Page 55 of Crossing Lines

Zeki blows out a long breath and sinks into the dining room chair. “I feel like I don’t know you.”

“You do know me.”

“No, I don’t,” he says, frustration lacing through his tone. “You keep so much of yourself hidden. I feel like I only know the parts you choose to show me.”

I settle into the chair beside him. He’s not wrong, and that truth hits harder than I expected.

“For what it’s worth,” I say, softly. “I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark. It’s just… I’ve carried the weight ofbeing the rock in our family for so long that it feels like my struggles are just a burden for everyone else.” I take a breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I guess I didn’t want to disrupt the stability I’ve worked so hard to make in the family afterbabadied.”

Zeki blows out a long breath and turns to face me fully. “You know you don’t have to carry everything alone. I get that’s your go-to, but being strong doesn’t mean being silent. Letting me in on what you’re feeling doesn’t disrupt our stability; it strengthens it. I want to help you, too.”

I nod and say, “I’ll work on it.”

“Please tell me you have some good alcohol in this place.”

I snort. “Top shelf on the left.”

Zeki pours us both a couple fingers of whiskey, sits back down next to me, and slides me a glass.

“Is Nina okay?” he asks. “After last night?”

“Maybe? But can anyone really be okay after that?”

“What’s going on between you two?”

“I don’t know.” I swirl my whiskey around in the glass. “There’s something there, and last night highlighted it.” I glance at him. “I was terrified at the thought of her being in danger.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ in there?”

“Because I plan on selling the team after this upcoming season. I’m exhausted and don’t think I can keep up this pace much longer. So, what’s the point instarting something with Nina if it’ll already have an ending?”

“Because you never know what life will look like in a year from now. Because you’re stopping yourself from being happy based on a what-if. Because you’re a fucking billionaire and can make a relationship work no matter if you have a job or not.”

“Well, shit…when you put it like that…” He’s right. I haven’t pursued something with her because I’m scared of getting hurt. Scared that we’re so different that it won’t work out. Sometimes it feels safer to not try at all and remain in the what-if. But if I do that, I’ll lose her, and she’ll move on to someone else.

“See?” he says, grinning. “Isn’t it better to talk about these things?”

“Maybe you’ve missed your calling in life by not becoming a therapist.”

Zeki chuckles. “I think I’m right where I belong, helping you out.”

“I agree.” I clink my glass against his.

Hours later, Nina drags herself through the door, dark circles shadowing her eyes and a weariness clinging to her that I’ve never seen before.

“Hey,” I say, “are you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just been a long day at the bakery.”

“Did you get any of my messages?” I ask.

“No, we were slammed, and I didn’t have time to check my phone. Why? Did you find out who did this?”

“Not yet, but we’re tightening security to make sure we’re safe. Which means we had to move you from the pool house to the master bedroom.”

“W…what?” she asks weakly, her face turning pale.

“We had to move you from?—”

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