The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 444

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Chapter 218 2

Chapter 218-2

Vane lost his money when Knox died, but losing his operational lab? Losing millions of dollars in unrefined product and precursor inventory? That will push Vane over the edge. A man like Vane doesn’t take losses quietly… he eliminates the threat with surgical, overwhelming force.

A dangerous, unstable alliance is forming right before our eyes:

Grit has the rabid, violent muscle and a desperate need to prove he can lead the Night Howlers

Vane has the endless bankroll, the international connections, and a lethal imperative to protect his

financial bottom line and the product that he’s already paid for.

If – or rather, when they team up completely, they’ll unleash a wave of violence this city hasn’t

seen in decades. Maybe not ever.

I stare deep into the dancing orange flames of the fireplace, watching the wood turn to glowing

embers, feeling the heavy, suffocating weight settling onto my chest.

Sunrise is coming in a few hours, and with it, decisions that can’t be undone.

“You’re thinking too hard, baby. I can hear the gears turning from the hallway.”

I jump slightly, my heart doing a quick flip in my chest as Locke’s deep voice cuts softly through the quiet room. I turn my head to see him leaning against the doorframe leading into the living

room.

His hair is rumpled, falling over his forehead, and his gray eyes are heavy with sleep, looking at me

with a mixture of profound warmth and quiet concern.

“I’m sorry,” I say guiltily. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I know you’re tired.”

Locke pushes off the doorframe, his slow, heavy footsteps silent against the hardwood as he

walks toward me. He doesn’t go to the sofa, instead, he comes straight to my chair, sinking down

onto his knees on the rug right beside me.

He reaches up, his large, warm hand cupping the side of my face. His skin is warm from the bed, smelling of jasmine, clean sheets, and pure comfort. I lean into his touch instantly, closing my eyes for a fraction of a second just to feel centred again.

“You feeling sick?” he asks. “Is it the baby? Do you need water? Tea?”

“No, no,” I say quickly. “I’m not sick at all. The baby is fine, I promise. I just… I woke up and my mind started racing. I couldn’t get back to sleep, and I didn’t want to keep tossing and turning and disturb you.”

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Chapter 218 2

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“Zara,” he says. “Listen to me. You can disturb me anytime. Day, night, four in the goddamn morning, it doesn’t matter. When you need me, I’m not disturbed. I’m right where I’m supposed to

A soft, shaky breath escapes my lips, the crushing knot of anxiety in my chest loosening just a fraction under the weight of his words.

He pulls back slightly, looking at the half-empty mug of hot chocolate, then down at my bare feet tucked under my cardigan. Without another word, he takes the mug from my hands and sets it carefully on the side table.

Then, in one smooth, powerful motion, he slides his arms beneath my knees and my back, lifting me effortlessly out of the chair and bringing me up against his chest.

“Locke, I can walk -”

“I know you can,” he says as he turns toward the bedroom. “But I’d rather carry you. I thought we already had this conversation, that it’s one of my favourite things to do.”

“Oh. Oh, yeah. Sorry, handsome.”

“You’d better be.”

He carries me out of the living room, his steady, confident stride cutting through the cool darkness of the penthouse. Xena scrambles up from her spot by the fire, letting out a soft, happy huff as she dances along behind his heels, her claws clicking softly against the floor.

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