Page 54 of His Fury

“I think heisthe trouble,” I replied bluntly. “Not intentionally. But that doesn’t matter anymore. He’s vulnerable, and people like Patrick Delaney don’t let vulnerability go to waste.”

Her mouth pressed into a tight line. “So what? You think I should stay away from him?”

Stubborn, beautiful girl.“I want you to becarefulwith him,” I corrected. “He’s not who you thought he was. Maybe he never was. He’s in a corner, and cornered men either beg or bite.”

She leaned back slowly, curling her fingers into the hem of the sweater. “I know he’s in a tight spot. I’m not stupid, Zayn.”

“No. You’re not.” I crouched beside her, forcing her eyes back to mine. “But you’re loyal. And he’s going to count on that.Usethat.”

She looked away, swallowing hard. “You’re saying he can’t be trusted.”

“I’m sayinghe already broke it, Is,” I said gently. “You just haven’t let yourself look too closely at how deep the damage goes.”

Silence stretched between us for a few seconds.

“Would you hurt him?” she asked finally, voice small, avoiding eye contact.

“Only if I had to.”

Her eyes darted back to mine. “But you would?”

“If it meant protecting you?” I nodded once. “Every time.”

She didn’t move. Didn’t speak. I kissed her forehead softly and stood, giving her space to breathe through it.

“He’s still your friend, Isla,” I said over my shoulder. “But he’s also your blind spot. And in my world, blind spots get people killed.”

I watched as she closed her eyes, her lips pressed together, nodding once as she understood what being with me truly meant. I knew I had just lit a match between her past and her future.

The only question now was…which side she’d choose when the fire finally hit.

CHAPTER 14

ISLA

I didn’t hearhim leave. I woke up to an empty bed and the faint smell of Zayn’s cologne in the air. The kind of scent that stayed with you long after the man was gone.

His absence shouldn’t have made the place feel colder, but it did. My body ached in a good way, yet it still ached. Twice with him before my shower and then again once Rye left. We started downstairs in his study, paused on the stairs, and finished in the bedroom. At this rate, the man was going to kill me.

Definitely wear me out.

I took another shower, and then I went looking for caffeine. Or wine. Whichever came first. The house felt cool, so I grabbed his hoodie for the chill. At least, that’s what I was telling myself.

In the kitchen, a wineglass and a corkscrew were waiting for me, and a note was scrawled in his quick, sharp handwriting.

Elixir needs to see my face. I’ll be back tonight. The doors are locked. They won’t open unless it’s Rye or me. – Z

I stared at the note for longer than I should have, my fingers brushing the edge. It wasn’t romantic. It wasn’t sweet. But itwasZayn.

Practical. Direct. Protective.

And suddenly, I hated that I missed him the second I realized he was gone and I was alone in the house.

With a generous glass of wine poured, I wandered back to the living room, knowing I should be a responsible adult and eat some food, but the oversized chair by the window beckoned, and I sank into it with the promise I would go looking for food soon.

The house was quiet in that strange, deliberate way. It didn’t creak. It didn’t groan. It was like the walls themselves knew not to make noise.

I should have taken the time to rest. Instead, I sat there, curled up in his hoodie, sipping wine and replaying every decision that had brought me to this point.

---