CHAPTER 86: HE’D DO ANYTHING

Zayne drove off the road to park outside Lincoln’s home.

"You know Valerio so much and you really have no idea where he could be?" he questioned, eyeing Brandon.

Brandon glared at him.

"I know him, but it doesn’t mean I care about his activities."

He followed him out of the car. "What about Evelyn’s phone? Can’t we try calling again? I don’t think my uncle is going to know much."

"Evelyn’s phone is practically useless right now. It can’t be tracked and Alessio needs at least twenty-four hours to get onto something." Zayne pulled at the gate. "Lincoln is sure to know a thing or two. After all, he was close when Valerio worked with your father. Besides, this is his daughter, whom we’re speaking of. He’ll cooperate whether he likes it or not—"

"You knew...."

The sudden words from Brandon made him pause and he turned his head to find the man staring at him with a frozen expression on his face.

"Is it that surprising?"

"H-how do you know?" Brandon questioned.

"How wouldn’t I know? It’s obvious."

"Evelyn doesn’t know," he said.

Zayne looked at him. "Because she doesn’t want to. Do you think she hasn’t wondered why she’s the only one who has no resemblance to your father? Do you think she hasn’t wondered why she shares the same eyes as Lincoln? She just doesn’t want to linger on that idea, after all, if she were his daughter, why would your father raise her? And why had everyone kept quiet, not one of you willing to tell her the truth?"

"Because my father asked us not to. We weren’t allowed to let her know."

"Well." He cocked a brow. "Sage Darkwood is dead."

He kicked the gate so forcefully that the lock on it broke off, each gate bursting to slam against the wall.

The fence almost rattled.

The younger man’s jaw dropped to the floor. "How did you...how did you just do that?"

"Follow me." Zayne ignored the look on his face, making his way into the compound.

Brandon rushed in after him, stopping for a second to look at the gate. It’d bent a little, just from a single kick. "What the heck...?" he mouthed silently to himself, hurrying his stride towards the manor.

Just like at his home, Zayne didn’t bother ringing the doorbell and instead kicked at the door, breaking it off the hinges.

Brandon’s shoulder slumped. "You’ve got to be kidding me. What are you? Superman?"

Zayne snapped over at him. "What is that?"

"Do you live in a cave?"

"I’ll snap your head off your neck. Don’t test me, Brandon."

Brandon swallowed, rubbing at his neck. "By the way, this is rude. Kicking down people’s doors."

"Does it look like I care?" Zayne grunted, watching as Lincoln sped down the stairs. He moved, snatching the middle-aged man before he could leave the last step.

Lincoln shot a confused look at him. "W-what are you doing in my house?"

Zayne tightened his grip around the collar of his robe. "Where is Evelyn?"

The man blinked. "Evelyn...? What are you talking about?"

"That bastard Valerio took her. No, he kidnapped her and I’m assuming you might possibly know where the fuck my mate is!"

Brandon furrowed his brows. Mate...?

Lincoln’s eyes, gradually but slowly dilated. "E-evelyn’s missing?"

"Yes."

"That makes no sense! She was with you, was she not? How could she be missing? Why is she missing? Where is she?"

"I’m asking you that!" Zayne snapped at him.

But Lincoln was too out of it to even answer. He wiggled out of his hold and stumbled over to Brandon, grabbing his hand. "Brandon, he’s...he’s joking, isn’t he? Evelyn is not actually missing, is she? My daughter is not gone, right?"

Brandon glanced at Zayne.

"Valerio...took her."

"Well, where is he? Call him!"

"I’ve been trying for the past thirty minutes uncle, he’s not answering."

Lincoln’s shoulders slumped. He blinked slowly, turning to face Zayne.

"She was supposed to be your responsibility, no?"

"You don’t know what happened—"

"You were supposed to protect her, you were supposed to take care of her! How could you let this happen? How could you let them take her? What if he’s hurting her? Who knows what he’s—"

Zayne was in his face, grabbing his collar. He glared at him. "What the hell do you know, huh? I don’t need you telling me this bullshit, because it’s only going to make me more angry than I already am."

He shoved him off, storming off to leave the house.

Brandon quickly turned and rushed after him. "What are we going to do? Are we really going to wait up to twenty-four hours? What if something goes wrong? What if he does something to her?"

Zayne was pacing the compound, thinking, trying to figure anything out.

Where could Valerio have possibly taken her? Where no one would be able to find her. At least not easily.

"I can’t figure anything out."

Brandon took his phone out of his pocket. "Let me call the police. They should—"

Zayne snatched the phone from him, snapping, "No one is involving the police."

"What do you mean?" Lincoln was the one who asked this time around.

"Why not? If we do, we may find her faster and—"

"I said, no one is involving the police! This is my problem to deal with and I mean it!"

"Why?" Brandon asked.

He didn’t answer, but kept pacing back and forth. The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated and he was quick to take it out. It was Alessio calling.

"Alessio!" He answered.

[I think I know where he might have taken Evelyn, Zayne. Come to the house. You need to see this]

He hung up, quickly rounded over to his car to get in.

Brandon and Lincoln glanced at each other. They didn’t hesitate, hurrying over and getting into the back.

"What are you doing?" Zayne questioned with a cocked brow.

Brandon frowned. "We’re coming along. There is no way I can sleep knowing my sister is missing."

"And I can’t sleep, knowing my daughter is missing."

He eyed them intently, before starting the car and making a reserve to drive off onto the road.

"Did you find something?" Brandon asked. "Are we close to any information that can help find her?"

"Alessio is," was the only answer Zayne gave as he raised the speed of the car, the only thing on his mind being Evelyn.

To find her.

To save her.

And he’d apologized even if it meant groveling at her feet for all time to come.

He’d do anything to fix this.