Page 35 of Claws and Controllers

Grant’s face darkened. “Listen here, you ungrateful bitch. You owe me. I made you who you are. And if you don’t want your pretty face splashed all over the tabloids with some very unflattering stories, you’ll cut me in.”

“Are you threatening me?” Ellie’s voice rose, anger overriding her fear. “You’re lucky you’re not in jail for what you did. I don’t owe you anything.”

He laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “Jail? Please. I was your husband, Ellie. Everything you had was mine. Including your pathetic little game ideas.”

Ellie tried to push past him, fury propelling her forward. “Get out of my way, Grant. We’re done here.”

His hand shot out, gripping her arm painfully. “We’re done when I say we’re done.”

Suddenly, a blur of motion caught Ellie’s eye. Before she could process what was happening, Grant was on the ground, Zy standing over him with a look of pure rage on his face.

“If you ever put your hands on her again, I’ll kill you,” Zy growled, his voice low and dangerous.

What happened next was a blur of sirens, police officers, and concerned onlookers. Ellie found herself giving a statement, her hand clasped tightly in Zy’s as Grant was led away in handcuffs, shouting threats and obscenities.

“Are you okay, Ms. Madden?” One of the officers asked, his tone surprisingly gentle. “We’ll need you to come down to the station later to file a formal report, but for now, you’re free to go.”

Ellie nodded numbly, still processing the whirlwind of events. As the police cleared out, she turned to Zy, noticing the easy way he interacted with the officers.

“They seem to know you well,” she observed.

Zy gave a small, almost embarrassed smile. “I contribute to the NYC Police Foundation. Attend their charity ball every year. It’s... a way to give back.”

The casual mention of his philanthropy warmed Ellie’s heart. Just when she thought she couldn’t be more impressed by him, Zy revealed another layer of depth.

As they settled into Zy’s car, the tension of the morning slowly began to ebb. Ellie let out a long breath, feeling the stress melt away as they left the city behind.

“So,” she said, turning to Zy with a tentative smile. “I believe you promised me a day of art and exploration?”

Zy’s answering grin made her heart skip. “Indeed I did. How does Cornwall sound? There’s an art park I think you’ll love, and the little shops in town are charming. Plus, I know a great Italian place for dinner.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you before, but you look absolutely stunning. I’m going to have to fight off half of Cornwall to keep you to myself.”

Ellie felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “Flatterer. I’m pretty sure the cows outnumber the people in Cornwall, so unless you’re worried about bovine competition...”

Zy laughed, a rich, warm sound that made Ellie’s heart do a little flip. “Never underestimate the allure of a good-looking heifer. Shall we?” He opened the passenger door with a flourish.

As they settled into the car, Ellie caught a whiff of Zy’s cologne – a subtle, woodsy scent that made her want to lean in closer. She resisted the urge, instead focusing on buckling her seat belt.

“So,” she said, aiming for a casual tone, “an art park, huh? I didn’t peg you for the artsy type. Let me guess, you’re more into the ‘my kid could paint that’ school of modern art?”

Zy gasped in mock offense, placing a hand over his heart. “You wound me, Ellie. I’ll have you know I have a very sophisticated palate when it comes to art. I once spent an entire afternoon staring at a blank canvas, contemplating the existential void.”

Ellie snorted, unable to contain her laughter. “Oh, very deep. And here I thought you just fell asleep standing up.”

Their banter continued as they left the city behind, the tension of the confrontation with Grant melting away with each mile. Ellie found herself relaxing, genuinely enjoying Zy’s company outside of their usual professional setting.

As they approached Cornwall, Zy suddenly veered off the main road onto a dirt path.

“Uh, Zy?” Ellie asked, eyeing the dense woods around them. “I know I joked about the cows, but if this is where you tell me you’re actually a serial killer...”

Zy chuckled, reaching over to squeeze her hand reassuringly. “Relax, I promise I’m not planning to murder you. I just want to show you something special.”

They emerged into a clearing, and Ellie gasped. A small, crystal-clear lake stretched out before them, its surface like glass reflecting the surrounding trees and sky.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, stepping out of the car.

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