Page 49 of Cruel Hearts

“Yeah,” I say, plastering a grin onto my face. “Let’s go.”

I think now it’s time I don’t.

I don’t have an appetite, but I sit through dinner, Nathalie’s hand resting on my thigh. There are shadows under her eyes, and a large, dark bruise marks her arm. She tried to hide it, but she brushed against me and some of the makeup rubbed off onto my suit jacket.

She’s a little thinner than when I saw her last, and I wonder if something’s wrong. I don’t know much about the woman I’ve been fucking for the past few years, and I protectively wrap my arm around her. If she’s under Ash’s thumb, I’ll find out.

Her breath hitches, and she snuggles into my side.

Stella’s out there, in danger, and I feel sleazy dining out, cuddling with another woman. Now I’m not sure Cardello is the one hunting Stella. Her predator may be sitting across from me, dipping chunks of lobster into a bowl of melted butter like nothing’s wrong. Like he didn’t make my sister fall apart only a few hours ago.

A gorgeous redhead sits rigidly by his side, and I can tell she’s scared. If he’s still angry after dinner, he’ll take it out on her, and she knows this. She and Nathalie keep exchanging glances, but that won’t prevent the inevitable, and neither can I.

Since Stella came back, he’s been on edge, like he’s waiting.

For what, I have no idea.

I sip my whiskey and press a kiss to Nathalie’s temple. I’m fond of her—her pussy has gotten me through some rough times. She’s grown into a companion, a friend, and I’ll protect her if I have to.

Her hand drifts to my cock, but I’m not turned on. We’re done fucking.

Having Stella ruined her and I’ll never want her again.

I move her hand, and she leans away, embarrassed I snubbed her.

The conversation at the table is stilted and uncomfortable. To fill in the silence, Ash talks about a fall fundraiser Black Enterprises is hosting for one of his foundations. He never mentions Stella or Zarah, though he wouldn’t since Nathalie and the redhead are sitting with us.

We decline dessert and the after-dinner coffees, and I shake Ash’s hand outside the restaurant. Stella’s ring burns my skin through the material of my pants. There’s no chance in hell I’ll ever tell him I found it. Let him discover I have it. I want to see what he’ll do. “This was a good idea,” I lie. “I needed the evening out. Thank you.”

Ash watches me in that calculating way he has. “We’ll talk about Zarah tomorrow.”

“There’s nothing to discuss.”

I’m not going to fight with him. There’s nothing Ash loves more than coming out on top in a disagreement. I’ve known Ash all my life. I’ll need to start using what I know against him, and that means keeping things to myself and not playing into his hands.

Douglas is waiting, and he opens the town car’s door for Nathalie. Ash’s date is already sitting in the car that will bring them home. He ordered her inside the car the moment we stepped foot on the sidewalk.

When we’re alone, Ash says, “I think Zarah’s getting the best care at Quiet Meadows, Zane.” He lays a hand on my shoulder and squeezes, brother to brother. “Even with the incident earlier today and Iona’s shitty way of handling it, Zarah needs the twenty-four hour attention.”

It’s difficult to have your way with Ash, but he’s going to have to get used to this. Zarah’s screams still turn my stomach, and he walked away as if he expected her to melt down. Camerasrecord Zarah’s room twenty-four hours a day. How often has Zarah freaked out after one of his visits? How often has the staff at Quiet Meadows looked the other way?

How much does he pay for the privilege to torment my sister, and what kind of damage has he done while I’ve been unaware?

I push back the guilt. It won’t help her now.

“I know you believe so,” I say, unobtrusively moving out from underneath his hand. His touch makes my skin crawl, as does his beady eyes and the way he studies me looking for chinks in my armor. In the past five years, I’ve had many. “But after several years and no change in her behavior, I think it’s time to try something new. Under the observation of her doctor, of course. Perhaps spending time around her family and not sitting alone in her room will help. We have nothing to lose.”

Ash’s lips thin in disapproval. Disapproval I’m going against his wishes more than disapproval of my choices. He doesn’t care about Zarah’s wellbeing.

“I know how much you love her,” I press.

I’ve cornered him by his own lies. If there’s one absolute thing I know, it’s that he’s not in love with my sister. I don’t think he ever was.

“Of course.”

This timeIpathimon the shoulder.

I’m playing a dangerous game, but the odds are slowly turning in my favor. “I knew you’d see it my way. Have a good evening, and say hello to your mom and dad for me.”

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