Page 59 of Left in the Dark

There’s too much bad history between us. He abandoned me when I needed him the most. That cut so deep that it left permanent scars that will never heal. And I betrayed him, even though I didn’t want to.

“Come on. Let’s go eat and talk.” I turn around and head through my bedroom, not wanting to think about the past.

Her voice causes me to pause. “Not everything is as it seems, Delaney. There are a lot of misunderstandings between you and Zayne.”

I whirl around, anger bubbling inside my veins. “Dad came to Zayne’s father’s bar and assaulted me. I stumbled inside and saw Zayne dancing and kissing some skank.” My breath rasps from my lungs as the anger consumes me. “I’ll never forgive him for that, Mom.”

Then I hurry down the stairs, pushing thoughts of him from my mind.

Some things are better left in the past.

Zayne Morine is one of them.

CHAPTER 38

Zayne

I’m on edge as I drive through Devil’s Den in my shiny new extended cab truck. Although it’s an hour away from Green Haven, it’s close enough that the past is haunting me. I blow out a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

Jaxson sits in the passenger seat, droning on about needing to hire someone with experience hacking and using the dark web. I focus on that, desperately needing a distraction. “Didn’t Ryker recommend someone?” I search my memory, finally coming up with the name. “Stryker.”

“Yes, but we need to meet him. While I trust Ryker, I want to ensure Stryker is the right man for the job.”

I give him a shit-eating grin. “Translation: you’re a control freak who needs to vet and get to know everyone who works for us.”

“I’m not a control freak,” he snaps, looking at his phone. “I’m going back through Ryker’s texts now. Maybe we can set up a meeting with Stryker. I’ll see if Ryker can arrange it.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, you’re not a control freak. Not at all.” Sarcasm punctuates each word that comes from my mouth.

My knuckles are white as they grip the steering wheel. Small towns remind me too much of the one I left behind.

“Do you ever visit your brother and father’s graves?” Jaxson glances at me before returning his attention to his phone.

“Nice attempt at casual.” I release a long sigh. “I haven’t, but I intend to while we’re here. Green Haven is only an hour away. I’ll go at night, so dickhead and his minions don’t know I’m there.”

“You’ve built up quite a file on your enemies.” He looks out the window before he adds, “And Delaney.”

My spine goes rigid as I slowly turn my attention from the road to him. Scowling at him, my voice trembles with barely restrained fury as I bite out the words. “You know my motto about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. It’s a timeless phrase for a reason.”

“All of them are your enemies, except one.”

My nostrils flare as I bark, “She’s my biggest enemy. Her betrayal led to my father serving jail time.”

Jaxson raises his eyebrows. “Where’s your proof of that?”

“In my gut.”

He shakes his head. “Not good enough, and you damn well know it. You have proof of everyone else’s transgressions but nothing on her. Don’t think I don’t know the way you stalk her. You know everything about her except her motives for never being involved in a serious relationship. Or what happened the night she ran out of town.”

A vile smile curls my lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll discover those answers.”

“How? And you better not say you’re going to kidnap her.”

“Fine. I won’t say it.”

“Zayne.”

“You’re the one who can’t handle it. I know what I’m doing. I’ve been preparing for this moment since I was nineteen. Fifteen fucking years, Jaxson.”

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