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“All my life, Zane. All my life. You’ve always wanted what I have. You’ve always tried to take what’s mine. I’m sick of it.”
Zane says nothing. He could be passing the time on a sailboat on a lazy summer day and he’d look no different.
“I have proof, don’t bother denying it. You should know by now, Zane, you can’t use the bathroom without me knowing about it. I will always be watching you. I won’t let you take what’s mine or interfere with my life.”
Ryker grabs his briefcase, flips it open angrily, and pulls out a large envelope. He rips it open and removes large glossy eight-by-tens. He tosses them on the dining room table.
“I have eyes everywhere.”
Zane pushes away from the wall and studies the pictures on the table. I can’t see what they are, so I step into the room.
Both men notice me then. Ryker whirls around, his eyes fierce and glaring. “Mila. Good. You’re here. You need to hear this.”
That’s his greeting? Okay, then. The lines are drawn.
“What are you doing home?” I ask.
“I’m here to save you from yourself.”
He came all this way to save me? Seriously? “I don’t need saving.”
He sends me ashame on youlook. “You don’t even realize what you’ve gotten yourself into, do you?”
Zane’s eyes land on me. With my entrance, his expression has changed into a mask of concern and worry. He shakes his head slightly in the negative, like he’s telling me he doesn’t want me to be here. He’s protective of me, but I can handle Ryker, especially now that I see him for what he is.
Arthur whines in the corner, approaching Ryker on shaky legs.
“Shut up, Arthur. Back to your bed. Now!” Ryker roars.
Whoa. That was mean. My sweet Artie retreats silently to his bed and curls into a ball. Is this how Ryker always treats him? If so, his fear and shaking all make sense now.
At this point, my feelings toward Ryker are not anywhere near kind or caring. They’re on the opposite end of the spectrum. A four-letter word that begins with H.
Ryker grabs the pictures on the table and throws them at my feet. “Don’t bother denying a thing.”
I look down and see a picture of Zane brushing my hair while we sit in his Jeep. There’s another one of me and Zane walking through Chinatown, hand in hand. Yet another one shows us dancing—very close—in a Chinatown restaurant. One is of us sitting on the dock at Stow Lake, my head on his shoulder, his head resting on mine, the sun beginning to set in the background. Another one is of us escaping after my first symphony performance, holding hands as we run down the street, my roses dangling in one hand. We look so happy, so carefree. Of course, the photographer also caught the passionate kiss we shared as we stood in the dark storefront.
When it comes to the nature of my relationship with Zane, the pictures say it all. Am I supposed to feel guilty? Does he expect me to apologize, to act like I have been caught doing something horribly wrong?
Not going to happen.
Instead, I want to ask if I can have the pictures to frame for my wall. I don’t have any pictures of us, other than the occasional random selfie. Most are silly. I know that query won’t go over well. Yet, I’m so tempted.
I look up at Zane, suppressing my smile. I want to say,look at these great pictures of us. But, again, I notice that his calm exterior has turned to blatant worry upon my arrival. I wish I could reassure him that everything is fine, that we got this.
“I warned you, Mila. I told you Zane was bad news. I see you didn’t listen.”
Zane’s not saying anything, so I don’t either.
Ryker continues. “Did you know Zane is under investigation for embezzlement? I told you that you shouldn’t trust him and there’s a reason why. He has stolen from his own father’s business. Doesn’t that disturb you? It should.”
Zane stands there watching me, observing the emotions that wander over my face.
Wait. Is he anxious about this revelation? Surely not.
Ryker already told me about Debra’s false accusations against Zane. I never discussed it with Zane. I didn’t feel the need. “I don’t believe those accusations for even a hot second.”
“Really? You don’t care? You don’t care that you’re seeing a man who’s a criminal? A man who steals for a living?”
