Page 145 of Ruthless Intent

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because contrary to what everyone seems to think, I’m not the twenty-year-old kid who was imprisoned for murder. I’m thirty-four years old, and I’m more than capable of making decisions for myself.” My voice is just as aggressive as my father’s.

“Do those decisions include marrying a woman you’ve only known for twenty-four hours?”

Ashley makes a sound from behind me, and I turn my head to seek her out.

“My reasons for marrying Ashley are my own, and none of your business.”

CHAPTER EIGHTY

ASHLEY

Everyone looks at me—Zain, his mom, his dad, and Marissa.

Why are they looking at me? What does he want me to say?

My mind blanks. I blink. The silence stretches.

I’m going to tell them. I’m going to tell them he’s blackmailing me. I’m not keeping quiet any longer. This is the only opportunity I’ll have. They’re already angry with him. They’re questioning his behavior. They’ll believe me.

But what about last night? Didn’t that change things?

I open my mouth to speak, and someone’s ringtone shatters the silence, and the moment is broken.

Zain lifts his cell to his ear.

“Hello?” He frowns. “When? … Okay, yeah. I’ll check. Give me an hour.” He ends the call and pockets his cell. “We have to go.”

Before anyone can say a word, he walks over to me, grabs my hand, and pulls me out of the door.

“Wait!”

“Not a chance.” He throws open the passenger door to his car. “Get in.”

“No. Who called you?”

“Did you really think I couldn’t guess what you were about to do? You’re lucky my phone rang. Get in the car.”

“Where are we going?”

“I already told you that.”

I get into the car, and wait for him to join me.

“If you know I didn’t accuse you out of spite, and you know someone has been arrested, why are you still treating me like this?”

He doesn’t answer, focusing instead on starting the car and driving away from the house.

“Zain, answer me. You’ve admitted, more than once, that you know it wasn’t my fault. So why?”

“Put your seatbelt on.”

“Answer me!”

A muscle pops in his jaw, but he still doesn’t answer my question.

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