Page 88 of His Fury

I gave her a dead-eyed stare. “Thanks. Just what every woman wants to hear.”

“Don’t snap at me. You’re the one who finally reached out for coffee.” She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “So…what’s going on? Why haven’t I seen you in ages?”

I stirred my drink with my straw without tasting it. “It’s just...work.”

Sienna swatted my hand, and I flinched in surprise. “Bullshit. That’s not a work face. That’s a relationship-spiral face.”

I stayed silent.

Sienna grinned triumphantly. “I knew it. Zayn?” She waited patiently. “There’s no way you two haven’t been a thing. I saw you together at the club that night. Then you went AWOL. Girl, I know what a new relationship feels like.” She paused. “I think…there was a time I knew…”

“You’re marrying the love of your life,” I said flatly.

“Yeah. Three years into our relationship, we don’t have the same glow we had when we first met. We’re more…weathered.”

“Weathered? Says every nearly bride everywhere. Who claimed romance was dead?”

“We can discuss me later. I’d like to hear about you. It’s really Zayn, isn’t it?”

I rolled my eyes. “You say that like it’s a surprise.”

“Well, excuse me for being shocked that you’re still sleeping with the man who once made an event planner cry in the ladies’ room.” She raised a brow. “You do remember what he did to you at the gala?”

“Of course, I remember,” I muttered, not meeting her gaze.

Her eyes widened. “Oh my god! You’ve fallen for him.” She stared at me, her mouth agape in surprise. “Do you love him?”

“No,” I snapped, then sighed. “Maybe.” I closed my eyes. This was why I was here. “Yes.”

She tilted her head. “Wow. Okay, I wasn’t expecting love. I thought you’d hate screw and move on. Give me a minute. I need to recalibrate.” She sipped her drink, watching me closely. “Okay, so let’s talk about it. What’s the problem?”

I hesitated. How did I explain that the man I loved could also order a body to disappear before breakfast?

My phone vibrated, and I jumped in surprise. Checking it quickly, I saw it was only Gerard asking what time tomorrow’s event started. I turned the phone over.

“It’s complicated.”

“It will always be complicated with him.”

Ouch.I fiddled with the edge of my napkin. “Why would you say that?”

“Because he’s shit hot, shady as fuck, and…Zayn.”

“He could be different,” I protested weakly, knowing he wasn’t.

“Or you are,” Sienna said gently.

That was too close to the truth. I broke her gaze once more.

“I’m not judging you, Isla,” Sienna said gently. “You’re a grown-ass woman. If you want a guy with a jawline carved from sin and a mysterious past, go for it.” She sipped again. “But don’t pretend this is a normal situation. You look like you haven’t slept. You flinched when your phone buzzed. That’s not ‘new relationship glow.’ That’s stress.”

“It isn't him,” I said swiftly.

She didn’t look convinced. “Then what is it?”

I stared at her for a long moment. “Have you ever…loved someone who scares you a little?”

She blinked. “Whoa.”

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