Chapter 26
Her words sent a shiver down everyone’s spine, including Jeff, wan was still on his knees, clutching his bleeding hand.
No one had ever thought the seemingly fragile Maeve could be so damn terrifying when pushed to the edge. She stood there, fierce and unyielding, like she was ready to drag them all to hell if she had to.
Despite their numbers, none of them wanted to be the unlucky bastard to face Maeve if she went on a rampage with that
knife.
“Fuck! What are you all waiting for? Open the damn door and let her out!” Jeff shouted, his fear starting to overshadow his anger. He was closest to her, and he knew if she snapped, he’d be the first to pay.
“This was all just a joke, okay? We were just screwing around, nothing serious! Don’t do anything crazy!” one of the guys pleaded, fumbling to get the door open.
Maeve kept her grip tight on the knife, her eyes never leaving them as she slowly backed towards the exit. When she reached the door, she flung the knife at them, sending them into a frantic scramble before she bolted out.
Maeve ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned a corner and slammed into someone, stumbling back and almost falling. A hand reached out to catch her. “Hey, are you alright?”
The voice was soft, like a summer breeze. Maeve looked up, her hair a tangled mess sticking to her tear–streaked face, like a flower battered by a storm. She clutched her shirt tightly, her eyes wide with fear, locking onto the man in front of her.
Alex Brown, momentarily stunned, quickly pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. “Here, take. this. What happened? Do you need help?”
Maeve snapped back to reality, shaking her head vigorously. “No, I’m fine. Thanks” Without taking the handkerchief, she pulled her hand free from his grasp and dashed off, hurrying away.
Alex watched Maeve disappear down the hallway, a smile tugging at his lips.
Suddenly, inspiration–something he’d been chasing for ages–began to stir. A vivid image took shape in his mind, lighting
with excitement. He couldn’t wait to rush back to his studio and dive into his work. up his
eyes
Maeve fled the club and kept running until her legs gave out. Exhausted, she collapsed onto a roadside bench, massaging her sore calves. She’d left her coat and handbag behind in the club, and without them, she had no way to hail a cab.
The night air was cool, not freezing but enough to make Maeve wrap her arms tightly around herself for warmth. She gazed up at the crescent moon, her thoughts drifting aimlessly in the quiet of the night.
She’d been in only one relationship before, and it had ended in disaster. “Is this what love is supposed to be, or am I just unlucky enough to end up with a psycho? Maybe I’m just not cut out for relationships,” she thought
As she looked down, her gaze met the curious eyes of a scruffy brown dog sitting nearby.
“Woof wool!” The dog barked at her, clearly feeling challenged.
Maeve tried to ignore it, but the dog only barked louder and more aggressively.
Frustrated, she snapped, “What’s your problem? Even you want to pick on me now?”
The dog bared its teeth and growled. “Woof woof!”
“Do you think I’m scared of you?” Maeve retorted, rolling up her sleeves, ready to confront the dog. Just then, a car horn blared. A sleek black Maybach pulled up, and the driver’s side window rolled down, revealing Byron’s impeccably chiseled
face.
“Maeve,” Byron said, his voice laced with amusement. “What the hell are you doing? It’s late, and here you are, arguing with a dog in the middle of the street…
