Page 144 of She will Always be Mine

Taking one last look in the mirror, I grab my bag and wallet from the bed and rush out of the bedroom. I forgo breakfast and pick up my phone that I left charging in the living room.

I’m in such a hurry to leave while simultaneously booking a cab that I don’t notice who’s standing on my door until it’s too late.

I jerk to a halt when I look up and audibly swallow. “Zain.”

He smiles but it doesn’t reach his gray eyes. They resemble a cloudy sky right before a thunderstorm. How fitting. I should’ve known my happy bubble would burst, but not this soon. Not today. Not while I’m alone.

“Hey, Nyra.” His voice shows his amusement. Yet my skin crawls as memories assault me. He’s cornering me just like he had done the last time we were alone.

Dressed casually in a black tee and dark denim jeans with his hair pushed back, he strolls past me to walk inside uninvited. Zain is an inch shorter than Riaan but he’s packed with more muscles and broad-shouldered.

While his brother is all hard edges and sharp angles, his looks are lethal and handsome in a sensual way. He sucks you in with an easy smile and his charming personality. It’s what I used to like about him.

I never saw the darkness and intensity he kept locked tight.

Cold fear freezes my body as he faces me while I’m still rooted to the same spot. With his head tilted to the side, he quirks an eyebrow and says, “Aren’t you going to show me your apartment, cousin?”

His words pull me out of my stupor. I neutralize my expression before hardening my voice, “Get out, Zain. I’m late for my classes.”

He doesn’t even take offense that I’m dismissing him, “I see… You’re still upset with my part that night. Seems like it wasn’t as effective as I thought since you’re back with Riaan.”

There’s no remorse in his statement and I can’t believe he’s the same brother who used to make me laugh. His expression is completely unreadable. Indifferent and icy. Fake and mocking.

I’m wearing jeans and a black cropped hoodie yet I still want to cover myself up under his gaze. I can’t shake the thought that he’s probably seen all of me.

Did he not feel guilty as he sent me those texts?

Did he think twice before crossing those boundaries?

Does he care at all how it affected my psyche?

Or maybe he enjoyed it like a sick monster.

I want to shout and demand for answers but I fear it might spook him. The thought of him destroying any proof of him blackmailing me holds me back. I walk back inside when he makes no move to leave. I don’t want him to know I’m scared of him because he’ll pounce on it. His calmness and friendly façade isn’t fooling me one bit.

“How did you get my address?” I question.

“Does your mom know you’re living with Riaan?” he viciously taunts. “She sent me here to check on you, you know. I should let her know her daughter is perfectly fine and still rebelling without a care.”

I steel my spine instead of cowering against his threat. He’s already damaged my relationship with my mom once. I won’t let him do it again.

“You think I’m rebelling?” I sneer before taunting him with, “Then again, a man like you would never know what love or loyalty is.”

“Careful, Nyra.” His voice drops an octave as he takes a threatening step forward. “You may be my brother’s girl and my little sister, but I don’t take kindly to insults. Especially when I’ve done nothing wrong.”

I can’t believe he has the fucking audacity to play dumb. Never in my life have I ever wanted to punch someone so badly. The fear and pain that twists in my gut turns into anger and tries to claw its way out. I hold it back. Barely.

“My mom won’t believe you,” I say instead.

“Are you sure?” He laughs like I told a silly joke. “She trusts me more than you, Nyra. I’ve never lied to her.”

His smugness slices through me because there’s truth in his words. So, I switch tactics.

“What do you want, Zain?” I sigh. “You wouldn’t be here without a reason.”

“I just wanted to see where my brother was hiding you. In his warped mind, he still believes you’ll both get a happily ever after.” He shakes his head and laughs angrily. “I mean, he loves you so much that he turned his back against his own brother. Did he tell you what he took from me?”

Finally, some emotion flickers in his eyes. Betrayal, pain, and fury.

---