To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 153

Southshire Estate, basement.

After Elara had smashed the computers and equipment, Wayne had been forced to order new gear. The delay meant it was well past seven before they were finally ready for the last round of electroshock.

Wayne hadn't made things easy for her, either.

He slapped her hard, more than once, so viciously that her ears rang and she couldn't hear for a while.

Gripping her chin, Wayne sneered, "You're just Brian's discarded trash. No one cares if you live or die. Do you really think you'll make it out of here alive?"

Elara grinned, lips stained red with blood. "Funny how often you bring him up. Are you that scared of him?"

Wayne shoved her to the ground. "You're not the least bit charming. That's why no man wants you."

At that moment, a burly maid hurried into the basement, whispering urgently in his ear.

Wayne's face darkened. He barked at the woman in the lab coat, "Get it over with, now. The garden's out of fertilizer."

Then he strode out, leaving the basement behind.

Upstairs, in the living room.

Wayne smiled coldly at the secretary standing by the coffee table. "You want to search my house? Not happening. If Miss Calloway has evidence, let her call the police and have them search."

Summer was so anxious her face had gone white. "Don't think I don't know you've already called in favors at the station. The police won't even bother coming. We have her IP address from early this morning—it leads right here. Hand Elara over."

Wayne arched an eyebrow. "No evidence? Then get out, or I'll call the cops on you for trespassing."

The secretary adjusted his glasses with a smile. "Let us look around. I'm sure we'll find the evidence ourselves."

Wayne caught the Capital City accent and grew wary. "And you are? I'm Pangborn. Meddle in my affairs, and you'd better be ready for the consequences."

The secretary shot a glance at the man lounging on the sofa, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Just a country boy. My name doesn't matter."

He made a subtle gesture.

A few trained men fanned out through the house.

They searched everywhere but found nothing.

Wayne was just about to explode when the man on the sofa finally stood up, almost lazily, and tapped his foot against the floor.

His deep, smooth voice made Wayne's blood run cold.

"Mr. Pangborn, your floors are impressively solid."

The others took the hint and quickly discovered a hidden door to the basement under the stairs.

Wayne lay face-down on the floor, someone's foot pressing his head down, but he still tried to sound tough.

"Who the hell are you people? You from Capital City? You know the Pangborn family?"

The secretary leaned toward the man, voice low. "This Wayne was expelled from Loravia for illegal detention. His company didn't fire him—they just transferred him to oversee operations in Kingston. Looks like he's tight with the Pangborns."

Wayne struggled to get up, but couldn't move under the boot.

"You know who I am and you still do this? Put the woman down and I'll let it slide."

The man just gave a short, cold laugh and walked out, still holding Elara.

They piled into the car and sped toward the hospital.

The man took the front passenger seat, leaving the back for the two women.

Summer squeezed Elara's hand, swiping away tears.

"Even when he got a DUI, it was just a fine and that was it. Call the police? They don't care. Is there really no one who can stop that bastard? And Brian—he just sat there at dinner, watching you get dragged away by a lunatic. Does he actually want to be a widower?"

The comment jolted Elara.

She straightened, a spark of clarity in her eyes. "Isn't the Synergy Summit today?"