The Heart System

Chapter 734: Chapter 734

At first glance, they could’ve passed for twins.

Both had dyed pink hair with dark black roots showing where the color had grown out. They dressed almost the same too, wearing ripped jeans, heavy boots, and worn leather jackets covered with patches and metal pins.

The one on the left looked calmer. Her posture was relaxed, her expression unreadable, and her eyes quietly studied me instead of sizing me up for a fight.

The woman beside her was the complete opposite.

Her eyes were wide with restless energy, a crooked grin tugged at the corner of her mouth, and there was something unpredictable about the way she carried herself. She looked like the kind of person who’d laugh during a fistfight.

”What is all this?” the calmer woman asked as she looked around the yard.

I gave her a polite nod.

”Hi. I’m here to see Mel... if you’ll let me.”

”Mel?” the other woman repeated.

The two of them began walking toward the fence.

Shit... who were they?

They stopped only inches away from me, standing on the opposite side.

For several long seconds, neither of us said a word as we simply stared at one another, each waiting to see who would speak first.

I looked at the calmer woman. ”Why did you kidnap Mel? More importantly... is she okay?”

She held my gaze for a moment before answering. ”You want to see her?”

I nodded. ”I do. Of course.”

”Then bring us what we want.”

”You want Tuck’s head, ma’am.”

The woman beside her let out a laugh.

”Ma’am?” she teased. ”Are you that scared? You gonna piss yourself, big boy?”

The calmer woman sighed.

”We want an apology. If we don’t get that...” She shrugged. ”Then yes. His head.”

”An apology?”

The broad-shouldered man nodded. For some reason, his face suddenly clicked. King. I hadn’t recognized him at first. He’d been a lot younger the last time I’d seen him, but now that I looked closer, there was no mistaking him.

”We want an apology for what he did to Murad,” King said.

”Murad?” I frowned. ”Who’s Murad?”

”Ask Tuck,” the calmer woman replied. ”He’ll tell you.”

She folded her arms.

”Until then, Mel stays here.”

I let out a quiet breath. ”Okay... but could I at least see her? Please.”

She studied me for a couple of seconds before giving a small nod.

”You can.” She turned toward her sister. ”Search him.”

The woman with the wild eyes grinned.

”Gladly.”

I opened the gate and stepped into the yard.

Before I could say anything, she started patting me down.

She wasn’t gentle about it.

Her hands checked my pocket, my waistband, my legs, and even my ankles with enough force to shove me around a little. Once she was satisfied, she gave my shoulder a hard slap that nearly made me stumble.

”Came here with nothing but guts,” she said with an amused grin.

The calmer woman ignored her.

”Follow me.”

I did.

We entered the house, and she led me through a modest living room connected directly to a small kitchen. The furniture was old but well maintained. A worn couch faced a television that looked at least a decade old, while family photos covered one of the walls. The kitchen wasn’t much bigger, with a small dining table squeezed into the corner beside aging cabinets and a refrigerator covered in magnets and handwritten notes.

Nothing about the place screamed criminal hideout. It looked like an ordinary family home.

A narrow hallway stretched ahead of us. We walked down it until she stopped beside the second door on the left.

She unlocked it and slowly pushed it open... then I looked inside.

Mel sat beneath the window with her knees pulled tightly against her chest and both arms wrapped around her legs. She looked exhausted. Her long brown hair was messy, her eyes were puffy from crying, and the oversized hoodie she wore made her look even smaller than she already was. She couldn’t have weighed much more than a feather.

The moment she looked up and saw me, her entire expression changed.

”Uncle Evan!”

She jumped to her feet, relief washing over her face.

Before I could even answer, the calmer woman gently pulled the door shut again.

”That’s enough.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but stopped myself.

Instead, I took a small step back and raised both hands.

”Okay. Fine.”

”Out.” The crazy one said. ”Now.”

Without another word, I turned around and followed the two women back down the hallway toward the front of the house.

An apology for what? Who was Murad, and why didn’t Tuck just apologize but opted to just fucking accepting fucking death? I swear, this guy and his pride. A simple apology would’ve solved the whole issue, but no. He had to be the big bad wolf. No apology for our Tuck. What a fucking dumbass.

”Five hours,” the calmer one said. ”Tuck comes and apologizes, or we’ll find him and...”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but I didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to understand what she meant. An apology, huh? I could make him do that.

I nodded. ”I got it. Okay... one last thing.”

”What?” The calmer one said. ”What do you want this time?”

”Can we... not make it today? Like... give me a week, please. That’s what I’m asking. Just a week to... to convince Tuck.”

”Fuck no we’re not gonn...”

”Sure.” The calmer woman cut in. ”Five days. Now... please. Go before I change my mind, alright?”

Phew.

Guess I wasn’t going to use Time Stop. It was a hazy decision anyway. What would I even say to Mel after I saved her? She’d blink and suddenly find herself outside the house with me. ’Hey, I have Time Stop powers and saved you. I’m just that quirky.’

Nah.

I left the garden and stepped onto the street.

”Tuck... you fucking idiot.”

I swear. One problem after another, and another, and another...

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