Page 48 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)

Zane's POV

“Two years after endless terror and unsolved mysteries, a revelation has come to light. A confession letter was discovered, hidden within the diary of convicted murderer Rita M. The letter detailed years of meticulous planning behind the gruesome killings. Rita harbored a deep hatred for animals, convinced that even they received more love than she ever had. A twisted, horrifying thought. Her adoptive father enabled her every step of the way, claiming he loved her too much to ever deny her anything. A tragic—”

I switched off the TV.

The fact that the case was being dragged back into the public eye after two years infuriated me. I wanted to forget. I refused to let that chapter of our lives resurface.

But I knew Amelia was probably watching. Of course, she was. Her best friend, Tiana, had just launched her own crime segment on the news, and it was her first major report.

For me, the case was closed. Watson was dead. Rita and her father were rotting in prison, and I couldn’t care less about their so-called motives.

Amelia’s work had suffered back then. Paws her luminous smile banished every shadow inside my soul.

Her grandmother had sewn the dress for her before she passed away. It was simple, elegant, and timeless. A few alterations had been necessary, but in the end, it was perfect, made just for her.

A small smile played on my lips as I remembered the moment she had walked down the aisle. My heart had stopped.

At that moment, I knew.

She was mine. Forever.

Not that she hadn’t been before, but it was undeniable.

We got married after one year of dating. I hadn’t been able to wait a second longer. I wanted nothing to come between us again. The moment we moved in together, in a new house, my life felt complete.

I would give her everything.

I would do anything for her.

A few things changed in our lives. I retired from music and dedicated my life to giving Amelia the utmost comfort. She stopped tutoring, even though the school asked her to come back.

Tristan also retired. After everything that happened, he decided to live a quiet life. He met up with Amelia one last time to clarify a few things. Of course, I was with them. It was unnecessary talk, but for my wife, it meant something, so I just stood by and listened.

Amelia belonged to me, so I wasn’t afraid of losing her to him.

My eyes flicked up to the clock. I had a meeting with an art dealer in an unfamiliar city, far away from my wife.

Three days without Amelia.

Too many days.

My phone buzzed. I unlocked it and opened the new photo message.

Amelia.

She was in the garden, surrounded by Layla, Tiana, Stacy, my parents, Layla’s baby girl, Simon, and Ivy. A familiar warmth settled in my chest until my eyes caught sight of someone else in the group.

Spencer.

My jaw tightened instinctively, and I forced myself to stay calm. He was just a friend, but still… I didn’t like him anywhere near her.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.

An irritated Ryan entered the room. “Mr. Cole, the artist had to cancel at the last minute. He’s asking if we can reschedule.”

I shot to my feet. “Then he can come to us next time. Let’s go.”

He arched a brow. “In a hurry, are we?”

“I want to see my wife.” I brushed past him, grabbing my laptop, jacket, and bag.

“We still have some formalities to go over,” he protested, catching my arm.

“What formalities?” I was seconds away from shaking him off.

“The contracts! They still need your signature. We can’t leave until that’s done.”

I rolled my eyes, motioning toward the desk. “They’re all there. Signed.”

Ryan blinked in surprise. “Wait… what? I thought you were going to review them after the meeting?”

“Changed my mind. Can I leave now?”

A trace of amusement, maybe even pride, flashed in his eyes. “Yeah, sir. You can. ”

The moment he released me, I was out the door and hailing a cab back to my hotel.

After changing my flight, I’d be home in only a few hours if everything went according to plan.

It was late at night when I finally stood in front of our home. My suitcase felt heavy in my hand, but it was nothing compared to the weight pressing on my chest.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Dropping my suitcase with a dull thud, I kicked off my shoes and draped my jacket on the hook.

With every step up the stairs, the anticipation rose.

But the bedroom was empty.

A flicker of unease gripped me until I heard the sound of splashing.

My body relaxed.

The bathroom door wasn’t locked, so Ipushed it open quietly.

And there she was.

Standing beneath the shower, lost in the water’s warmth, as she rinsed her hair. Steam curled around her, wrapping her body in a hazy, golden glow.

God.

My eyes traced every curve, every inch of her glistening skin, lingering on the faint scar along her stomach.

My fingers twitched involuntarily.

It was too fucking long.

Silently, I stepped inside, reaching for her

My cool hands met her warm skin, making her gasp and jolt in surprise.

“Zane?” Amelia relaxed against me, melting into my touch.“I thought you weren’t coming home until tomorrow.”

