Chapter 26

Vengeance

************Jason POV**********

We haven't spoken to each other, Nero and I. We ignored each other this morning, and I still can not believe a day like this exist.

Blake is avoiding him too, and I can't stop wondering what they talked about last night. Did they argue because of the kiss? Is that why Nero wasn't talking to me?

I was mad at him for lying to me and keeping things about Blake and him from me for this long and that I had to find out from her.  But what was his reason for looking so pissed this morning?

Staring down at my boots, I took a deep breath, and then my phone vibrated in my back pocket.

After getting it out, I looked at Harley's name on my screen, and I immediately answered it.

"Jason," Her honey voice echoed in my ear.

"What is it?" I mumbled, hearing the distress in her voice.

"Our leader is at the hotel, and he is looking for you."

"Loki?!"

"Yes. He wants you to come over here like now."

Swaying my gaze into Blake's class, I saw her leaving her seat with her bag, and I knew that she had eavesdropped on my conversation.

Sighing, I focused back on the call and mumbled, "I will be there."

When Blake got out of the room, she looked at me and said, "Let's go."

As she tried to walk past me, I grabbed her bag handle and pulled her back, beside me before mumbling, "It's rude to listen in on others' phone calls."

"I was bored and happened to accidentally hear the conversation while trying to listen to something interesting," Blake said with a stubborn look on her face. "Now, let's go."

"I'm going, and you are staying right here to attend your lecture,"

"But"

"No. You are not coming with me. It's me that your father's ones to see, and not us."

"You don't understand"

"Go back to class, Blake, and promise me that you will not do anything wild afterward and go home."

A frown crossed Blake's face, and I could see it in her eyes that she was seriously considering if she should obey or rebel.

Finally, she narrowed her eyes and said, "Fine. But promise to tell me what he says to you later on? Also, tell him, 'Hey' for me."

"Sure," I uttered, knowing that any other answer might make her rebel, and that was something I couldn't afford, especially with Blake.

After watching her head back in class, I gazed at her taking a seat before walking away, heading out of the building.

The moment I got in an Uber, I dialed Nero's number and rang his line. Although he answered, he didn't say a word, but I could hear his breath.

"Loki is at the hotel I stay at," I mumbled, staring out the windshield.

"What? How?!" Nero said, and his voice bore worry in it.

"I'm not sure. But I'm going to meet him. So, Blake is on campus alone. She promised to go home after her class, but"

"I will handle her. Loki,"

"I think he only wants to talk, and nothing else."

"Jason,"

"I will be fine."

The line fell silent, and I knew what he was thinking. From the moment I could remember, he had had my back even if it meant facing death, and that's why I feared I am nervous about what my feelings for Blake could do to us.

Finally, Nero huffed and said, "Call me if things go south and don't do anything stupid. Do not go somewhere isolated with him and"

"I got it!" I hastily mumbled, looking away from the windshield.

"Right,"

"Are we going to talk about last night?"

The line fell silent again, and I waited impatiently for him to say something because I couldn't bear the feeling of guilt and dilemma.

"What's your deal with her?" Nero asked, a little sullenly.

Feeling a sense of rage squeezing my heart, I frowned and mumbled, "Are you

serious right now?! How the fuck would you ask me such a question when you were the one who kept it from me that you mark her?!"

"I marked her, and nothing changed. It's not something to share when it was meaningless!" Nero said in a casual tone, and I wanted to punch him so badly.

"Meaningless! Meaningless! You must be shitty me! What are you doing with her then if it was meaningless!"

"Chill. What happened between her and me meant something real to me. It is the fact that I marked her and the curse is still not broken that makes it absurd!"

He said it meant something to him. Was it worth asking him what it meant, and finding out that he wanted her as much as I did?

"So what's your plan for her?" I asked, unclenching my fist.

