Page 19 of Cruel Hearts

This sparks such an anger in me that I don’t think I’ve ever felt this degree of rage before. A hazy red shimmers in my vision. “What thefuckdo you mean, it doesn’t matter? We’re talking about five years of my life...living without you...hating you.”

“You won’t believe me, so what does it matter?” she says, her lips trembling.

“Try me.”

“Ash—”

“Jesus fucking Christ. Leave Ash, leave the Blacks, out of this.Youare thefuckingwhorewho decided what I wanted to give you wasn’t enough. I can afford a fucking yacht, you know.”

She frowns. “What?”

“Forget it. Someone’s trying to kill you, so watch your back. And don’t youdarelook for me again. We’re done, and you are on your own.”

I slam out of the apartment, leaving her to do what she likes.

Leaning against the wall outside her door, I sniff my fingers. Her musk covers them, and I breathe in her scent.

She’s a liar, a fucking liar. That hasn’t changed. The fucking nerve bringing Ash into this. Again.

He’s been a rock—visiting Zarah every day, checking in with me every moment he can. Clayton and Ash have given me everything I need to survive Stella’s betrayal and my sister’s breakdown. They’re my family.

In my office, I throw the flash drive into a drawer in my desk. I don’t give a fuck what’s on it.

As I stand there, seething, unsure of what I should do next, my phone vibrates and I open Ash’s text. His jet just landed in King’s Crossing. He says heard about the shit going down andshaved a week off his trip to make sure I’m okay and he wants to visit Zarah ASAP.

The Blacks are a blessing to my sister and me.

Stella’s spreading lies and deserves what she gets.

Someone is out to get her, and I plan to sit back and enjoy the show.

CHAPTER FIVE

Stella

My body cramps worse than when I’m on my period. I shouldn’t have let Zane touch me, but I missed him so much I forced myself to give in. I was so scared he was going to hurt me, and he did, but he hurt me more than just physically. He’ll never believe me.

His weight hurt my ribs. I ache like hell, but I’ll try to remember the sex as something sweet. He could have been a lot rougher, and he didn’t have to go down on me first. He didn’t have to get me off. It helped.

I walk around my little apartment. I have no idea why Zane bought this building, and it confuses me. He didn’t do it as a lucrative business decision. We had good times here, in this safe, cozy little space. Eating ice cream and watching silly movies.

Making love.

He didn’t tell me he loved me this time.

It disappoints me in ways I can’t explain that his loyalties are still with the Blacks. Knowing these past five years have been for nothing...The planning it took to escape, the meticulousgathering of information so one day Zane could destroy the Blacks for what they’ve done to his family.

All for nothing.

While I planned to bring Ash and Clayton down, they’d been working on Zane. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that. He has more faith in them than ever before. I bet Quinn’s life Zane would at least give me a chance to explain, but the minute I said Ash’s name, he closed off completely.

I lost.

There’s no point in trying again. His misplaced loyalty tells me only thing. I need to get out of King’s Crossing. I should have listened to Quinn. I should have put the flash drive in the mail and gotten the hell out of here, but my desire to see Zane ruled out common sense.

I’m so stupid.

It’s tempting to linger, but the apartment’s not mine anymore. I used to keep emergency money in my oldValley of the Dollspaperback, and three one hundred dollar bills are still stuck in the middle.

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