I pushed her up against the cold shower wall, caging her in with my body as the hot water poured down over us.

Her gaze locked onto mine with desire, and my head dipped to brush my lips against her throat, tasting the heat of her damp skin. A shiver rolled over her.

I was finally home.

My mouth traveled lower, tracing her shoulders and collarbone before going back up to capture her lips.

She let me take her. No hesitation. No resistance.

“My meeting was canceled,” I murmured against her mouth.

Amelia moaned, soft and needy.

My control snapped.

I ripped my soaked clothes off, letting them fall to the tiles without a second thought.

My hard, aching cock pressed against her stomach.

“I missed you,” Amelia whispered.

A low, guttural groan rumbled in my throat.

Missed me? I barely survived without you.

I lifted her effortlessly, and her limbs wrapped around my body to hold me close. Her pupils were blown wide, her breathing ragged.

I dragged my cock through her wet heat, thrusting into my wife with a deep, unrelenting stroke.

She cried out, body arching, and the water turned her into something ethereal that belonged to me alone.

“I will never get enough of you,” I rasped. My fingers traced over her scar.

Her muscles clenched around me as a soft whimper slipped from her lips. In tandem with my movements, she ground against me, taking me deeper.

I lost myself.

Gripping her hips, I pounded into her.

When she was close to the edge, I slowed down, changing the pace to deliberate, torturous thrusts so we could savor every inch, every pulse, and every shudder.

Amelia’s nails clawed at my back.

When I bit her ear, she whimpered, “Why always my ear?”

“If I do this, you wrap tighter around me.” I teased.

Despite her annoyance, she moaned and trembled in my arms.

My pace became more demanding.

I gave her everything.

Every second, every agonizing minute I had spent away from her, I made her feel it.

How much I needed and craved her. How much she belonged to me.

Amelia shattered.

She came with a strangled moan, her body convulsing, gripping me with brutal intensity.

I followed her into bliss, plunging deep as I spilled into her body, my mind fracturing from the sheer force of my release.

The water poured over us, but all I felt was her.

She sagged against me, her heartbeat thrumming against my chest. “Let’s move to the bedroom.”

Surprised, a slow, wicked smile spread across my lips.

Had I almost forgotten how addicted she was to me, just as much as I was to her?

I didn’t need to be told twice.

With ease, I carried her out of the shower and spent the entire night taking her again and again.

Later that morning, we lay tangled in bed. Amelia scrolled through her phone, and I traced invisible patterns on her bare skin with my fingertips.

I loved her.

I loved these mornings with her. When the world was quiet, and it was just the two of us.

“Oh my God!” Her surprised exclamation jolted me out of my relaxed trance.

I raised a brow. “What is it?”

Amelia abruptly sat up, her naked skin glowing in the golden morning light, and just like that, my focus completely derailed.

But she shoved her phone in front of my face, blocking my view of her perfect body.

“This is the woman who sent me the information about the case!”

Frowning, I took the phone and read the headline she was pointing at.

Radio Star Vivienne Mercer Suspected of Murder!

The cover line read:

“And not only that… sources reveal that her so-called marriage to the renowned detective Jace Knox was nothing but a fake marriage!”

I let out a low sigh and rolled my eyes.“And I’m supposed to care why?”

When I met Amelia’s gaze, it was fiery and brimming with curiosity.

Fuck.

She was already hooked.

“Why would she help solve a murder only to commit one herself now?” Amelia mumbled, absentmindedly biting her swollen lower lip.

My fingers twitched.

“Something doesn’t add up.”

I exhaled through my nose and tossed the phone aside.“Forget it, Amelia. Anything involving murders, secret messages, scandals, or any other reckless shit. You’re staying the hell out of it.”

She pouted, pressing herself against my chest with a soft sigh. “I wasn’t planning anything. I was just shocked.”

My arms locked around her waist, my pulse beating harder than before.“Don’t do this to me, Amelia.”

“I’m not doing anything, Zane.”

She leaned in, brushing her lips over mine. Soft, warm, and just distracting enough to dull the tension in my chest.

But was she really going to let it go?

Doubtful.

She shifted, straddling my hips.

Her fingertips traced slow, teasing lines down my neck as her thighs tightened around me, pressing her heat against my skin.

“Zane. I promise.”

Her body melted against mine, her soft breasts flush against my chest. Utterly dangerous.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

She was distracting me.

And I let her. I let her twist me around her little finger.

Because I loved it.