Time Fractured Under Weightless Truths by Kael Drift 4

The phone rang as Adrian Cole stepped out of the mansion gates for what he knew might be the last time.

 

“Sir.” Marcus ’s voice was controlled, and professional as always. “The SunCore Publishing transfer is nearly complete. Once Mrs.Cole rings the bell tomorrow, everything will be finalized. I can have the documents couriered to you by tomorrow evening…it will be a perfect celebration gift.”

 

Adrian Cole stopped walking. The morning sun felt too bright,and too indifferent to the wreckage of his life.

 

“That won’t be necessary,” he said quietly.

 

“Sir?”

 

“Victoria asked for a divorce this morning. In three days, I’ll move everything I own.” He paused, staring at the perfectly manicured hedges lining the driveway. “Handle the share transfer yourself. Do whatever you think is appropriate. Right now, I just need… some time alone.”

 

There was a beat of silence.

 

“Understood, sir.” Marcus ’s voice carried barely concealed relief. “If I may say so… I’m glad you’re finally free of that burden.”

 

Adrian Cole ended the call without responding.

 

He had nowhere to go. No home that felt like home. So he went to the only place that had ever offered him unconditional acceptance.

 

………-

 

The cemetery was quiet this time of morning. Dew still clung to the grass, and the air smelled of earth and jasmine from the flowering trees scattered between the graves.

 

Adrian Cole knelt before his mother’s tombstone, a simple granite with her name and dates carved in elegant script. He’d chosen this spot himself five years ago, under a magnolia tree she would have loved.

 

“I’m sorry, Mama,” he whispered, tracing her name with his fingers. “You always told me to choose someone who valued me, and I… I thought I did. I thought if I loved her enough, supported her enough, she’d see…” His voice cracked. “I failed you. I became exactly what you warned me not to…someone who lost himself trying to be worthy of someone else’s love.”

 

The wind rustled through the magnolia leaves, and for a moment, he could almost hear her voice saying: I love you.

 

He stayed there a long moment, eyes closed, letting the silence comfort him.

 

Then a scream shattered the cemetery’s peace.

 

“Help! Someone, please!”

 

Behind the building, three burly men had cornered a young woman against the stone wall. Their eyes gleamed with ugly intent, the kind that made Adrian Cole’s stomach turn. One held a switchblade that caught the morning light; another was already reaching for her torn collar.

 

The woman was pressed against the wall, her eyes were wide with terror, fighting despite the obvious effects of whatever they’d forced into her system. Her clothes were disheveled, her lipstick smeared,and tears ran down her face.

 

She was beautiful in a way that seemed almost fragile…she had delicate features, dark eyes that held both intelligence and raw fear. Her dark hair was partially undone, falling in waves down her back. Under different circumstances, Adrian Cole might have noticed the elegance in her bearing.

 

“Even if you scream your lungs out, sweetheart,” the man with the blade sneered, leaning in close enough that she flinched, “no one’s coming. This place is empty. So why don’t you be obedient and make this easy? You’ll suffer less.”

 

Adrian Cole stepped into view.

 

“Stop.” Adrian Cole’s voice came out raw, and dangerous. They turned and laughed when they saw his slim build, expensive coat,and no bodyguards. He was an easy target.

 

The leader waved the knife at him. “Walk away, pretty boy. Or we cut you open after we’re done with her.”

 

Adrian Cole looked at them.

 

The laughter died. Something in his eyes made the leader take half a step back. The other two froze.

 

Adrian Cole didn’t speak again. He just moved.

 

The leader recovered first, sneering. “I said walk away or we will carve you up, you can’t take on all three of us.”

 

Adrian Cole didn’t answer. He simply took one more step forward, and the temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.

 

He smiled.

 

It wasn’t a kind smile.

 

“You’re welcome to try.”

 

The leader lunged at him first, his blade arcing toward Adrian Cole’s ribs. Adrian Cole moved.

 

His foot snapped up, connecting with the man’s wrist. Bone cracked; the blade spun away, clattering against a tombstone. Before the man could scream, Adrian Cole seized the extended arm, and hurled him head-first into his two companions.

 

They crashed to the ground in a heap.

 

“What the…”

 

Adrian Cole was already on them. A knee to the second man’s throat dropped him choking. An elbow to the third’s temple sent him sprawling, dazed. The leader tried to scramble up; Adrian Cole’s heel came down on his wrist with a wet crunch.

 

“Leave,” Adrian Cole said, in a quiet, almost conversational voice. “Before I stop being merciful.”

 

They ran, stumbling over each other, cursing through bloodied lips as they disappeared between the graves.

 

Adrian Cole turned to the stranger.

 

She had slid down the wall, shaking violently, with her arms wrapped around herself. Up close, the signs were unmistakable… her pupils were dilated and she seemed to be burning with unnatural fever, her skin was flushed crimson, the puncture mark on her neck was fresh, and bleeding slightly.

 

They drugged her.

 

Hot fury warred in his chest.

 

“Thank you,” she rasped, not looking at him. Her eyes were unfocused, and glassy. “They… injected me with something. I can’t… it burns…”

 

Her hand went to her neck, and fresh panic flared across her face.

 

It was a powerful aphrodisiac rampant in the underground black market. If the victim didn’t sleep with a man within twelve hours, their body would rupture and they’d die.

 

“Damn it.” Adrian’s face darkened instantly.

 

She tried to stand up and her legs gave out entirely.

 

Adrian Cole caught her as she collapsed forward, her body was scorching against his chest, breath coming in shallow, desperate gasps. She clutched at his shirt with what little strength she had left.

 

“Please,” she whispered against his neck, and he felt tears soaking into his collar. “Help me… I’m begging you…”

 

The tremor running through her body, the way she shifted involuntarily as another wave hit her.

 

Adrian Cole lifted her into his arms. She clung to him, trembling, face pressed to his neck.

 

“I’ve got you,” he said quietly.