Chapter 21(Tori P.O.V)

I woke up to chaos.

Gunshots. Shouting. Heavy footsteps.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

What was happening?

I rushed to the window- and froze. Armed men were shooting down my security team like they were nothing.

Panic hit me hard.

I bolted out of my room and banged on Nina’s door. She opened her eyes slowly, still half asleep.

“Good morning, Tori-”

“Nina, we have to get out of here. They’re here.”

Her sleepy smile vanished. Without another word, we both sprinted to Adrian’s room. I knocked frantically.

No answer.

Fear twisting my stomach, I pushed the door open-

And stopped dead.

“Zayn…” I whispered, voice cracking.

“Hello, Tori,” he said with an evil smile.

Adrian lay unconscious on the floor.

“What did you do to him?” I yelled.

“Tori…” Nina’s voice trembled behind me.

“Don’t come in!” I warned, but she stepped in anyway. I immediately shielded her behind me.

“How did you even know we were here?” I asked.

Zayn chuckled darkly. “Oh, I got the news from my men.”

I tried to run- but two men in black masks grabbed us from behind and pressed cloths over our noses.

Chloroform.

The world spun and I blacked out.

When I finally opened my eyes, everything hurt.

I was tied to a chair, chains digging into my wrists and ankles. A thick cloth gagged my mouth. I tried to move but couldn’t.

Nina was tied beside me, still unconscious.

“Where’s Adrian…?” I thought in panic.

The door creaked open.

Zayn walked in with two men. One of them dragged Adrian- bloody, beaten, barely conscious- chained just like us.

My heart shattered.

“Hey, little sister,” Zayn mocked.

I tried speaking, but the gag muffled my voice. Nina woke up when she heard Adrian being dragged in. The moment she saw his condition, she broke into sobs, struggling desperately against the chains.

Zayn smirked and crouched in front of me.

“How do you feel now?” he taunted. “Hurt? Surprised?”

He straightened. “I have a surprise for you, Tori.”

He leaned close, his whisper cold and venomous.

“Did you ever think I loved you as my blood sister? I only wanted your parents’ wealth.”

My blood ran cold.

He continued, still whispering directly in my ear:

“I killed Mom and Dad, Tori.”

My muffled scream tore from my throat.

“@ssh0le-!” was all that came out.

His hand struck my face before I could lift my head. The force knocked me and the chair to the ground.

Pain exploded across my cheek.

“I planned everything so no one would suspect me,” he laughed.

“I hated the way your dad treated me- like some charity case. And your mom… she was too soft. It made me sick.”

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

“And you?” He sneered. “Looking up to me like I was your hero? Disgusting.”

I thrashed against the ropes, filled with rage and heartbreak.

Zayn turned to Adrian.

“And now you think I’ll let you fall in love? That I’ll let little Tori fall for someone as cheap as this?”

He punched Adrian hard- again, and again.

“No!” I screamed through my gag.

Nina screamed with me as Zayn continued beating him, each blow echoing like thunder.

“I’ll make sure he dies, Tori,” Zayn hissed.

Then-

BANG.

A gunshot echoed through the room.

Everyone froze.

We turned to the doorway.

A woman stood there, young, fierce, with a visible baby bump. Beside her was an older man- her father, by the resemblance. Behind them, heavily armed officers filed in.

Zayn paled instantly.

“Iris…?” he whispered. “What are you doing here?”

The woman leveled her gun at him.

“Zayn, I’m here to get you arrested. For killing my sister and my mom.”

Zayn took a step back, trying to run-

BANG.

A bullet hit his leg. He collapsed, screaming.

“Iris, honey,” he cried out in desperation. “I can explain- please, I can explain everything-”