Page 124 of Offside Angel

The principal’s office is dark. She pulled the blinds once we were inside so no one from the pickup line could look in and see us. The last thing I need is the moms chatting about our drama at their next Whine Night.

Aiden is playing on a school tablet in the corner while Evan talks with the security team, reviewing footage.

Everyone else has a job. But I’m just numb.

Until I hear Zane’s voice in the hallway.

“Where is my family?” His voice is a deep rumble. I expect the ground to open up and swallow us all.

“Mr. Whitaker.” The receptionist sounds terrified. I don’t blame her. “Your wife is?—”

“Here.” I don’t remember standing up and moving across the room, but I’m in the doorway now. My legs shake, and I have to lean against the frame to stay standing.

Zane is almost glowing. I swear there’s a dark aura around him. Some avenging angel here to save the day.

But his fury softens when he sees me. “Mira.”

He crosses the room and folds me in his arms. I have no idea how many people are watching us, but I’m too far gone to care.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp against his chest. “I’m so—This is my fault. I’m sorry.”

It hits me all at once. How close Dante got. How any number of tiny things could have gone differently so my brother could have left with Aiden. With my son.

My stomach twists and my chest aches. It feels like I’m being wrung through a pasta maker.

Zane’s chest hitches to say something, but Aiden’s giggle interrupts him.

He still hasn’t seen his dad yet. Aiden is sitting in the corner of the office with headphones on. He has no clue how much danger he was in. He has no idea that he has become the center of my world—and how, because of that, he’s never been in more danger.

I hope he never has to find out.

Zane takes my hand and leads me back into the receptionist’s office. He tosses a half-formed question her way and she points us to a dark room on the other side of the office. “Counseling Space” is on a plaque next to the door.

Zane doesn’t bother turning on the light as he closes the door behind us and pulls me against his chest. His hand cradles the back of my head. His lips are soft against my ear.

“None of this is your fault, Mira. None of it.”

I want to believe him so badly, but I shake my head. “Dante wants to hurt me. He went after Aiden because I love him. He did this because I’ve been hiding from him.”

Zane pulls back, his strong hands bracketing my cheeks. His eyes are as bright as the sky outside. I want to lie down and get lost in them.

“Dante did this because he’s fucked in the head,” Zane spits in disgust. “Nothing he has done or will do is any reflection on you, Mira. Do you hear me?” I try to look down at the greige carpet, but Zane grips my chin and forces me to look at him. “Do you hear me?”

“I hear you.” My voice wavers. His face blurs as tears fill my eyes. “… but I don’t believe you.”

His jaw ticks, and I don’t realize we’re moving until my back is against the wall. He pins me in place and looks at me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.

“I love you,” he growls. “Do you believe that?”

There’s not a single doubt in my mind. “Yes.”

“I will do anything—fucking anything—to keep you safe. Do you believe that?”

Again: “Yes.”

“I would never put Aiden at risk. Do you believe that?”

“Of course I do.” I hold his hand. “We’d both do anything to protect him.”

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