Lying

Sammi’s POV

Zade’s glare is piercing, a dark storm building in his eyes as he grips my arm tighter. The tension between us is thick, suffocating. My mouth opens to speak, to lie, but the words stick in my throat as his grip tightens just a bit more, twisting my arm slightly, forcing my attention solely on him.

“What the hell have you been doing?” His voice is low, simmering with barely contained anger. He looks at me like I’m a puzzle he can’t figure out, a piece that doesn’t fit into the perfect image of the sister he’s always protected.

“I… what?” I chew on my lip, feeling the walls close in. I try to think of something, anything, but all I can do is feel his eyes burning into me, waiting for an answer I can’t give.

He narrows his eyes, his voice rising, “How the hell do you have carpet burns on you, Sammi? Who the hell are you fucking?”

“I’m not!” I whisper, the words weak, almost swallowed by the intensity of the moment.

Zade laughs, but it’s humorless, more of a harsh bark than a