Page 32 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)

The flashing blue and red lights of the police cars bathed the campus in an eerie, flickering glow, and an ambulance was parked near the barricade. Once again, the school had turned into a crime scene.

Paramedics were tending to Zane, guiding him toward the ambulance, while Spencer pulled me aside. His face was shadowed with dark circles and exhaustion.

“Amelia,” he began; his firm voice was edged with concern that made me feel guilty.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I never thought I’d actually find him.”

Spencer rubbed his temples. “Let me get this straight. You thought the bridge by River Street was a lead, but when you didn’t find anything, you decided not to call me?”

I nodded.

“Alright… And what exactly made you go to the school?”

I explained my thought process, tracing every desperate clue. I felt ridiculous. Saying it out loud made it sound absurd, like the ramblings of someone trying to piece together a dream.

Spencer’s jaw tensed the longer I spoke, and by the time I finished, he just stared at me.

Heat crept up my neck.

I should’ve told him. If Spencer had been involved, the whole thing would have been handled more strategically and safely.

“I wasn’t trying to be a hero,” I admitted, my voice shaking. “I just… I didn’t want to burden anyone. My mind has been all over the place lately, and I never actually thought I’d—”

“You saved his life,” Spencer cut in. “But next time, you must be more careful. Tonight, it worked out. But it could’ve ended very differently.”

I nodded.

“Good.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Now, go deal with Mr. Cole. He’s been staring at me like he wants to kill me for the past few minutes.”

I almost laughed, thinking it was a joke. When I turned around and looked at Zane,he was sitting in the back of the ambulance with a paramedic tending to the cut on his forehead, but his eyes were on me.

His face was cast in shadow, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the tension in every sharp angle of his features. He looked furious.

“Amelia…” Spencer’s voice brought me back from my musings. “The person who took him is still out there.”

I knew the truth of that, but hearing him speak aloud my fear sent a fresh wave of unease through me.

“There’s no solid evidence that Mr. Lane was involved. Be careful.”

I nodded.

He sent me one last glance before walking off to join the other officers.

My friends descended on me like a storm. Layla latched onto my arm, and Stacy stood in front of me, waving the gun Zane had dropped on the ground.

“Blanks!” she shrieked, her eyes blazing with disbelief. “I should’ve given you a damn taser instead!”

Tiana shot her a sharp glare. “Better yet, she shouldn’t have gone at all!”

It was only then that I realized what they were wearing.

All of them were in pajamas.

Tiana had her silk bonnet on, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Stacy’s hair was held back by a pink headband, with remnants of a dried face mask still visible on her cheeks. And instead of her hijab, Layla had wrapped a bedsheet around her head and shoulders.

A painful warmth spread through my chest. I had scared them.

“I’m so sorry.”

Tiana sniffled, “You know, traditionally, it’s the guy who’s supposed to rescue the girl, not the other way around!”

Layla buried her face in my shoulder, her body trembling. “You have no idea how scared we were after receiving such a message!”

Ali, also dressed in sleepwear and slippers, for God’s sake, joined us.“It’s late. You all need to go home.” He wrapped an arm around his wife, gently pulling her away from me. “Amelia needs some time to calm down.”

Layla pouted, which made Ali smile before he guided her to his car.

“He’s right,” Stacy muttered, clicking her tongue before shooting me a look. “And you…” She tilted her head toward Zane. “…go take care of your prince over there.”

He was talking to the paramedic, but his gaze was locked on me like always.

That pull, that magnetic, undeniable force, wrapped around my ribs like a vice.

“I’ll never do this again,” I promised my friends. “I swear.”

Tina and Stacy gave me weak smiles before leaving, too.

My legs started moving in the opposite direction, toward Zane.

“You should come with us,” the paramedic urged.

“I don’t need to,” Zane snapped. “I’m fine.”

I sighed when I caught their conversation and placed a hand on his shoulder.“We’re going,” I declared softly.

He opened his mouth to protest, but then he looked at me.

And just like that, he gave in.

Hours of examination confirmed that Zane had been drugged with painkillers, and the gash on his forehead came from a blunt strike. Four stitches were needed, but thankfully, he didn’t have a concussion.

When the doctors advised him to stay overnight for observation, he shook his head obstinately.

I didn’t even bother arguing.

It was no use, so I simply called a cab after leaving the hospital.

By four a.m., we arrived at my place, and I helped him into my room.

Hurriedly, I left briefly to find some old clothes that had once belonged to my grandfather in the attic. But when I returned, Zane was no longer sitting on my bed.

He was standing by my desk.

A photo in his hands.

It was an old picture of my grandparents with a much younger version of myself nestled between them.

“You should lie down.”

Slowly, he turned to face me.

“I found you some clothes—”

The bundle slipped from my fingers as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me against him.His hands skimmed my hips, his forehead pressing against mine.

My breathing turned shallow.“Wh-what are you doing?”

His intense brown eyes bore into mine as he leaned in so close. I could feel his breath ghosting over my lips.

A warmth spread in my stomach, deep and dangerous.

I lifted my hand, holding it firmly between us. “No. ”

His gaze shifted from my eyes to my palm with a flicker of amusement and something shadier in their depths.

Still, I held my ground.“If you have enough energy for this, then you have enough energy to take a shower.”

