Page 67 of Ruthless Regret

I hate that I’m drawn to him.

I hate that I slept with him.

I hate that I can’t stop thinking about how he made me feel.

About the way he touched me like he owned me, and how I let him.

Pushing those thoughts away, I think about what I’m going to do. If I’m going back to Whitstone, it has to be on my terms.

I laugh.If. Was there ever a moment when I wasn’t going to go back?

But now that I am, I’m not going to let Zain believe he has control over me. I’ll make it clear from the start. I’m there for answers. And that’s all.

I’ll need to set boundaries. Rules that make it clear to him that I won’t tolerate the way he treated me before.

Except, some odd little voice whispers that Zain is going to push those limits every chance he gets.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

ZAIN

I’moutside her house at eight on the nose. Ashley doesn’t say a word when she opens the door at my knock. She simply steps aside and lets me in. I walk past her, and the door clicks softly behind me. I’m half-expecting her to be surrounded by her friends, and the asshole ex-boyfriend, but she’s alone.

I don’t speak. She doesn’t either. The air between us is charged, almost electric. We’re both waiting,watching, like we’re circling something dangerous and neither of us are willing to make the first move. But my patience was developed inside a prison cell. I can outwait her.

Eventually, she breaks the silence. “I’ll go back to Whitstone.” Her voice is calm, but there’s a tightness to it.

I don’t react. I’m pretty sure she’s not done.

“But I’m staying at my mom’s.”

“No.”

Her eyes narrow. “What do you mean,no?”

“You’re staying with me.” I keep my tone level, my eyes holding hers.

“Like hell.”

“We’re married, Ashley. Not staying with me will raise questions.” I keep my voice calm.

She doesn’t. “Idon’tcare! It’s not a real marriage.”

“I do. And the marriage certificate you signed says otherwise.” I’m being an asshole. I’m aware of that. But having her stay anywhere other than with me isn’t an option.

“I’m not staying there. I’m not going back to the place where someone threatened me with a knife.”

“It’s the safest place.”

“Safe?I was attacked, Zain.Attacked! I’m not going to feel safe there.”

“It’s not about how you feel. It’s about the best way to get to the truth.”

Her fingers curl into her palms. “I’mnotstaying in that house.” She says the words through clenched teeth.

I take a step closer to her. “I’m not pretending nothing happened, Ashley. But you know it’s the most logical thing to do. We need to stick together. If someone is watching us, seeing us together will have more impact than us living in different parts of town.”

She glares at me, and the silence stretches out, thick, heavy. The pulse in her throat picks up speed, and her lashes lower, veiling her gaze.

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