Chapter 294 - Sleep Tight
Chapter 294 – Sleep Tight
"Hand her over."
The employee paused at the cold and composed voice. He slowly turned around, revealed an even more amicable smile, and shook his head.
"Unfortunately not, Sir, we have a policy to escort drunken guests downstairs to refresh themselves," the employee stated. "It is company policy."
"She's with me."
The employee opened his mouth, but froze. He felt his heart shrivel into dust, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, and his entire body going rigid. Towering over him was one of the most frightening men he had ever witnessed. And to think their Mafia Boss was terrifying. This person was on a completely different level!
"R-right away," the employee reluctantly said. In the corner of his eyes, he saw his group of peers move towards the two of them. With his gaze, he pleaded for them to stay in place. They didn't know who they would be messing with.
"Boss."
Kaden took Lina by force. He yanked her into his arms, a deep and dangerous expression on his face. All the years that passed and she was still this foolish. He wondered how her thesis even won an award. Circling an arm around her, he threw his trench coat around her.
"Have him and his group tailed. I want no stone untouched," Kaden commanded.
Sebastian immediately bowed his head. He gestured for their men to follow him and the employee who was quickly scrambling down the staircase. Sebastian gazed at his possessive Boss and wondered how he was even able to spot her. They were in a private room after a client dragged them out here. Sebastian was certain it was by fate that the two were united.
Wordlessly Sebastian departed from the group as well, knowing better than anyone to leave Madam and Boss alone. Especially when they haven't seen each other in five years.
– – – – –
Five years were long. Five years were short. Kaden waited for her and waited for her. Again and again. He counted the seconds they were apart, the minutes he didn't get to see her, then days went by, months even, and years slipped through his fingertips.
Kaden had waited hundreds of years for her before, the five years were small in comparison. But the five years were long and he never felt more suffering. She was just a car ride away.
"I wanted to respect your decision," Kaden murmured.
Lina was in the same city, within vicinity. He could grab her if he wanted to. He could kidnap her, hold her in his arms, force her to submit, force her to be submissive, but he never could bring himself to.
Dangerous thoughts crossed Kaden's mind mind every time he saw her. The more Lina smiled in the photos, the more Kaden wanted to trap her. The less release he found without her, the darker his behaviors. The things he'd do to keep her by his side. Murder. Torture. Kidnapping. Stockholm syndrome.
None fazed Kaden, as obsessed as he was with her.
"I've made a mistake I can never undo," Kaden said to himself in the car ride to her place. He knew where she lived. He tailed her throughout the entire city, following her better than her own shadow.
Kaden knew he could never apologize enough for what he had done to her. When he looked back, he lost track of how many times he could never go back. The betrayal in her eyes, the accusation on her face, the mistrust he had for her.
In the end, Kaden never found out who was infertile. As strong as he was, he was weak for her. His one and only weakness was Lina, the one that got away. Kaden held her so tightly, believing Lina would be addicted to him, only to realize she ran for her life and never looked back.
"I'd wait forever for you, as many times as it takes to learn," Kaden said to Lina, even though she was drugged out and unconscious.
Soon, they reached Lina's condo. When Lina reaped all her hard efforts, invested in the stock market and other businesses. Her pockets were loaded with money that had no associations with the Yangs. With her hard work, Lina purchased herself a penthouse suite in the heart of the city that overlooked many offices.
"You never change," Kaden muttered.
Kaden knew why she chose this apartment. Lina loved to watch people. He could picture her doing so. She'd curl up by the window, a blanket over her shoulder, liquor by her feet, and pain seeping through her broken heart as she watched others live their life. She'd cry by herself, happy for the life she built, but tortured by loneliness.
Lina was still a child at heart. Kaden knew as much. All the friends in the world could reassure her, but she needed someone that loved her. Someone to hold her as she slept, to reassure her that everything was going to be alright. She needed warmth in her bed, a hand to guide her back to sleep when she'd scream herself away.
Lina's inner child had never healed from the trauma of her youth. It never could.
"No matter how much it hurts, no matter the memories that never fade, my feelings remain, dove." Kaden carried her into the elevator, ignoring the bewildered expressions that came their way.
Everywhere, people stopped and gawked. They couldn't help themselves. What an attractive couple. What a handsome man, as lethal and cold as he appeared. There was something about his dark and mysterious presence that drew people's attention. A woman with such a lighthearted presence was unmatched for him.
Lina was dressed in light color clothes, whereas Kaden was dark and dreary. He carried her all the way to the entrance of her penthouse, where another empty one was just down the hallway. Helping her unlock the keys and mechanisms, Kaden easily made his way inside.
Kaden knew how the layout worked.
"I've made too many mistakes to count, and now, you're out of my life," Kaden murmured to Lina, even though he knew she wasn't listening. He hoped she was.
Kaden knew how to soothe her in her sleep. He remembered how to love her tenderly, so that she'd fall into his arms. A fragile thing she was. There was so much he wanted to tell her.
Settling her onto her bed, Kaden took off her heels, placed it neatly by her feet, and tucked her in. Moonlight peeked through her white curtains, illuminating the room in a pale and hollow white.
"Sleep tight, dove of mine."
Kaden rose to his feet, but something grabbed him. Or, someone. Kaden didn't allow himself the luxury to look back, he knew he could not dare. She was just searching for warmth, that was all.
"Stay."