Zayn’s car shuddered, the mangled iron gates groaning as they were forced open, then scraping shut behind him. Dust billowed from the crumpled metal, catching the harsh glare of his headlights as he drove up the winding driveway. The Blackthorn guards, momentarily stunned by the sheer audacity of his entrance, were now scrambling, barking into their comms, their drawn weapons useless against the steel beast Zayn commanded.
He didn't spare them a second glance. Let them scramble. Let them report. Vanessa is about to learn that her little guard dogs are nothing more than fleas. The phantom ache in his chest flared, a burning reminder of the betrayal, of the price he had paid. But this time, it fueled him, a cold fire in his veins.
He parked the car right in front of the mansion’s grand ent
