Page 49 of Tainted Romance

I couldn’t tell him who.

I couldn’t tell him why.

So, I let out a low sigh. “I was just asking, didn’t say I wanted it.”

Our eyes locked, and his racked mine for answers. Answers he wasn’t going to find.

“What are you two doing?” Zane’s voice pulled us out of our little thing.

“Um, nothing.” Ryder let go of my hand and turned to look at Zane. “What… what are you doing here?”

“Called you two and didn’t get an answer.” Zane’s hard eyes looked at me for a moment. “We are finished and why the hell aren’t you two?”

“Got distracted,” Ryder shot back as an answer. It was somewhat true.

“Well, can you two hurry up because I really want to head home.” Ebony was at Zane’s side now, and I noticed her new handbag. It looked like someone had managed to do some shopping for herself.

“We’ll pay for these, and then we are done.” Ryder grabbed the cart and shot me a wink as he headed to the counter.

I felt like a bomb of information had just hit me; hard.

Zane’s fingers wrapped around my upper arm, stopping me as I walked past him. “You ok?” His eyes weren’t cold, but they were numb. I never could see into his emotions, and it bothered me.

Yet it seemed he could see mine easily.

“Fine.”

“You’re lying.”

“So, what if I am? Isn’t any of your concern.”

“Actually,” Ebony spoke up. “It kind of is, considering you’re his mate.”

My mouth dropped, and I turned to look at her, then back at him. “You told her?” I hissed. Why would he do that! “You actually told her that!”

“Oh, come on, Allie, he’s my best friend, so you can’t expect him to keep secrets from me.” Ebony crossed her arms and tapped a foot. “He needed someone to talk to about this mess.”

“There isn’t a mess,” I snarled at her. “There is nothing.” I gave Zane a pointed look. “Nothing at all between us.”

“Between you?” Ryder was back, shopping bags in hand.

“Nothing.” I went to take a few of the bags off him. “Let’s just go.”

Yes, let's go before I either punch Ebony for not keeping her nose out of our business, or punch Zane for sharing it with her.

Ebony gave me a smug look as we walked past her. I could feel my temper building, so I increased my pace.

Why would Zane tell her that? My anger was blanketed for a moment when I really thought about it. If he had told her, that means she knows he can’t really love her. Why would he tell her that, when it is sure to end anything between them?

Chapter Twenty-one

We didn’t speak about the antidote again. I had a strong feeling Ryder wasn’t keen on discussing the subject in a house filled with people with excellent hearing.

I was planning on sneaking out tonight as I had heard rumors about this band playing down at the local club and a night out sounded like the best idea ever.

I didn’t have anyone to go with, and it wasn’t like I had an endless list of friends that would go with me, so I saw tonight as me going solo, but that really didn’t bother me, because I didn’t need other people to make my night fun.

It was after ten at night, and I saw the number of people walking around the mansion had thinned, so I poked my head out my bedroom door to be sure.

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