The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 175

Chapter 95-2

“I will,” Dad promises smoothly, his black eyes flashing with cold determination as he nods toward the open elevator. “I always do.”

Locke steps up beside me. He doesn’t say a word. He just grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my face up, and presses one final, devastatingly deep kiss against my lips.

It’s possessive, intense, and thick with a dark promise that seals itself into my soul. The heat of it lingers on my skin long after he pulls back.

The three men step backward into the elevator car. Dad reaches out, pressing the button to lower the car to the private garage below.

Locke holds my gaze as the heavy brass doors slowly begin to slide shut. His gray eyes burn with a promise that rings clear across the expanding gap:

I am coming home, baby.

The doors seal tight with a heavy, final clack. The indicator light above the frame shifts, tracking the elevator’s steady descent down toward the darkened streets of the city.

The silence that settles over the penthouse foyer is instant, thick, and heavy with tension. It feels as if all the oxygen has been sucked out of the room, leaving only the soft hum of the air filtration unit and the distant patter of hail against the glass.

Jade lets out a long, heavy breath, resting her hands on her hips as she stares at the closed elevator doors. She turns her head, looking over at me with a sharp, resilient glint returning to her eyes.

“Well,” Jade says, her voice not entirely steady. “The men have officially gone to go play soldier in the woods.”

A faint, real smile touches my lips as I look at her. “And we’re locked down in a two-million-dollar fortress with three armed enforcers outside.”

“Exactly,” Jade says, turning on her heel and marching straight into the kitchen. “Jesus Christ.”

She stretches up, pulling down two coupe glasses with chic stems from the cabinet, setting them carefully onto the marble island. She reaches into the fridge, grabbing top-shelf tequila, a bag of fresh limes, and

the salt shaker from the counter.

“If we’re going to sit up all night waiting for a text message,” Jade says, slicing a lime in half with lethal precision. “We are damn well doing it with strong margaritas.”

I walk into the kitchen, leaning against the counter beside her, watching the green lime juice swirl into the silver tequila over ice.

“Make mine a double,” I say, grabbing the salt shaker to rim the glasses with coarse white crystals. “Maybe a triple.”

Jade grins, pouring the amber liquid straight to the rim. She slides one glass over to me, holding her own up in the air between us.

Chapter 95-2

Claim

“To our men coming home alive,” Jade says softly, her sharp tone softening into genuine, deep affection. And to Knox burning in hell.”

“To coming home,” Techo, clinking my glass against hers. “And frankly, hell is too good for that asshole.”

We take a long, cold sip together in the quiet of the kitchen, the sharp bite of the lime and tequila cutting through the lingering fear in my chest.

Jade leans back against the counter, crossing her arms as she looks over at me. She studies me for a moment, her sharp eyes taking in the quiet resolve on my face.

“These Grinning Skulls men…” Jade says, shaking her head with a faint smile. “They act like bulletproof enforcers out on the highway, but the second we look at them sideways, they completely unravel.”

A soft laugh escapes my lips, a genuine, warm sound that fills the quiet kitchen. “Jade, you stood toe-to-toe with Mayhem earlier today.”

“He deserved it,” Jade defends smoothly, a mischievous spark returning to her eyes. “And guess what? At home when we were packing, he tried to tell me I couldn’t go to the spa next week. As if Knox is hiding in a seaweed wrap! I have standards, Zara.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I say, taking another sip of my drink.

“I’m a delight,” Jade corrects gently, leaning her elbow on the counter. Her comedic expression shifts slightly, her eyes searching mine with real tenderness. “How are you really feeling, Zara? Your strength… your health?”

I pause, setting my glass down on the counter and looking at my hands. The subtle tremor that was there earlier while watching Locke pack his sidearm is completely gone now. My pulse is steady. My breath is deep and clear.

“I’m good,” I say, and for the first time in months, I mean it completely. “My body feels strong again. The weakness is totally gone. I’m not the sick girl lying in bed anymore, Jade. I helped crack that map today. I helped give them a target.”

Jade’s eyes shine with proud, fierce warmth. She reaches across the marble island, squeezing my hand firmly. “Damn right you did. You’re a Skull, Zara. Through and through.”

We stand together in the quiet luxury of the penthouse kitchen, listening to the gentle patter of the elements against the high floor-to-ceiling windows. The city lights stretch out below us, the mountains and the ocean are bathed in shadow, but inside our fortress, the air is warm, steady, and unbroken.

Jade refills our drinks, pouring the amber liquid straight to the rim once more. We raise our coupe glasses together in the quiet, bright light of the kitchen, locking eyes in an unspoken pact of steel and sisterhood.

Two strong, unbroken women holding down the fort, ready for whatever the night brings next.

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