Page 157 of The Silent Note

Marion steps closer. Her smile is twisted and dark. In her eyes, I see a thirst for my pain. She’s ravenous for it.

I remain in place. Keep my eyes locked on hers.

I’ll let her feed on me if that’s what she wants. I won’t deny her the pleasure of trying to break me. She’s someone Grey loves. That alone is enough to keep my mouth shut and my hands behind my back.

“Is my daughter with you?”

“She’s at school.”

“I meant,” her tone is a bark and she breathes, reels it back, “is she still staying with you?”

I look at her calmly. “Yes.”

“You’re sleeping with her?”

I don’t answer that.

“I see.” She bobs her head and mumbles to herself. “You’re determined to take this all the way then.”

A challenge.

But I didn’t come looking to fight with my mother-in-law.

“Dad is back in town. Since he’s not home yet, I’ll come back another time.” I get a few steps in before Marion snarls at me.

“Don’t think you’ve won.”

I freeze with my back to her. Quietly, I say, “There is no part of me that wants a war with you, Marion. We’re both on Grey’s side.”

“On Grey’s side?” Another crazy laugh pours from her lips. “No. You’re not on my daughter’sside, Zane. You’re a spoiled, depraved prince who was never taught that people aren’tthingsand women aren’ttoys.The only side you’re on… is your own.”

I face her slowly. She’s trembling like a leaf in the wind. Her hands are fisted at her sides. Her eyes—darker than Grey’s, more tired, beaten, and hopeless—pierce mine.

For a moment, I feel sorry for her.

Her turmoil is something I can reach out and touch. Her anguish is a bitter taste in my mouth. She’s being torn apart from the inside, pieces of her shattering out like missiles toward me.

“Zane Cross. TheSnare King,” she says sarcastically.

An internal groan rattles through me. Even the adults are reading Jinx’s app now.

“You’re no king. You’re worthless. A joke.”

The sticks and stones find their target. My heart bleeds.

A joke. It’s what I’ve been all my life. Never bothered me until I decided I wanted to be something else. Somethingmore. A good husband to Grey. A good man. But no one can see who I am because who Iwasis still following me around like a shadow.

Marion walks a slow circle around me. “I’ve seen you gyrate in front of a camera with your shirt off. I’ve seen you with your arms around half-naked girls. I’ve seen you kissing strangers. Touching their breasts, their bodies. All on video. Laughing as you squeeze their private places, laughing as they touch you back.” Her gaze darkens with judgement. “You have no shame. None. And I didn’t know.”

She stops in front of me. Her eyes dart back and forth.

For the first time, her anger falters. Turns inward.

“I didn’t know what that look in your eyes meant when you saw Grace standing in that restaurant the night your father introduced us. I didn’t understand why your gaze followed my daughter every time she entered a room. I didn’t recognize the way you looked at her, at her body, at her curves. The way you salivated and wanted. The way you planned to rut in her like an animal.”

I grimace.

“Why would I think that a step brother would want to touch his step sister? Why would I think that my daughter, a teacher, would touch a student? Why would I? Why? Even gangsters have rules. Even drug lords have decency. Even prison inmates will kill a pedophile for touching a child.”