here to do my job."
"Your job," I mutter, rolling my eyes. "Must be nice to live in your black-and-white world."
His gaze snaps back to me, sharp as a blade. "This isn't about me. Focus."
"Whatever happens, I hope Judy's dead. That solves a lot of problems. Lance took her out for a reason."
"My concern is with Jayden's mental state and Nexus Global."
"Of course. Business as usual. But you can't tell me that you won't be happy to see Judy Brennan off the agenda."
He stares at me and he actually blinks. I'll take that as an agreement.
"Not all heroes wear capes, is all I'm saying."