Chapter 149
“That’s not what Lucas p>
“I don’t care what Lucas said,” Zane snaps.
The room goes quiet again and he runs a hand through his hair, pacing once across the office before turning back to me.
“You think I imagined that?” he continues. “You think I hallucinated the part where my best friend had his hands all over my sister p>
“I’m not saying that p>
“Because that’s exactly what happened p>
His voice drops lower now… it sounds angrier now.
“He knew exactly what he was doing p>
“He said they were together p>
Zane lets out a sharp breath.
“Yes. That’s what men say when they get caught p>
“That’s unfair p>
“What’s unfair,” he says, stepping closer, “is Lucas expecting me to be calm about it p>
“I don’t think he expected you to be calm p>
“Oh really p>
“You two used to fight all the time,” I remind him. “He said he didn’t want things to get physical in front of her p>
Zane’s mouth curls slightly.
“That’s convenient p>
“You don’t believe him p>
“No p>
The answer comes instantly, with no hesitation.
I cross my arms.
“Why not p>
“Because I know Lucas p>
“And p>
“And Lucas never hid any of his relationships p>
I blink.
“What does that mean p>
“If he loved her,” Zane says bluntly, “he would’ve come to me like a man and said so p>
“Maybe he was scared p>
“Lucas?” Zane almost scoffs again. “Scared of me p>
“You were her brother p>
“Yes p>
“And very protective I hear p>
“Yes p>
“And known for punching people when you’re angry p>
Zane’s jaw tightens.
“That’s beside the point p>
“It’s exactly the point p>
The tension between us stretches tight like a rope about to snap.
“He said she was the one who wanted to keep it secret,” I add.
“Of course she did p>
“Because she thought you’d react badly p>
Zane stares at me.
“Did she know him p>
“What p>
“Did my sister know Lucas the way I did?” he asks sharply. “Did she grow up fighting him in backyards and schoolyards? Did she watch him break noses and laugh about it afterward p>
I hesitate.
“No, probably not p>
“Exactly p>
He gestures once with his hand.
“She didn’t understand the dynamic between us p>
“And you did p>
“Yes p>
“Then why didn’t you believe him p>
“Because I walked in on him balls deep insode her,” Zane says bluntly again.
My face burns again.
“Zane p>
“And somehow,” he continues, “Lucas expected me to stand there and be chill about it.
“I don’t think p>
“My best friend,” he says, his voice hard now, “screwing my only sister behind my fucking back p>
Silence fills the room and I swallow.
“He said he loved her p>
Zane looks at me again for a long moment.
Then he says quietly,
“Maybe he convinced himself he did p>
“And you?” I ask softly.
His eyes darken.
“What about me p>
“Did she love him p>
For the first time since I walked into the office p>
Zane doesn’t answer my question, well not right away.
I watch him closely, waiting for something…anything…that might give me a glimpse of what he’s thinking. But his face has that same closed-off look again. The one that makes him seem carved out of stone instead of flesh and bone. Finally, he exhales and walks past me toward the window.
The city stretches out behind the glass, endless rows of buildings and traffic moving like tiny threads of light below.
For a moment, he just stands there with his back to me.
Then he says flatly,
“I don’t care p>
I blink.
“You don’t… care p>
“No p>
I stare at him, trying to understand if he’s serious or if he’s just saying that to avoid the conversation.
“Why p>
The question leaves my mouth before I can stop it.
Zane slowly turns around to face me again.
“Because,” he says calmly, “I already got what I wanted p>
My brows knit together.
“What does that eveb mean p>
He tilts his head slightly, studying my face.
“You p>
For a second, the word doesn’t even register.
“What p>
“I got you p>
My stomach turns in confusion.
“I don’t understand.
His mouth curves into a slow, sharp smile.
“You’re his sister p>
My chest tightens.
“So p>
“So,” Zane continues, his voice dropping slightly, “I married you p>
The way he says it makes something uneasy crawl through my chest.
“Yes… you married me,” I say cautiously.
“And I’ve fucked you p>
The bluntness of the sentence hits me like a slap in the face.
The air leaves my lungs and Zane doesn’t look even slightly ashamed.
If anything, he looks amused.
“So the next time you see Lucas,” he continues casually, “you should ask him something for me p>
My pulse starts hammering.
“What p>
His eyes lock onto mine.
“Ask him how it feels knowing his best friend well,” he corrects himself lightly, “his ex best friend now p>
The smile on his mouth widens just a little.
The sound of my hand hitting his face echoes through the office.
I don’t even remember deciding to do it,
Kne second I’m standing there staring at him.
The next My palm cracks across his cheek, the impact stinging my hand.
Zane’s head turns slightly from the force and thr room goes completely silent.
For a moment, he doesn’t move. Then slowly… very slowly… he turns his head back toward me And he’s smiling, actually smiling.
He lifts a hand and rubs his jaw thoughtfully where I slapped him.
“That all you got p>
The smirk in his voice makes something inside me snap again.
“You’re fucking disgusting p>
I raise my hand again to his cheek without thinking, but this time, before my palm can connect with his face his hand catches my wrist.
My second hand swings toward him too he catches that one as well and both of my wrists are trapped in one of his hands, held above my waist.
His grip isn’t painful, but it’s completely unbreakable. My heart pounds in my chest as I struggle instinctively.
“Let go p>
Zane doesn’t move and he doesn’t loosen his grip too, Instead he looks down at me with that same infuriatin smirk.