When Nero didn't answer, I hesitated, rethinking my words a couple of times, and then said, "I felt something last night when she and I kissed. So give me a direct answer now, and I will take a step back if I have to."

"Don't!... Don't take a step back," Nero said flatly.

Holding back my words, my thumb stroked against my bottom lip as I tried to make up my mind about his words

"Okay, I won't. But don't you dare change your mind later because even if you do, I wouldn't take a step back!" I mumbled, knowing that there was a ninety-nine percent chance he would go back on his words, yet I was hoping for the one percent.

But Nero being Nero, he ended the call without saying a word, and my hand clutched the phone tightly, striving to not lose my grip on my anger.

Yet, I did lose it and shouted, "If you want her, just say it, you asshole, and stop messing with everyone's emotions! I don't even know who you are anymore!"

Then I unintentionally caught the driver staring at me through the v-mirror, and a sense of embarrassment swept through me as I focused on the open window.

The rest of the ride felt a bit awkward, and I felt glad when I walked into the hotel lobby and approached Harley at the front desk.

"Where is he?" I mumbled, staring at the glimpse of fear in her eyes.

"In the private diner, room 202. Martin will take you there." Harley said, not losing the look of stress on her face.

Giving her a soft smile, I pat the back of her hand and said, "Thanks."

But as I was about to walk away, Harley grabbed my wrist, and when I looked into her eyes, she lowered her gaze as she drew her hand back.

"If you did something wrong, I advise you to run and not go up there," Harley whispered beneath her breath, biting her bottom lip when she raised her head and our eyes lock.

"It's fine. I did nothing wrong." I mumbled with a silent chuckle.

"Then why does he looks like he wants to murder you?"

"Because every dad wants to murder the guy their daughter is seeing,"

The look of fear in her eyes suddenly faded, and she looked blankly at me before whispering, "Oh,"

After giving her a quick smile, I walked over to Martin, and he too looked freaked out when he saw me.

"You are seriously meeting him?" Martin muttered, his eyes shaking hysterically.

"Yep," I mumbled. "Lead the way?"

A feeling of sudden tension overwhelmed me when I finally entered room 202 alone and lock gaze with Loki's cold red eyes.

"Who are you?!" These were the first words that escaped his lips as he continued to intensely stare at me.

"Umm, you found out where I stay, so shouldn't such a question be answered by now?" I mumbled as I remained at the door, maintaining my distance from him.

But the hate that I had for him wasn't something that I could ignore, especially since he was the reason I lost everything, mama, pa, Jolene, and Sarah. They are all gone because of this beast.

"Ha, I see you hate life!" Loki said, his eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty look in them.

Keeping silent, I tried not to squeeze my fist as I gazed at him, suppressing the storm that roamed within.

"Why is your identity hidden? Since we met, I have been trying to figure out who you are, but nothing. So, you much either be a ghost or someone who I'm about to fuck up if you don't tell me who you are!" Loki said in a calm, dead tone.

How was I supposed to know what happened to my identity? Nero was the one talking about a fresh start and removing stuff.

My heart stopped for a second as I watched Loki's nails transform into claws, and I held in my breath, knowing that there was no way I could fight him and not get dragged away by the grim reaper.

"Blake wants me to say 'hey' to you for her," I blurted out, clearing my throat as I tried to pull myself together.

Silence fell in the room as Loki suddenly stood to his feet. Then he walked over to me, stared at his claws, and smirked.

Now, I couldn't help wondering what was going on in his messed-up brain as I maintain eye contact with him.

"Stay away from my daughter if you don't want me to find other means to unbound her from you!" Loki mumbled, losing the smirk.

After his fingernails shifted to normal, he glared at me for a moment and then walked out of the room, slamming the door shut.

Feeding off my hate for him, I clutched my fist, drawing a deep breath, and in that instant, it hit me. My history with Loki is nothing too different from Nero.

Now, it was clear as daylight. That liar didn't want a fresh start! He wants vengeance!