Page 61 of His & Hers

This poor girl.

“I’m speechless, really I am. But I know there’s more, right?” I sighed as she nodded, my fingers lacing with hers as she looked up at me.

“Wereyouthe deal?” I asked hoarsely, my mouth suddenly dry as her eyes dropped.

She bit her lip.

“They’d wipe his debts if I married Steve. He wanted me for some bizarre reason. So he spoke to his Dad, and they offered me the deal.”

“Does your dad know about this?” I demanded, my voice trembling with rage.

Layla blinked, shaking her head as she laughed nervously.

“No, not at all. The deal was that they ceased supply and made sure no one else gave him anything. They wiped his debts, and I met Steve through Dad. Dad has no idea.” Layla smiled sadly as I lifted her into my arms.

She didn’t resist; instead, she wrapped her arms around me and buried her head in my neck.

“Steve paid Dad’s debts. He told Dad he did it as a favor, as he was going to be my husband. Dad thinks he’s just a super lovely guy...who happened to be a customer of his,” she said bitterly.

She was a victim.

“I have to marry him, Zane. If I don’t, they’ll kill my father. It’s a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.”

“How can you say that? How can you be so dismissive of your freedom?” I asked quietly, my brain desperately trying to find a solution.

“I don’t need you to help me solve it, Zane. I just wanted to tell youwhyI can’t be with you. If he found out, he would kill you. He’s stupidly jealous...” her voice trailed off as I gazed at her.

Her eyes were softer now, her lips quivering as she forced a smile.

“What if I can’t let you go?” I whispered, the pain in my chest sharp and sudden.

The thought of her marrying this vile creature was enough to make me fill with rage.

“You don’t have a choice,” Layla said firmly, kissing me hard on the lips before she stood up. “I need to go now; he will be back today.”

“Layla, you can’t go back there; he is holding you hostage in your own life. You can’t do this,” I begged her, my heart hammering in my chest as she pulled her jeans on over her slender legs. I imagined her with him, and my insides bubbled with jealousy I didn’t know I was capable of. “I won’t let you.”

I hooked my fingers through the belt loop of her jeans, tugging her towards me roughly as she groaned.

“Zane, I know, I do. But understand something. If I don’t do this, he will put that needle back in my Dad’s arm, and he will die; if someone doesn’t kill him first. This isn’t up for debate. I’m sorry.”

She kissed me again, her salty tears on my face.

“Layla-”

“Zane. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is. Please,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against mine.

I was powerless. Utterly powerless.

“If this wasn’t happening,” I asked softly, my hands lacing with hers as she sighed, holding back a sob. “Would you and me...would we have a chance?”

I lifted my eyes to hers as she nodded quickly.

“I’d fall in love with you so hard I’d crack all the bones in my body.”

I felt like someone was squeezing my heart so tightly I could barely breathe.

“How do you know that, Layla?”