Page 5 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)
“Put this on.”
A helmet landed in my hands.
I stared at it. Then, at the sleek black motorcycle behind Zane.
I swallowed hard. The cool night air brushed against my heated face, offering momentary relief, but I wasn’t calm.
I couldn’t do this.
“Uh… I think I’d rather take a taxi.”
Zane crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze dragging over my body—slowly and deliberately, like he was reading every tiny reaction.
“I’m taking you home.” His tone left no room for argument, just like his father.
I took a step back. “I never said I wanted you to—”
“I know.” He shrugged. “I want to.”
My stomach twisted, and I glanced down again at the heavy helmet.I hated speed.
Every sudden movement sent me into a quiet panic. Even though I had been a baby when my parents’ car crashed, the fear of being in fast-moving vehicles had never left me.
“Tutor…” Zane’s voice was quiet. Deep. Unrelenting. “You’re scared? ”
I couldn’t answer.
It was late, and I just wanted to go home. And he wasn’t going to let me leave.
I didn’t have the energy to fight him. So, I lifted my eyes to his and was surprised when our gazes locked.
Had he been staring at me the whole time?
A strange, uneasy feeling spread through my chest.
My voice was barely above a whisper when I said, “Please drive carefully.”
Zane only chuckled.He swung his leg over the motorcycle, pulled his helmet on, and gestured for me to get on behind him.
I hesitated.
Whenever I rode with someone, I always asked them to drive slowly. I trusted them, but somehow, I didn’t trust Zane.
My fear lingered and tightened around my throat like a vice.
Impatiently, he tapped his foot against the pavement.
I exhaled shakily and climbed onto the seat behind him, gripping the side handles instead of touching him.
“Drive carefully,” I demanded again.
“Hold on tight,” he countered. “Now… where to go?”
I gave him my address, and he nodded in confirmation.
“Good. Now don’t let go.” he repeated. And suddenly, we were moving.
My soul nearly left my body, and my hands flew forward to wrap around his torso. I felt the solid muscle beneath my fingertips. The steady rhythm of his breath.
A scream got stuck in my throat as my entire body tensed.
“Please… please slow down,” I pleaded, but he didn’t react. He only went faster.
The wind whipped past me, pulling at my clothes. The streetlights blurred into a single, endless streak.
“Zane!”
I pushed myself tighter against him, clutching onto his body with everything I had.
My heart pounded violently in my chest.
Until finally, he slowed down. Not by much, but just enough to know he had done it for me. His body reacted to my touch. His breathing deepened. His back tensed, and just for a moment, there was a low, dark chuckle. I felt it more than I heard it.
“So scared, yet you’re holding onto me like you’ll never let go.”
My face burned. I wanted to get off the bike. Immediately.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Each second seemed to stretch into eternity until we finally arrived at my home.
The moment he stopped, I let go. My hands trembled as I swung my leg over the seat and nearly stumbled onto the pavement.
Shakily, I pulled off the helmet, inhaling sharp, desperate breaths.
I didn’t feel well. I just wanted to go inside.
Without another word, I shoved the helmet back at him and turned toward my house, but a hand caught my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.
It was warm. Firm.
“Wait.”
I snapped my head around. “Let me go.”
He didn’t. At least, not immediately.
His dark eyes studied me as his thumb slowly traced over the inside of my wrist. My pulse pounded against his touch. He could feel it.
His voice became soft, almost gentle. “I’m sorry.”
My lips parted in surprise.
The apology was unexpected, so it took me a moment to find my voice.
“I told you to drive carefully.”
“I did.”
To that, I had no comeback.
When I said “carefully,” I expected the drive to be slow and cautious. That was what everyone else had understood… until Zane.
I pulled my hand away.“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think we’ll ride together again, so just forget it.”
Zane stared at his hand, tilting his head slightly. Then, without a word, he set my helmet aside and pulled off his.
His devastatingly handsome face was back in full view.
And he smiled.
The streetlights reflected in his eyes, gleaming with something unreadable.
“I also want to apologize for earlier.”
“For what?”
“I know my mother is sensitive. I shouldn’t have acted that way because of her. And…” His voice dropped slightly. “…the way I greeted you when we met.”
“Oh, so the great Zane Cole is actually willing to apologize?” I almost laughed, rolling my eyes.
The shaking in my hands had faded as my body started to calm down.
“Yes, I am.” His lips twitched. “I hope this beautiful young woman can find it in her heart to forgive me.”
I just nodded, ready to say goodnight, but then, something soft brushed against my feet, taking my entire attention.
A cat wove between my legs and stopped right between my ankles. I recognized its gray fur immediately.
Quickly, I crouched and lifted the heavy, fat creature into my arms.“Ivy? What are you doing here?”
My neighbor spoiled her far too much, and as a result, she was very overweight.
Ivy let out a soft meow, nudging her head against my hand for pets, which I immediately gave her.
But the moment I touched her, a cold wave of unease washed over me.The past few days flashed through my mind. “Where’s Susan?”
The woman in question hurried toward us from across the street, waving frantically. “Amelia! Oh, my dear, thank you!”
Susan, my wonderful neighbor, was around my grandmother’s age and also her best friend. She was still lively, working at a bakery and occasionally teaching crochet classes.
Her silver hair was pulled into a neat bun, and a large pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on her nose.She was short, with a soft figure. And the woman was full of warmth.
“Oh, Ivy! How could you scare me like that?” she scolded the cat while struggling to breathe properly.“Amelia, you’re an angel!”
Ivy just meowed again, looking slightly offended.
“Ivy, listen to Susan. It’s dangerous right now,” I murmured, stroking the cat’s fur.
“Amelia, thank you for stopping her. We were just returning from our group meeting when she suddenly ran off!”
I looked Ivy over carefully, checking her mouth and fur. There were no signs of anything unusual. No signs that she had eaten anything.
“Thank God nothing happened. She probably just spotted me and wanted to say hi,” I joked.
“Maybe. But ever since you warned me about the incidents, I’ve been trying to keep her inside.”
I nodded. “It’s for the better.”
Susan’s expression shifted. “Have there been any more cases?”
I hesitated before answering. “Unfortunately… yes.”
“Oh, dear Lord. It’s not safe anymore.” She gave me a worried look. “I hope you’re staying safe, my sweet girl.”
Susan exhaled deeply and reached for Ivy, gently pulling her from my arms. The cat’s warmth disappeared from my skin instantly.
“You must be tired. I won’t keep you any longer.
” Susan glanced at the man beside me. She didn’t linger on Zane for long, but I noticed it.
She looked almost… uneasy.“Come by for coffee and cake soon, okay?” She kissed my cheek, wished me a good night, and disappeared into the house next door, scolding Ivy the entire way.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
“Amelia.” Zane’s deep voice pulled me back to the present.
I blinked, suddenly remembering that he was still standing there.
“What cases?”
“There have been multiple reports of animal poisonings,” I explained. “One of the pets… didn’t make it.”
My stomach twisted.The missing cat. The unanswered questions.
Zane frowned. “That hasn’t been reported anywhere.”
“I know it because I work at the vet clinic.”
His gaze lingered on me.“I was only gone for a few months… What the hell happened to this town?”
If only I knew…
“I should go inside. Thanks for the ride.”
Without another glance at him, I turned and walked inside, shutting the door behind me. But even with the barrier between us, Zane’s gaze still burned against my skin.