Page 119 of Ruthless Intent

I shrug, prop my shoulder against the doorframe, and shove my hands into my pockets. “What’s the point? We’re not kids, so there’s little point in pretending we’re not doing adult things.” I summon up a smirk. “It’s been a while, so …”

Mom shakes her head. “Zain, you’re my son, and I love you. I’m grateful to have you back home with us, but there are still some things I don’t want to know about.”

“We’re all adults here.”

“Would you like me to tell you all about what we do in the bedroom?”

“Fuck, no.” It feels almost normal bantering with her.

“Good, because things could get awkward very fast.” My dad drops his arms and moves away. “Zain, come and help me lay the table. We’re eating in the dining room.”

“Isn’t that a bit formal for just the four of us?”

“Sondra is joining us. Marissa was going to, but I don’t think she will now.”

“Did you tell her Ashley is here?” I direct the question at my mom.

“Of course I did. I wasn’t going to let her walk in and find her here.”

“Why is Sondra coming?”

“She always comes over for dinner on Tuesday. She finishes work at the gym and comes straight here.”

“She works in a gym?”

“No, darling. She owns a gym. She’s a personal trainer, and opened the gym in town about two years ago.”

Anticipation licks its way along my veins. Having Sondra at the dinner table is going to make for an interesting evening.

I can’t wait to see how Ashley is going to deal with that.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

ASHLEY

I take my time in the shower. It feels like forever since I’ve been able to wash, even though it’s only been one day, and I relish the heat of the water as it flows over my skin. As promised, there are toiletries beside the sink, and I select the one that smells the least like Zain. It’s still a man’s body wash, but it isn’t the one he uses.

Once my fingertips start to wrinkle, I shut off the water and step out. I can’t stay up here forever. He’ll come looking for me, and I don’t trust that he won’t drag me down the stairs to have dinner naked if I’m not ready in time, and claim it’s to teach me a lesson.

I’m determined not to give him any more ammunition to help him make people believe I am crazy. Even if I am starting to feel that way.

I’m dressed, and pulling my hair into a braid by the time I hear footsteps in the hallway beyond the door. I wait for it to open, but they go past and disappear.

Maybe it isn’t Zain, after all. Maybe he really does expect me to go downstairs without forcing him to come to get me. Taking a deep breath, I wrap my fingers around the handle and pull the door open. The hallway beyond is empty.

I’m at the top of the stairs when I hear a familiar voice speak behind me, and my heart sinks.

“Heather told me you were here. She asked if I’d mind canceling, but I had to see this for myself. How the hell did you manage to convince Zain to even give you five minutes of his time?”

I turn slowly, and face the immaculately dressed blonde woman.

“It’s nice to see you again, Sondra.” My voice displays none of the anxiety that’s threatening to escape. This woman made my life at school after Zain’s incarceration a living nightmare, and is one of the many reasons I left town as soon as I could.

“Nice isn’t the word I’d use. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but sniffing around Zain when he’s just got out of prison and hasn’t had a chance to settle is low, even for you.”

“Zain invited me, not the other way around.”

“And you just happened to come back to town in time to cross paths with him. Haven’t you ruined enough of his life?”

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