Page 142 of His Fury

His head lifted sharply. His eyes locked on mine, and I saw it—the storm, the hunger, the disbelief that still lived just under his skin. As if he couldn’t quite trust the fact that I kept choosing him. That I kept staying.

“I meant what I said in the car,” he told me quietly. “You’ve earned the right to know everything. Be in everything. If you want it.”

“I don’t want everything.”

He flinched just slightly, but I reached for his hand before the space could widen.

“I wantyou,” I said. “Not the empire. Not the control. Not the blood and the mess and the goddamn flash drives or whatever the hell it is next. Just…you.”

Zayn swallowed hard. “I don’t come without the rest, Is.”

“I know,” I whispered, stepping into him and sliding my arms around his waist. “But maybe we stop pretending that you’re protecting me by keeping me out.”

His hand came up, gently threading into my hair as he held me against him. “You scared me tonight.”

“I scared me too.”

He chuckled—low and broken—and pulled me tighter. “I never expected you to be the one who’d protect me.”

I tilted my head, resting my cheek on his chest. “You’re not the only one who can think on their feet, Zayn.”

Zayn’s thumb brushed over my jawline, tilting my head back to look up at him. His jaw was tight as he looked past me. His silence wasn’t cold. It was cautious.

“You shouldn’t have had to say anything,” he said finally. “You shouldn’t have been in that situation.”

“I was already in the situation, Zayn,” I said softly. “I’ve been in it for a while.” I stepped back, but he reached out and grabbed my hand, holding on to me, yet he didn’t pull me back in.

His brow furrowed, but he didn’t argue. Just held my hand tighter.

I took another step back, loosening my hold a little. “They tried to catch you off guard,” I added. “Those first four cops…they were there to see if it wasjustme tonight.” I looked at our loose, interlaced fingers. “Then they came in to see if I was the naïve girlfriend they could trip into saying something.” I looked up at him. “I was almost naïve.”

“You weren’t naïve,” he said immediately. “You were calculated. Sharp. And calm as hell. I’ve had men fold under half the pressure.”

“Funny,” I muttered. “Didn’t feel calm.”

Zayn finally looked at me fully, something stormy and conflicted in his gaze, but he waited for me to speak.

“You said I’ve earned the right to know everything,” I said. “Well, now you know. You can’t protect me from every angle. And I’m not going to watch you get dragged away when I can stop it.” I swallowed, fear clogging my throat.

Zayn could read me so well. “Ask,” he said softly.

My head dipped down, tears threatening. I looked up at him, not hiding the tears in my eyes. “Did you kill him?”

“Yes.”

No hesitation. No clever words. I pulled my fingers from his hand, wrapping my arms around my waist. I took a deep breath. Then another. He didn’t move. Just watched me.

“Because of me? Because he took me?”

“Yes.”

I stepped back, my body bent over, and my hands went to my knees. I felt like I’d just run a marathon. I gulped in lungsful of air. My head was swimming. The room was spinning. Fuck, I was going to faint.

I straightened abruptly. Zayn hadn’t moved from his spot. “You okay?”

Was I okay?I had no clue. I shook my head, and he sighed softly.

“Can I touch you?” he asked cautiously.

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