Page 25 of Deadly Secrets

“Sorry, Ander. She didn’t mean to say that. Right, Maggie?” If looks could kill, Maggie would already be dead. I knew she was trying to protect me, but I didn’t need anyone to fight my battles.

“I take no offense, Maggie, but since you’re Sienna’s guard dog, here’s a piece of advice. Don’t get too attached; she’ll dump you at the first opportunity. And the same goes for you, Noah. You can enjoy that little pussy of hers as much as you want, but when she gets tired of you, she’ll move on and leave you behind.”

SMACK

I slapped Ander across the face. How could someone who had been such an important part of my childhood disrespect me like that? Ander’s words hit me like a train out of control. Stabbing me in the heart would have hurt less. Fuck him.

Noah stepped in front of me, facing Ander, and slightly pushed him on the chest with one hand. “What is your fucking problem?”

Suddenly, another guy walked up between them, placing a hand on their chests. “Hey, what the fuck, guys!? I leave you alone for one hour, and you start fighting each other. Did I miss something?”

“Ander thought it was okay to disrespect my girl to my fucking face,” Noah replied.

The guy turned his face toward where I stood, just behind Noah, and when I saw him, I choked. My soul left my body, and I couldn’t move.

Zayn.

How is this possible?

When he recognized me, a line appeared between his brows. “What are you doing here?” His hands dropped to the sides of his body.

“Do you know her?” Noah questioned, utterly shocked.

“We met roughly a month ago in a bar in Tribeca,” I responded.

“Of course he knows her,” Ander huffed, rolling his eyes. “She is THE girl he fucked in the restroom.”

My face turned red with embarrassment.

“Fuck you, Ander,” Zayn snapped.

“Well, I guess you got a secondhand present for your birthday.”

Oh God.

In the blink of an eye, Noah reared back his arm and delivered a solid punch straight to Ander’s face, catching him off guard. Ander stumbled backward and ended up sprawled on the floor. Ander’s hand shot up to his nose, his fingers probing cautiously as he winced. He pulled them away, half expecting to see blood.

“What the fuck, Noah? It was a joke.”

Zayn immediately held Noah back, who didn’t want to stop the fight. But as I said, I didn’t like anyone fighting my battles. I walked over to where Ander stood, brushing his pants off.

“Listen to me, you fucking piece of shit. I don’t know what your fucking problem is, but I’m sick of your insults. Yes, we were friends long ago, but you’re a completely different person from the Ander I loved. Stay away from me and leave me the fuck alone!” I screamed, pointing a finger at him.

As soon as I said those words, I turned around and ran toward the exit. I couldn’t stay there any longer, and tears started streaming down my cheeks the moment I reached the VIP stairs. I only wanted to get home, curl in my bed, and cry my eyes out. I hated crying in public, but Ander’s words got under my skin. No one had ever made me feel so dirty.

Before I could get to the reception, Noah sprinted past me and stopped in front of me.

“Hey, are you OK?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, my gaze fixed on the floor.

Noah gently lifted my chin, urging me to meet his gaze.

“Look at me, gorgeous,” he said. “He’s not worth your tears.”

My lips trembled, tears flowing from my eyes. Noah grabbed me and pulled me close to his chest, and I just fell apart. He didn’t say anything. He just held me tight, stroking my hair gently with one hand while he wrapped the other around me.

“I’m making a mess of your shirt with my makeup and my stupid tears,” I murmured between sobs.

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