Page 159 of Lady and the Hitman

I didn’t confirm it. I was already pushing open the passenger door.

“Zara—wait?—”

But I was out, the morning air slapping my face. I stepped in front of Trevor’s car, putting my body between the two men, even as Ronan closed the distance with silent, lethal strides.

His eyes burned into mine. Not just with fury. With betrayal.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” he asked, voice low and dangerous. “With you?”

“He’s my friend,” I said. “He was helping me.”

“Helping you,” Ronan repeated, like the words tasted wrong.

He shifted his gaze to Trevor, who had now stepped out of the car.

“You can leave,” Ronan said flatly.

Trevor raised his hands, staying behind the open door. “I’m not looking for a fight, man.”

“You’ll get one anyway,” Ronan growled.

“Ronan—stop.” I stepped closer, reaching out instinctively. “Please.”

His eyes snapped to me again. There was something almost feral in them—something I hadn’t seen before. Not with me. Not like this.

“I looked for you,” he said. “You disappeared. You wouldn’t answer. And then I find you in his fucking car?”

“You don’t get to be angry,” I snapped. “You’re the one who has secrets.”

He flinched. Just barely. But I saw it.

“I didn’t lie to you.”

“You didn’t tell me the truth,” I said. “You kept me in the dark. You made me feel safe—and then you made me feel like a fool.”

Trevor stepped around the car then, moving slowly, but still inserting himself into the moment.

“She asked me to come get her,” he said calmly. “That’s all.”

Ronan’s hands curled into fists.

“She doesn’t need you,” he said. “Not anymore.”

“You don’t know what she needs,” Trevor said, voice quiet. “Maybe you never did.”

“That’s enough,” I cut in, my voice sharper than I intended. “Both of you.”

I turned to Ronan. “I didn’t go to Trevor because I wanted to hurt you. I went because I didn’t know what else to do. I was drowning.”

His jaw flexed. His hands trembled, just once.

“Let’s go inside,” I said softly. “We’re not doing this out here.”

Trevor didn’t move.

“I’m fine,” I told him. “You should go.”

He hesitated.