was larger than her

and a chandelier made of real crystal glowed softly above the king-size bed. Amina

s tie. He didn't speak right away. He just poured himsel

n the bed. I'll

rprised. "You're not.

eyebrow. "Did

eath c

ot a monster. I married you for my own reasons.

don't?"

ply, sipping his drink. "O

a realised she was dealing w

. Zayn was calm, powerful, and unreadable. His energy

" she asked, stepping c

led. "Bu

not an

l you need

couch, kicking off his shoes. "Go to sleep

idn't

ut because, for the first tim

eople bowed when he entered a room-all of it screamed influence. But no one

d in the shadows... a

ady dressed in a black turtleneck an

g somewhere

he

one who owes

town she didn't recognise. High walls. Electric g

ir and gold chains greeted

ou didn't say you we

," Zayn said f

es widened.

sat, motioning for Amina to join. "I need a

faded. "You mean

nod

y stopped. "How do

yn said without looking at her. "That's how I knew

at him, s

m 10 years ago. And the transport records. All of it.

eone else took it

lse took it. Your mistake was tru

take was believing Id

the suite, she

you hel

e the innocent. Because you have fire in your eyes. And becau

. "And what do y

e my own history with the Mfaume family. He

e usin

stepping closer. "Bu

uldn't

ld floor. Of the screams from the other inmates. On t

en she woke up, s

as bu

pur

d Zayn shirtless, making eggs, tatto

ooking?"

"I'm full of

soft, but he wasn't cruel either. He gave her space. He listened.

name is clear. Officially. But the streets

ow

st. We make them obsess over the present. Y

ebrow. "You want

her hair off her shoulder. "No

hoto of the two of

naire, married ex-convict Am

ernet e

me judged. Some

tood tall

the whispe

didn't s

an who could ruin your

iked

in ten years, Ami

king back i

ith gasoline