Chapter 38: The Plan
Zane~
The heavy wooden doors to my office shut behind us with a dull thud, sealing Roland and me inside. My anger was undeniable, thick like an impending storm. I strode toward my desk, my fingers tightening into fists at my sides. Red, was restless beneath my skin, his growls vibrating through my mind, demanding answers.
Roland stood before me, his shoulders squared, awaiting my wrath. I didn’t keep him waiting.
"What the hell happened out there?" My voice was ice, commanding like a sharpened blade.
Roland flinched, a rare crack in his composed facade. "I’m sorry, Your Highness," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I got distracted. I stepped away to get the ice cream, like Natalie asked. I didn’t think..." He trailed off, guilt etched into his features. "I didn’t think I’d be gone long enough for anything to happen."
"You didn’t think," I echoed, my voice dangerously low. "Your job was to protect her. She could have been taken, hurt, or worse. What were you thinking?"
His shoulders sagged, and he nodded. "I’m really sorry. And I take full responsibility. I promise, Your Highness, it won’t happen again."
I studied him, my sharp gaze drilling into him as though I could extract the truth buried in his thoughts. Something about the way he avoided my eyes told me he wasn’t finished.
"There’s more, isn’t there?" I asked coldly. "Spill it."
Roland hesitated, glancing at the floor before meeting my eyes. "When I returned, I saw the men surrounding Natalie and Jacob," he began. "But something was... off."
"Off how?"