Page 184 of The Silent Note

“Why tomorrow?”

Sadness skitters through her eyes.

My heart becomes a rock in my chest.

“Oh, you know…” Her voice cracks slightly even as she throws on a pretty smile. “Because I just want to spend time with you tonight.”

If lightning struck me where I stand, it would shock me less.

Her face softens and she walks over to me, closing her arms around my neck. Her hand slides into my hair, raking her nails slightly over my scalp and making me grunt.

“I’ve always meant to ask this, but did you dye your hair?”

“No.”

“So it really is this black.” She runs her fingers through the strands. Then she traces a line down my jaw. “Hm.”

“What are you doing?” I demand but the harshness of my tone is broken up by a breathy exhale.

She leans in.

I lean back, making her smirk.

“How was the meeting with your dad?”

“About the same as any other. Dad went on and on about how awful we are and how we keep ruining his plans.”

“And does it bother you?”

“What?” I ask, my breath escaping on another trembling surge.

“When he lies about how awful you guys are?”

“I wouldn’t call them lies. None of us are saints. Especially me. I’m the worst of my brothers?—”

Grey propels herself up and brushes her lips over mine, making my explanation shrivel to dust on my tongue. It’s not even a proper kiss. I tower over her, which means she would have needed more height in her tiptoes to make better contact.

Yet, even that barest of touches makes my body react.

She pulls away, her gaze tangling with mine. “You’re not the worst, Zane. And you’re not a joke either. You’re kind and sensitive and joyful. You light up a room when you enter it. And if someone’s having a bad day, you know exactly what to say to make them laugh. To put them at ease.”

Sweet, sweet brown eyes lift to me, and I shiver at the sight of how pure she is. There’s a near visible glow around her. Like I’m being visited by an angel.

“Not only that.” Grey cups my face. “You’re the glue that holds this family together. Your brothers are harsh and dangerous, not just to others but to each other. They have spikes that push out at any sudden movements, always on the defensive. And you stand in the middle. You allow yourself to be pierced.”

I shake my head, feeling shy. Bashful. Embarrassed.

Grey nods determinedly. “I’ve got eyes, Zane. There were many, many fights that could have happened in this group but didn’t because you were there to diffuse the tension. You keep this family together. In the quiet. From the shadows. Yousacrifice yourself. And then you back them up, not expecting a thank you for it or even acknowledgement. You bleed for them, you bleed all over and you never lose that beautiful, Zane smile.” She brushes my mouth with her thumb.

Her words are a balm to a wound I didn’t even know I had. It hurts to the touch and yet, the more she speaks, the more it heals.

Grey leans back a little and her eyebrow quirks. She sounds astonished when she says, “Did you really not know that?”

Overcome and a little embarrassed about the tears she brought to my eyes, I lean down and kiss her in place of answering. She starts kissing me back passionately, fully giving in to the pull between us, throwing herself into the dark, dangerous current.

But I resist her frantic cadence. Instead, I slowly stroke her mouth with my own. Savor her like the precious gift that she is to me.

Her nails dig into my back. As her body surrenders to mine, she lets out a little ‘mm’ sound and smiles through the kiss.