The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 200

The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback

She Doesn’t Want to Be Found.

The hospital was fifteen minutes away

Zane made it in eight.

He barely remembered the drive Only the pressure of the accelerator under his foot and the horns exploding around him- as he cut through traffic

His grip tightened on the steering wheel as the memory forced its way back.

They’d stopped at a pharmacy on the way home last night. Astra had complained about a headache, and he’d thought nothing of it when she disappeared inside and returned carrying a small paper bag.

Sometime after they got home, she’d gone downstairs for juice and brought him a glass.

Zane had drunk it.

And then he’d slept.

Not the restless sleep he’d gotten used to since her kidnapping, where the smallest movément dragged him awake. He hadn heard her leave the bed. Hadn’t heard her open the closet or pull out a suitcase. Hadn’t heard a fucking thing while she packed enough of her life to disappear.

His foot pressed harder against the accelerator.

She’d drugged him.

The realization should have made him angry. Instead, all he could think about was how badly she’d wanted to make sure he wouldn’t wake up.

A siren rose behind him. Blue and red flashed across the rearview mirror, but Zane barely spared the cruiser a glance before changing lanes and continuing toward the hospital.

They could arrest him when he got there.

He didn’t give a fuck.

By the time the hospital appeared ahead. his pulse was pounding hard enough to make his temples ache. He swung into the entrance, abandoned the SUV beneath the awning, and was halfway through the automatic doors before a security guard shouted after him.

“Sir’ You can’t leave your vehicle there.”

Zane kept moving.

People turned as he crossed the lobby. Someone called his name near reception, but he was already heading for the elevators. The doors opened and he was moving before they’d fully parted.

His father’s room sat halfway down the corridor. A nurse was coming out as he approached. He moved around her and shoved the door open.

Landon looked up from the hospital bed.

Whatever he saw on Zane’s face made him straighten.

“Where is she?”

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Landon’s eyes stayed on him. “Astra?”

“Where the fuck is she?”

“I don’t know.”

Zane crossed farther into the room. “Try again.”

“Lower your voice.”

“Don’t tell me to lower my fucking voice.” Zane stopped beside the bed. “She left this morning. Packed her clothes, left me letter, and disappeared. But before she did, she made damn sure I knew not to blame you.”

Landon’s composure slipped for barely a second, but Zane saw it.

“You know something.”

“I spoke to Astra. What she chose to do afterward was her decision.”

“What did you tell her?”

Landon’s silence stretched until Zane stepped closer.

“What did you tell her?”

“Nothing that wasn’t necessary.”

“Necessary for what?”

Landon didn’t answer.

Anger burned hotter through Zane. “She spent last night crying in my arms and wouldn’t tell me why. She wouldn’t even promise me she’d stay. Then I wake up this morning and she’s fucking gone, so don’t stand there and tell me whatever happened between you was none of my business.”

“Knowing what we discussed won’t change her decision.”

Zane searched his father’s face. Every answer only confirmed what he’d already begun to suspect.

“You know where she went.”

“I know enough.”

“Then tell me.”

“No.”

The refusal came without hesitation.

“She asked you not to follow her.” Landon continued. “You need to respect that.”

“Respect it?” Zane stepped closer. “I woke up to an empty bed and a fucking goodbye letter. I don’t even know where she is.”

“Because she doesn’t want you to.”

“Where is she, Dad?”

“I’m not telling you.”

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“WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE?”

“She’s out of the country, Zane!”

Zane stopped.

For a moment, the only sound he could hear was the monitor beside the bed.

Out of the country.

He’d been telling himself she couldn’t have gotten far. That there was still time to catch up with her, still some way to undo this before she disappeared completely.

She was already gone.

“Where?”

“I’ve told you more than I should have.”

“Where did she go?”

“I gave her my word.”

A disbelieving laugh escaped Zane. “You gave her your word?”

“Yes.”

“While she was planning to disappear from my fucking life?”

“This isn’t about you.”

That did it.

Zane seized the front of Landon’s hospital gown and hauled him forward.

Pain tightened his father’s face, one hand immediately moving toward the bandage at his side, but Zane was too furious to

care.

“Everything about her is about me.”

“Zane-”

“Tell me where she is.”

Landon caught his wrist. “No.”

Zane’s fist drove into his mouth.

The impact jolted through his knuckles as Landon’s head snapped sideways, blood breaking across his lower lip. Zane still had a fistful of his gown and yanked him back before he could recover.

“Tell me.”

Landon drew a strained breath and looked him straight in the eye.

“No.”

Zane hit him again.

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