Page 10 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)

Softly, hesitantly, he reached for my hand.His fingers were long, smooth, and warm. Mine were freezing in comparison.

“Maybe you should take a break,” I suggested.

I met his eyes for a second, and it felt like I was drowning in them.

“I should. But tomorrow’s the performance.” He let out a weary sigh. “I composed a piece… that’s dedicated to you.”

My cheeks flushed again, and my lips parted slightly, but no words came out. So, I just nodded mutely.

A soft smile tugged at his lips.

“One of the boys from our music group passed away recently. Tomorrow was supposed to be his first-ever performance.” Tristan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “To honor him, we’re all playing a piece together… After that comes my piece. For you.”

I froze.

A boy from his music group?

The image of the body in the pavilion flashed in my mind, and my grandmother’s words echoed in my head. Could it be him?

My stomach twisted.

“Amelia?”

“Yeah… I’m… Did you know him well?”

“Not really. Only in passing.”

“Still, I’m really sorry for your loss.” My tone mirrored my somber mood.

Tristan squeezed my hand gently as if he was offering me comfort, even though he was the one who deserved it more.

I forced a small smile. “I’ll be there tomorrow. I’d really love to hear you play again.”

He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles softly, before brushing his fingers through my hair. I was suddenly reminded of the last time we met and the rose he had pulled out of thin air.

I expected him to do it again, but he plucked a golden coin from behind my ear instead. Before I could react, he hid it behind his back and presented me with another red rose.

I blinked.

“Are you going to do a magic trick every time we meet?”

His grin widened.“How else am I supposed to thank my muse?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did. You always have. Ever since we were kids, you’ve been my inspiration. A sweet little girl who grew into a strong, beautiful woman. Anyone would be inspired by you.”

His words warmed something deep in my chest.

“My world has been cold and dark, but the time I spent with you made me who I am today. ”

My heart skipped a beat. “Tomorrow, I’ll give you something in return.” Biting my lip, I wrapped my arms around him.

He didn’t do anything for a moment, and thenhe returned the hug. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“For your kind words,” I murmured. “And because you need some warmth.”

“Ooooh, la la!”

I flinched and took a step back. My friends stood by the door, grinning.

“We thought you two were taking forever, so we came out to check on you. But it looks like we interrupted something.” Tiana wiggled her brows.

“We’re taking you home.” Stacy held up my purse.

“But if you’d rather stay with Mr. Handsome here…” Layla teased with a wink.

My cheeks felt like they were on fire.

And then, there was a quiet clearing of a throat, which made me turn around.

Zane.

He was just standing there.

A cigarette rested between his fingers; it was burning down slowly, like he had forgotten about it entirely. But that wasn’t what stole the breath from my lungs.

It was his presence.

He leaned against a pillar with effortless elegance as if the entire world around him ceased to matter.

His black jeans were perfectly fitted, a leather jacket was casually draped over his broad shoulders, and the white shirt underneath clung in all the right places. His face was flawless, sharp as a blade.

His eyes made the ground feel unsteady beneath my feet. Too intense… too piercing.

It felt like he had been watching me the entire time.

Zane flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot, and stepped toward us. His movements were calculated, leisurely, and dangerous like he had all the time in the world.

“What a view.” His voice was deep, low, and laced with mockery.

His gaze swept over Tristan, my friends, and then me.

Something indiscernible flickered in his expression, but I felt it.A silent weight pressed against my chest.

Slowly, Zane’s eyes dropped to my shoulders, and his jaw tensed.Tristan’s jacket.

My heart skipped another beat.

He hated it.

Why? I didn’t know, but it was unmistakable.

Zane took his time gazing at me, traveling back up my body before meeting my gaze.

The air between us shifted in a strange, uneasy way.

“Hi, tutor.” The words sounded almost bored, but something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.“Didn’t know you were tutoring Tristan, too.”

The tension thickened.

It was evident by their irritated expressions that they hated each other.

“What would I even tutor Tristan in?” I asked, forcing my voice to sound normal.

But that was a mistake.

Zane’s full attention snapped back to me, and his gaze was heavy as if he was undressing, studying, and pulling me apart. A slow smile stretched his lips. It was not a kind one. “Hmm… you tell me.”

Tristan’s grip tightened around my hand.A silent gesture. Like he was trying to pull me back.

In one smooth motion, Zane was suddenly too close.

Close enough to smell. Dark. Rich. Oud and leather. It was a delicious scent, even though the stench of the cigarette made my nose scrunch a bit.

“Watch yourself,” Tristan warned firmly. “Don’t think you can do whatever you want.”

Zane’s eyes darkened, scrutinizingTristan like he was nothing more than a footnote in his story.

“Should I be scared?” he asked me with a hint of amusement.

Tristan tensed beside me. “I came here to get away from you,” he muttered, sounding tired.

Zane smirked. “You took a little too long. Thought I’d check on you.” Then, with deliberate slowness, his eyes found mine again. “And your company.” His voice was calm. Too calm.

My stomach tightened.

Tristan gave my hand a gentle tug.

But Zane moved first, sliding the jacket off my shoulders and forcing Tristan to catch the garment.

My breath hitched. The heat of Zane’s fingers lingered on my skin even after he removed his hand.

Zane never took his eyes off me. “Don’t mark a territory if it’s not yours to claim.”

Tristan’s hands curled into fists around the fabric but remained silent; he seemed to understand exactly what Zane meant while I was still trying to understand what was going on.

“I won’t say it again. You should know your place.”

My breath caught, and Tristan’s face paled.

“Come.”Zane held his hand outstretched toward me. Not in a command. It was an invitation.

I swallowed hard and shook my head.

“What a shame. ”

I forced myself to snap out of my daze, stepping towards my friends. “I already have a ride home.” I turned to Tristan. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m sorry we have to say goodbye like this.”

The moment was too tense. I just wanted to enjoy a night out with my friends… and not whatever this was.

My friends muttered a halfhearted goodbye, and without another word, we headed toward Stacy’s car.

When we were out of sight and earshot, the silence exploded.

“What the hell was that?”

“You better explain everything!”

“Don’t you dare leave out any details!”

Their voices overlapped, question after question, but all I could do was shake my head, completely bewildered.

Because even I didn’t know what the hell had happened.