Chapter 266: Youโre Not Alone Anymore
Right now, Jonathanโs mind was filled with blood and violence. The image of his motherโs mangled body kept looping in his head. Every year on this day, he had to get it all outโkeep punching, keep fighting, until every ounce of strength was drained from him.
It was always just him. Even if no one said it, he knew how terrifying he looked when he was like this. Even his team of hardened mercenaries stayed away. Heโd tear himself apart, lick his own wounds, then put on the human mask and go back to being that calm, untouchable man.
But this timeโฆ someone was telling him he wasnโt alone.
He found it ridiculous. He snapped his eyes open and glared at Sierra, his voice low and dangerous. โYouโre gonna stay with me? Do you even know what Iโm about to do?โ
Sierra shook her head. โI donโt. But no matter what it is, Iโm staying. Even if the ending is something neither of us can handle.โ
A few feet away, Mateo and the others exchanged looks. Sheโs lost it too, they thought.
Jonathan let out a cold laugh. โAnything? What if Iโm about to kill someone? You coming then?โ
Sierra stood up, brushed off her pants, and nodded. โLetโs go.โ
โWhat the hellโฆโ Mateo muttered. โSheโs just as nuts as he is.โ
She was supposed to calm him downโnot egg him on. But now it looked like the two of them were about to blow the roof off the whole damn city.
Jonathan froze, eyes locked on her, his expression tangled. โYou even know what youโre saying?โ
Sierra looked him right in the eye. โYou were there for me when I needed help the most. Now that you need someoneโIโm not backing down. Iโm with you, Jonathan.โ
Even if you take it too far, Iโm still with you.
He saw it. That look in her eyes. The kind of determination that couldnโt be shaken. And just like that, the pressure in his chest cracked open. All the blood and chaos in his mind faded, replaced by quiet moments heโd shared with her. Peaceful. Real.
After a long silence, he said hoarsely, โYouโre an idiot. All those things I did for youโI barely had to lift a finger.โ
And here she was, ready to give everything. Just plain stupid. Couldnโt even do the math.
โIt mightโve been easy for you, but for meโit saved my life,โ Sierra said softly. โYou hurt, I hurt too.โ
Heโd never said a word about how much pain he was in. He never had to. She felt it. And for some reason, that made it worseโwatching him suffer and not being able to take it away.
Her words undid him. Jonathan jumped off the ring, eyes burning as he looked down at her.
Iโm giving you one last chance to walk away! Iโve already shown you everything. If you stay now, thereโs no turning back.
Sierraโs answer was to stand on her toes, grab his collar, and pull him into a kiss. Jonathan froze. Then he grabbed her tight, deepening the kiss until it turned messy and raw. The taste of blood filled their mouthsโhe didnโt even know whose it was.
From a distance, the guys all silently turned and left the room.
Outside the gym, Maddox glanced at his watch. โThat was the shortest episode yet.โ
โNot even a full hour,โ Draven said, adjusting his glasses.
โGuess sheโs more important than we thought,โ Stone muttered.
โIโm not worried about him anymore,โ Maddox said. โIโm more worried about the Wynn family.โ
โWhat do you think theyโll do?โ Stone asked.
Mateo waved it off. โWho cares? Itโs out of our hands now.โ
But he knew one thing for sureโif Mr. Wynn decided to pass the family to Jose, the Wynn family was finished. Jonathan wouldnโt take it, and there was no way heโd let Jose have it either.
Maddox rubbed his temples. โThis is a headache.โ
While the four of them paced outside, the air inside the gym was thick enough to choke on. If it werenโt for the security cameras, Jonathan wouldnโt have stopped at just a kiss.
It took him a while, but he finally stepped back, calming down. โDid I scare you?โ he asked quietly.
Sierra shook her head. She had expected this. And no, she wasnโt scared.
Jonathan squeezed her hand gently. โYou wanna know what really happened that day?โ