Page 93 of Hard Rock Desires

“It’s one a.m.,” he said. “No one’s out at this hour.”

“That’s not the point!” I cried. “This isn’t the first time he’s done this. I’ve only met the guy three times, and all three times he did something dangerous and stupid while drunk.”

Just like Peter. Just like getting into a car drunk and driving it into a guardrail.

“Finn’s always been kind of a dumbass.” Zain shifted from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable.

“Being a dumbass is one thing,” I said. “This is something else entirely. He’s reckless. He’s a danger to other people. And I can’t believe you don’t see it.”

“So he acts out sometimes,” he said, getting frustrated. “Smashing guitars, trashing hotel rooms; that’s just what guys like us do.”

“Exactly.” I stopped pacing and pointed a trembling finger at him. “That’s just what rich, famous guys like you do. Which is the whole reason why I didn’t want to get involved with you in the first place.”

Zain’s expression went blank. He didn’t say anything in his own defense.

“This is just like what happened with my parents and sister.” Vague memories began to resurface. The knock at the front door. Two police officers standing in the doorway. My mom staggering back as she cried out. “They ignored what was going on with her, and look what happened.”

“Grace, I can’t imagine how awful that was for you,” Zain started. “But this isn’t the same thing.”

“Isn’t it?” I cried out. “I can’t be with you if you’re going to turn a blind eye to these sorts of things.”

Zain’s eyes shuttered, turning guarded.

“Maybe Finn hasn’t hurt anyone other than himself yet.” Anxiety crushed my chest. “But eventually someonewillget hurt, and I won’t stand around and wait for that to happen.”

Pain flashed across Zain’s face before his expression turned obstinate, jaw clenching.

“Fine, then,” he bit out. “If you don’t want to stick around, then leave. No one’s asking you to stay.”

A stabbing pain shot right through my chest. It felt like my heart had been pierced by a thousand needles.

I couldn’t believe he was okay with this. I couldn’t believe he didn’t see what I saw.

My aching heart hardened over.

“Fine,” I shot back. “If you don’t see anything wrong with what happened tonight, then I guess there’s nothing more to talk about.”

I pushed past him to storm out of the room. He didn’t stop me. With angry tears in my eyes, I slammed the door behind me. As I ran down the flights of stairs, I cursed myself.

I should have expected something like this. Right from the beginning, I’d known this wasn’t a good idea. I should have listened to the warning bells in my head. I shouldn’t have ignored the signs. I should have known.

An icy cold began seeping out from each and every pinprick of the wounds in my chest.

I never should have gotten involved with Zain Weston.

Thirty

Zain

I should have known.

The bright glow from my ceiling lamp burned into my eyes.

Right from the beginning Grace had told me she didn’t think this was a good idea.

One of the bulbs was burnt out, a dark spot among a circle of light.

This was always going to happen. She was always going to leave.