The Five Seconds King

Chapter 008

NEAL

The cool morning air hit me in the face again as I emerged from the house. I walked down the driveway, shoes scuffing against the cracked pavement. My heart was pounding like a drum, but it wasn't from running or fear. No. It was anger. White-hot, choking anger.

I did not look back at the house. I didn't care to see her standing there while Jack came after me. My mind was done trying to make sense of her choices. It was done trying to forgive. I'd decided to just take a little walk before leaving, because I feared something bad would happen if I got into my car and drove in this state.

I walked to the roadside, where the traffic on the main street was already busy with commuters. Cars zipped by, engines were roaring and horns were honking every so often. I stood near the curbs and stared across the road, not really seeing anything.

My jaw was so tight and my hands were clenched again. She called me here to what? Rub it in my face? Ask me to cook for him? 

I felt sick. I'd done everything for her. I'd bled for our marriage. I couldn't remember the number of nights that I have sacrificed just to make her happy and this was what I got in return- betrayal and disrespect.

I was still breathing hard when I heard footsteps behind me. I did not need to turn around to know that that was Jack. His cologne hit my nose even before his voice did.

"Leaving already?" He asked in a casual tone, but I could hear the smugness buried under it.

I turned slightly, just enough to see him walking toward me. His hands were stuffed in his pockets like he was out for a Sunday stroll. I knew he was surely going to bring up his antics again. But I was ready for all of it.

"What do you want, Jack?" My voice was low and hard as I asked the question.

He chuckled and replied. "What do I want? I want what's already coming to me."

My stare turned into a glare, but I did not say a word. 

He continued, this time with a smirk. "Elisa, she's already halfway mine. You know that right?"

Something deep inside me snapped, but I did not move. I just watched the lousy idiot talk. 

"You think she's going to stay with some broke-down garage rat like you? She needs a real man. A real man who knows how to give her the life that she deserves. Look at yourself and tell me if you fall into that category."

I tilted my head slightly and allowed a cold, humorless laughter. "And you think you're the real man, Jack? You're just a coward who hides behind money and fake smiles. You couldn't even handle a single day of my life."

His smirk faltered for a second, then he stepped closer.

"You can talk all you want, buddy, but she kissed me. And I shoved my tongue down her throat. She wanted me. Hell, maybe she still does."

I didn't answer or let that get to me. I just smirked, a slow, cold curl of my lips that made his face tighten with irritation.

"You think you scare me?" I asked. "You're just noise to me. A kid playing rich-boy games with someone else's wife."

His jaw clenched and I could see the anger boiling behind those eyes. Then before I could react, he leaned in close and hissed. "I'll make Elisa my woman. No matter what it takes. I'll make her forget you ever existed."

That did it.

I stepped forward, close enough that we were almost nose to nose. "Try me," I growled. "Try and see how fast you regret it."

People were walking by on the sidewalk, some glancing at us, sensing the tension. I could feel their eyes, but I did not care.

Jack's smirk returned and this time it looked darker. "You really think you're tough?" he muttered. "You think everyone here sees you as some hero? Watch this."

I frowned, confused. "What the hell are you talking ab-"

Before I could blink, he shoved me. It wasn't a big shove. It was quick. Sneaky. But I was standing too close to the curb and I hadn't seen it coming. I wasn't ready.

The next thing I knew, I stumbled backwards, right into the street.

The blaring horn of a car hit my ears, and before I could jump back-

BLAM!

The car slammed into my side, flooring me instantly. The pain exploded through my ribs, knocking the air out of my lungs. My vision blurred, and I rolled hard onto the pavement, scraping my arms and legs. People screamed. Tires screeched as the car came to a stop.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. My ears were ringing. My body felt like it had been hit with a hammer. But when I saw him from the corner of my eyes, something else replaced the pain, burning through me.

Rage.

It wasn't just anger. This one was way deeper. Like every ounce of humiliation, betrayal, and fury inside me fused into a single fire that lit up my veins. I pushed myself up. My legs were shaking, but I did not care. My vision cleared, and I saw Jack standing there, looking stunned.

"You-" I snarled, pointing at him. The pain was lost somewhere at the back of my mind now.

He stepped back. "Wait. Neal-"

But I did not wait. I charged towards him, slamming into him so hard he stumbled back and hit the sidewalk. I grabbed his shirt and hauled him up, before slamming my fist into his jaw before he got any chance to speak.

"Are you fucking crazy?!!" I yelled as the adrenaline exploded through me. I felt like a different person altogether, but I didn't want that feeling to end.

"Stop! Wait!" He cried, but my fist met his cheek again.

People were shouting around us. A woman was screaming and a man had pulled out his phone, recording. But I did not care. I didn't see any of them. All I saw was Jack, and the burning urge to make him suffer.

I grabbed his collar and threw him against a nearby light pole. He yelped as he hit it hard.

"You touch my wife. You push me. You think you're some kind of man?" I yelled, slamming my balled fist into his stomach.

He wheezed, folding over, but I grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up again.

I wasn't done. I was going to make him pay for this. And I didn't care if I killed him.