Page 67 of The Sweetest Revenge

"I was getting used to sleeping in." Mila snagged her drink, then slumped down. Her fingers drummed against the cup in the same rhythm they used for warm-ups, betraying her anxiety beneath the casual tone.

I flipped open my laptop, the screen reflecting my own exhausted face. "Twenty minutes till class." The login cursor blinked accusingly while I tried to remember my password. "And my brain's still in break mode."

Journey's forehead met the table with a soft thunk. "Same."

"So." Mila leaned forward, elbows on the table, voice dropping to that conspiratorial tone that usually preceded gossip. "What happened last night? Did you guys—" Her spine snapped straight, eyes widening at something over my shoulder.

Metal screamed against tile, the sound of a chair dragging closer.

Before I could protest, Zaiden's presence materialized beside me. The conversations around us died one by one, like candles being snuffed out.

Heat radiated from him, along with his familiar scent. My stomach clenched. I kept my eyes fixed on my coffee, but couldn't ignore how the air seemed to change when he entered it.

Heads turned. Whispers rippled across nearby tables.

"What are you doing?"

His lips curved into that infuriating half-smile. "Sitting with what's mine." He settled into the chair, each movement a claim to the space. To me.

My chair squealed against the tile as I shoved back, but his knee was already there, a solid barrier blocking my escape. Around us, a dozen pairs of eyes darted away, pretending not to watch our drama unfold.

"I don't belong to anyone." The words felt weak against the certainty in his expression.

He leaned closer, voice dropping to a murmur that scraped against my nerves. "Keep telling yourself that, princess."

"Do you two need a minute?" Mila asked. My gaze snapped to her, giving her a 'what-the-fuck' look. "Because we only have a few minutes to figure out our day before we have to go to class."

"She's right." Journey twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "And you decided to bring him into this."

My eyes widened. He was her freaking brother. How could I exclude him?

"Plus, he's right." Journey shrugged one shoulder, loyalty to her brother winning out. "Everyone here thinks you are his. So, can we get back to what we were doing?"

"I'm good." Zaiden leaned back in his chair, victory written in the relaxed set of his shoulders.

My teeth clenched together hard enough to send pain shooting through my jaw. "Fine."

"Mila." Zaiden's tone shifted, suddenly all business. "Ariella said your brother was at the scene that night."

She nodded, lifting her coffee to her lips.

"Did he say anything about Kacie's phone?"

"No, but I'm having dinner with him tonight. I could ask him if he knows anything about it."

"You're having dinner with your brother?" Journey asked. Mila's brother rarely had time for her since he moved out of the house. They chatted on the phone often, but dinner together meant something was up.

"Yeah," she scowled. "I was supposed to meet his newest girlfriend, but they broke up. We're still having dinner."

"Is your brother a cop now?" Zaiden asked.

"Yep," she smiled. "That's why he started questioning what happened with Kacie. He read the final report, which didn't match what happened."

"We can meet up tonight," I suggested. "After your dinner."

"There's a party at Delta Gamma Phi tonight.

"Yeah, like a back-to-school thing," Journey added.

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