Page 95 of Her Ruin

“Why?”

“Because too many people suspect you’re mine.”

The door closed behind him, and I hadn’t got any answers and only ended up with more questions.

With the reality of what he had said, everything that had happened, everything I had seen, my stomach twisted. I sprinted across the floor, making it to the toilet just in time. After emptying my stomach, I sat on the bathroom floor, my eyes fixated on the bundle of black in the corner of the room.

Wearily, I got to my feet, rinsed my mouth, and stared at my reflection for God knows how long.

“I can’t be here.” On shaky legs I walked to the door, relieved when it opened easily. Making my way down the stairs, I felt the bass of the club wrap around me, suffocating me.

I took a wrong turn, pausing in a dimly lit corridor I never recognized. I turned to make my way back the way I had come when a door opened and I caught a glimpse of the lower club, instinctively stepping back.

“Isla?” Julian stared at me, eyes wide as he quickly shut the door. “What are you doing here?”

My brain was scrambling. He was my trusted friend, but why was he in the lower level? I no longer knew which way was up.

“Why areyouhere?” I gestured to the door behind him. “Inthere?” Hysteria was building. “What the fuck areyoudoing here?” I asked him scathingly.

Julian’s gaze was trained on my neck. “Zayn?” he asked in disbelief. “You’re fucking Zayn?”

I blinked. “How did you know?” It was out before I could stop it.

“Because you’re in the back end of a club you have no business being in and your neck looks like someone chewed on it!” Julian stepped towards me. “How long?” he demanded. “How long have you lied to me?”

“How long have I lied toyou?” Fury engulfed me. “How long haveyoubeen lying tome?” I looked around. “How long have you been part of this?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“It’s exactly what you think.” Zayn spoke from behind us, causing me to spin on my heel. He was danger itself as he watched us. “You need to have your sibling squabble somewhere else. Julian, get her out of here.” He looked us over as Julian came to stand beside me. “Make it look convincing.”

What did that mean?

“How bad?” Julian asked gruffly, his tone not one I recognized.

Zayn met my gaze once. “Enough.” He turned away. “Leave, both of you. Now.”

“Zayn!” I called.

Julian gripped my arm to stop me from speaking, and I didn’t care as I waited for Zayn to turn. He paused, his back to us, his head turned but not enough to face me.

“Be careful,” I told him. I had no idea why, but I had a bad feeling, and I saw his slight nod.

“Always am, Is.”

I watched one of the double doors open, and Elixir swallowed him up.

“This way,” Julian muttered. “Only a few know of this door.”

I didn’t bother asking him why he knew. It was way down the list of questions I needed answers to tonight.

“Will he be okay?” I asked just before the door to the outside was pushed open.

“It’s not him you need to worry about,” Julian told me grimly. “It’s everyone else.”

That was what I was afraid of.

CHAPTER27

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