Travis sighed. “I’ll check on you later.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Zachary waited until Travis left before stumbling into the bathroom, stripping, and standing under a hot stream of water until it started to get cold.
He slipped on some shorts and walked into the kitchen. Nothing looked good, and his stomach was burning from all the alcohol he’d consumed. He choked down some toast and juice before sitting on the sofa and staring out the window.
A heated rage washed over him, and he started throwing things. He heard several things breaking, but he didn’t care. The destruction of the room surprised him because he’d never lost control before in his life.
Then he went to the cabinet and grabbed another bottle. He took it into the bedroom, lay on the bed, and started drinking.
Only when he was drunk was he numb enough not to feel the burning pain of losing the best thing in his life.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Miss Anna, you have a visitor.”
“Who is it?” she asked over the intercom.
“A Mr. Travis.”
She sighed. “Send him in.”
A moment later, Travis came through the door.
Travis snorted. “Hell, you don’t look any better than he does.”
“What do you need?” she asked.
“I need you to listen to this.” Travis set his phone on the desk in front of her and pushedplay. It was a conversation he’d had with Zachary. He taped it, hoping it would get through to her.
When it was done, she sat back and wiped her tears. “What do you want me to do?”
“Give him a chance. You both love each other so much. Isn’t that worth another chance?”
“I’m afraid.”
“I know, and I can’t guarantee it’s all going to be okay. What I know is that Zachary went days in constant danger, going without sleeping or eating to get those men who were a threat to you off the street. Now, he’s killing himself with booze. I look at you, and I can see that you’re not sleeping or eating.”
She closed her eyes.
“Honey, I’ve known Zachary for a long time. I never thought I’d see him broken like he is now.”
The thought of him hurting made her want to cry even harder. She didn’t want to do that to him. Zachary had her heart, and she wasn’t going to get it back any time soon, if ever.
She stood. “I’ll try.”
Travis exhaled. “Thank you. I think the two of you are good for each other, and I know he loves you and will never get over you. I’m convinced that one woman in our lives affects us that deeply, and we only get one chance to find her.”
They stepped out of the office. “Jessup, I’ll be gone. I’m not sure how long.”
“We’ll be here, miss. Call if you need us.”
“I will. Thank you.”
Travis led her out to the car and helped her in. The man was right. She knew she would never get over Zachary, and she was slowly wasting away. While she was trying not to get her hopes up, the sound of Zachary’s voice tore at her. His pain was the same as hers, and she was the cause of it this time.
They got to the building and rode up to the condo Zachary was staying at. Travis cursed, and she gasped when the door slid open and she saw the destruction of the room.