Page 259 of Unravelling The Beast

I glance at him, my head resting comfortably on the seat, before I respond softly.

“Has it always been this way?”

He gives a nod before looking forward again.

“Arlo has always been this way of life for as long as I can remember. After all, he was taught by our father, and while I despised that man, I can always admit that he was a nasty, vicious bastard who was feared by all. What he wasn't aware of was that while he was grooming Arlo to be far worse than him in this world, his demise and punishment would be what he created, turning on him, but it was only what he deserved.”

I observe him as I take in his words before questioning him.

“When things get this intense and worrying, shouldn't he have some sort of security around him? Isn't that part of being a boss?”

He looks at me quickly now, with an eyebrow raised.

“Wren, that isn't Arlo. Yes, bosses may do that in other cities, but when it comes to Arlo, he takes matters into his own hands like a real man when it gets personal. There's no stopping him; he's a ruthless and brave motherfucker, and people should know better. He would be offended to even suggest it. Yeah, he might get his soldiers embroiled when it's a war, but never for personal matters.”

I let out another sigh before I respond.

“Sometimes I feel like I know him completely at home, but I don't have a clue who he is to the outside world.”

“That isn't always a bad thing; in fact, it should make you feel special because, believe me, no one in the Elite world sees Arlo as 'in love', and it's more than what his mom got with our dad. Arlo is a good man to those he loves—maybe not to the outside world, but he loves fiercely, and I admire him as my big brother.”

After a while of navigating the traffic, it's almost dark, and we're finally pulling up to the house. Jasper keeps the engine running, and as I unclip my seatbelt, I look over at him.

“Are you not stopping in?”

“Nah, I'll leave you two lovebirds to get ready and have a good night.”

I smile, and he hands me a credit card, which I take with confusion on my face.

“Give this to Arlo for me, please.”

I give a nod in return, feeling a little excited about tonight, and then reach for my dress from the backseat.

“Thanks for today, Jasp; it's been fun!”

He gives me a wink with a smile before I exit the car and close the door behind me.

I stroll carefully up the path, waving at Jasper as he drives away before proceeding to the front door. I toss my dress over my shoulder, and when I reach the door, I notice it's slightly open, which immediately alerts my senses.

I carefully push it open with my palm, but when I smell a strong gasoline odor, I freeze and don't go any further. My eyes become wider as soon as I hear a man shouting in the house, a voice I don't seem to recognize from afar.

My heart is pounding in my chest, and I begin to suspect that something is seriously wrong. I back up a few steps and place my dress on the floor by the entrance before slowly making my way around the side of the massive mansion.

While ducking under the windows as I pass by them, the voice becomes considerably louder after reaching the backyard. My chest rises and falls with each breath as I rest against the wall beside the wide patio doors.

I try to slow my erratic breathing before carefully peering into the window to see if I can see anything. I notice movement in the dining room and push my face closer to the glass, squinting my eyes to see better. When I spot that cop with a baseball bat by his side, my gaze moves until I see Arlo tied to a chair, who appears unrecognizable.

My gut shifts, and my eyes flood with heartbreak and tears as I observe his battered and bloodied face. I withdraw quickly, trying to think fast in my frantic mind.

When I suddenly hear a loud thud followed by a groan, I peer into the window once more to see the cop take the bat and smack it so hard into Arlo's knee that my toes curl and my eyes clamp tightly shut.

I recoil and lean against the brick wall again, trying to breathe through the panic, but wrath quickly takes the place of fear, and I rush around the side of the house, my nostrils flared.

Ducking low once again, I want to find a weapon in the garage. When I finally get to the front of the house, I sprint toward the garage and enter the code with shaking hands.

As soon as it opens for me, I dash toward the car Arlo said to go to and open the trunk, which reveals all the weapons inside.

I quickly pull my phone out of my back pocket and swipe up my contacts until I land on Jasper. I press the call button and place the phone on my ear, holding it in place with my shoulder as I pick up the pistol, pulling the clip from the bottom.

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