Zane straightened, tilting his head to stare at me through thick lashes.“Will you help me?”

My lips parted. My mind blanked. And I nodded.

He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing, and followed me to the bathroom.

Steam wrapped around us in thick, humid waves, and the sound of running water filled the silence.

Zane stood in front of me, broad and tall. A quiet hunger lurked beneath the surface, lurking behind his composed expression as he surveyed me.

I swallowed, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached for the hem of his shirt.

He lifted his arms, allowing me to peel the fabric off him, revealing every toned inch of his body. The warm, damp air made his skin glow.

Then, I helped him out of his pants. I told myself it was because he was injured and that he needed my help.

But my heart was racing.

“Sit,” I murmured, gesturing to the tub’s edge.

He obeyed but never stopped watching me.

My gaze flickered over his toned arms, the firm ridges of his chest, and the faint scars scattered across his skin. He was breathtaking and too quiet.

I let the warm water run over his body before taking a wet cloth and running it softly over his face, careful not to touch his wound.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I whispered.

He leaned forward, and his fingers traced the curve of my waist, sending a heat wave to my core.

My breath caught as he tilted his head up, making our noses graze together. His hands slid under the hem of my sweater, and he slowly pulled it over my head, letting it fall to the floor.

His gaze roamed over my bare skin, drinking in every inch.

It was like a claim. Possession.

As if a switch was flipped, everything changed. I was suddenly in the shower. Warm water was soaking through my clothes, and Zane towered over me, one hand pinning my wrists above my head, his grip unyielding.

Water streamed down his face, making dark strands of hair plaster against his forehead.

I gasped.

His injury—

His lips crashed onto mine, and his tongue slid into my mouth, taking advantage of my shock. With teasing strokes, he devoured me, kissing me so fiercely I had no time to breathe. No time to think.

My knees buckled, and his grip on my wrists as he pushed me against the cool tile kept me upright.

His free hand slid down my body, fingers working at undoing my pants and dragging them down in one swift motion. The fabric stuck to my skin, damp and clinging, but Zane was relentless.

A sharp whimper escaped my lips, but it was quickly swallowed by his mouth.

I barely registered what was happening until I felt him hard and heavy between my thighs.

I was still wearing my underwear, but that didn’t stop Zane. He didn’t care.

His cock dragged against me, teasing my pussy again and again.

Heat pulsed through my core, hot and liquid.

A deep, pleased sound rumbled from his chest as he moved faster. He released my wrists for a heartbeat, just long enough to shove my thighs together with both hands, before pinning me right back in place.

My head spun. The water, the heat, the feel of him. Everything blurred.

“I want you,” he mumbled against my lips, his voice rough.

His cock continued to slide between my thighs, brushing against my soaked panties.

“Right. Fucking. Now.”

His eyes devoured me with raw hunger flashing in their depths.

“M-my grandmother,” I panted. “She can’t find out.”

Zane let out a low, husky chuckle, catching my words with his lips as he kissed my moan away.

His voice was a sinful whisper against my mouth, “Can I?”

He had me right where he wanted.

I nodded, and that was all he needed.

His lips claimed mine again, swallowing the gasp that escaped as he slid my soaked fabric down my thighs. He finally let go of my arms, and they immediately dropped to his shoulders for balance while his hands grabbed my hips.

He lifted me up, pressing my back against the tiled wall.

I was ready, so fucking ready for him.

As if he could read my thoughts, he thrust into me swiftly.

My toes curled as I locked my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper.

Zane tore his lips from mine just long enough to let me gasp for air, and then his tongue slid against mine once more.

His movements were fast and relentless.

The water pounded down on us, soaking every inch of our bodies as I moved with him, my hips matching his rhythm.

Hours before, my thoughts had been chaos.

But in that shower, there was only him.

Zane.

Alive with me.

I breathed him in and nipped at his lower lip, feeling the heat between us build into something overwhelming.

“Never again,” he hissed against my mouth.

A hand wandered over my body, fingers grazing my lower stomach, pressing down just enough to make me feel every inch of him.

I was close. So close.

“Never.” Thrust. “Again.” Thrust.

I dug my nails into his shoulders, and everything exploded.

A breathless, shuddering moan wanted to escape my throat as I shattered, my body pulsing around him. Zane followed seconds later; his groan of satisfaction was muffled by my lips as he kissed me through our climaxes.

I held onto him like my life depended on it.

“I love you, Amelia.”

My heart stopped.

I clung to him, pressing myself closer, breathless, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

I couldn’t reply. I didn’t need to. I just let myself sink into the moment, into him.

He kissed me one last time, deep and lingering, before slowly lowering me to my feet.

I blinked up at him, dazed.

His gaze was soft, filled with an emotion that was more than just hunger.

He gently cupped my cheek, stroking his thumb along my damp skin.“Thank you.”

In one heck of a role reversal, he was the one who helped me shower; his hands were gentle as he rinsed the water from my hair.

Zane’s strength must’ve come from the painkillers because, after that, he helped me clean the bathroom, erasing every trace of what we’d done.

And when we slipped into the safety of my bedroom, we dressed in quiet, wordless exhaustion and curled together beneath the covers.

I barely lasted a few minutes after lying down.

My eyelids grew heavy as my body sunk against his, the steady rhythm of his breathing lulling me into the deepest sleep I’d had in days.