Page 43 of The Quoram Effect

My right wrist throbbed at the thought. My aggressive punches reverberated through the ache as a statement to torture myself. I must’ve twinged it yesterday when chasing Chaz—while I was protecting Torz. A lump built in my throat. I’d protected him, only for him to run off and find MarlafuckingHyde.

I slammed my fist into the left pad, and Saul chuckled—his words from moments ago finally registering with me.

“I’m not in a good mood.”

“Clearly. Wanna talk about it?”

“No,” I growled, striking another punch that sent Saul’s huge, muscular body staggering back half a step.

“Are you sure about that?”

Dropping my fists, I breathed through my panting, shifting my focus to the blue and black gym floor. “Where’s Torz been sleeping?” Gods, I needed to know.

Saul’s pause had me lifting my eyes to his. The frown pulling on his brow left me uncomfortable, as if he could see straight through me. “The barracks.”

My taut neck and shoulder muscles instantly uncoiled. “W…what? Why?”

“After Russo kidnapped you, he wanted me to stay with you for protection. He chose to take my bed at the barracks. He wouldn’t let me sleep on the floor in the suite.”

Of course.Why hadn’t I thought that was an option? Saul had been my shadow for the past three days. I should’ve felt flattered, but my heart ached with melancholy, baffled by Torz’s persistent protectiveness over Marla.

“Why is Torz still instructing the team to follow Marla around? Zuli only demanded Torz protect her whilst on the Argentum, not Titus.”

Saul’s inquisitive furrow deepened. “Did Torz not tell you?”

Oh Gods.“Tell me what?”

He lowered his voice whilst analysing the busy gym surrounding us. “There have been death threats, specifically targeting Marla.”

I stared at him. “And?” I grimaced, aware of how callous and bitter I sounded. Did my envious hatred for her justify that?

“Zuli has upped the stakes.”

I held my breath, the tension sitting on my chest tightening with every beat of my heart.

“She’s told Torz he needs to keep Marla safe until the end of the Debate Gala,” Saul continued. “Maybe even longer. If he doesn’t, Zuli not only takes him down, but us, too. You, me, Arlo…the entire team. The whole Puran supply run will be obliterated.”

I gaped at him. A part of me always thought that was Zuli’s plan, but perhaps she’d only intended to degrade Torz and strip him of his dignity, strategically leaving the destruction of the whole operation as a backup.

“Zuli’s keeping him like a dog on a leash. She doesn’t trust him to stay onside with her.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, considering if Torz’s fondness for Marla was a front in order to protect us.

It must be.It has to be.

And suddenly, I felt like a piece of shit for thinking otherwise.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Despite my new revelation after talking with Saul, seeing Torz and Marla together still plagued me like an aggressive virus. As I followed them to the function room at seven that evening, heat swamped me with a feverish resentment. I couldn’t peel my eyes away from them. Marla’s hand kept brushing Torz’s biceps, and as they spoke closely with one another, her enchanting smiles and sweet titters twisted my stomach into barbed knots. I wanted to tear her manicured nails off those slender fingers and stick them in her eyes.

It seemed the untameable well of jealousy was overspilling with no outlet, which left me repeating an unsettling mantra in my head:Mine. Torz is mine!

It didn’t help that Marla draped herself in a figure-hugging, eloquent gold dress. While she flaunted her beautiful curves, I remained invisible, stuck in my black security uniform.

It concerned me how this woman, with her fucking claws inmyDamson, steered my attention away from the threat Russo posed. Though, the asshole lingered in the back of my mind like a dormant explosive. Would he be so gallant as to attack tonight? If he harmed Marla, what would that mean for Torz? For me?

With the mass of security personnel milling about the government floors, everyone was obviously on high alert. Perhaps they’d caught wind of Russo’s intentions. Or maybe the fake assassination attempts were still causing the desired effect.