Page 16 of The Forbidden Note

My duty as a teacher is done.

Besides, the last thing I want to be is alone with Zane Cross.

I make a break for it.

Zane’s answering footsteps pound through the hallway.

I hasten my stride and make it all the way outside when he decides to end the chase. In three giant footsteps, he’s in front of me.

“Hold up, tiger.”

I stiffen at the name. My eyes dart around the parking lot.

It’s relatively empty this early in the day, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t watching. Listening.

“I told you not to speak to me,” I hiss.

One side of his lips curl up in that devil-may-care smirk. He draws closer. “Is there some law against me talking to my step-sister?”

My stomach churns at the term.

Zane Cross does not look at me like I’m his step-sister.

And the things he’s done to me…

Damn.

I put myself in an awkward position by accidentally sleeping with a student, but Zane Cross being my brother?

That’s all mom.

I have no idea why she showed up married to Jarod Cross of all people. She explained it a hundred times and it still doesn’t make sense.

Why would Jarod Cross, a living, breathing musical legend fall for a random waitress at a truckstop diner? Why would he get married to her after only a few weeks?

Zane narrows his eyes, turning serious. “We need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Have you noticed anyone following you?” He glances at my car. “Or felt like you were being tailed?”

“No.”

His jaw muscles work.

“Why are you asking that?”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“About Cadence’s mother being dead?”

“About who might be behind it.”

The accusation behind his words give me pause. “What does that mean?”

He doesn’t answer.

“They say it was an overdose,” I remind him.

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