Bound to my Enemy Chapter 162

"My brother?" I hiss, my hands clenching at my sides. My voice trembles, part fury, part disbelief.

"Don’t you even think that my brother would....would do sothing like that! He’s my brother! He’s not a killer!"

Zane’s jaw tightens. His eyes are cold, dark, and unyielding, like steel cutting through the room.

"You think I’d accuse him lightly?" he asks, voice low, sharp, filled with weight.

"Thomas didn’t say he gave the order, but the trail leads right through one of his very close business partners. That’s how I know it’s connected to him."

I take a step back, trying to shove the words away from like they’re venom. My stomach twists, my hands shake, and I feel my chest tightening.

"So now you’re saying I should just trust this... this implication? You’re basing this on so business paper trail? Zane, my brother....my family...how dare you even....."

"I dare because I know!" he snaps, the words cutting through , and for a mont, I can feel the heat of his anger press against my skin.

"Lucas has hated long before you ever married into this family. He never wanted this, Elaine. He never wanted you....he wanted your family’s blood, whether you see it or not!"

I can feel the air in the room constricting, every word heavier than the last.

"You always do this!" I yell, my hands flailing in front of , voice rising.

"You’re always looking for reasons to hate my family, to drag into your wars, to....."My words choke off as his glare pins .

Aaron steps between us, hands raised in a futile gesture of peace. "Elaine, Zane....."

I spin on him, my voice hard. "Don’t! Stay the fuck out of this!"

Aaron freezes, caught in the middle, but I don’t even notice as Zane steps closer, every motion deliberate, predatory, and I feel the old surge of anger curl in my gut. My breathing quickens, pulse hamring in my ears.

"You can’t just say things like that about my brother! You don’t know him! You don’t know anything!"

"I know enough," Zane growls, stepping forward so fast it makes stumble. "Enough to warn you!"

I see the hard line in his jaw, the intensity in his eyes, and I know he’s not bluffing. My body stiffens, chest heaving nd fists clenching at my sides. My entire being screams at to fight, to not show fear

Then Zane snaps his fingers, at Aarom. "Aaron, leave us."

Aaron hesitates, his eyes flicking between us, clearly aware that walking out now is as much a command as a warning. His jaw tightens. "Elaine..."

"Leave!" I spit, voice cracking with anger and adrenaline.

Aaron sighs, shoulders tense, and finally steps toward the door, casting one last wary glance at . The door shuts behind him, leaving us alone.

The room is silent except for our breaths, ragged and heavy. My body shakes with anger and disbelief. I take a step back, trying to put space between us, but Zane doesn’t move. He just watches , calm, collected,lyk a predator coiled and waiting.

Then his hand shoots out, fast and certain, wrapping around my throat. Not enough to choke , but enough that the strength in his grip is undeniable. I freeze, my hands instinctively clawing at his wrist. My stomach twists, adrenaline spiking with my heart hamring like a drum.

"Now I need you to understand ." he says, his voice low, each word vibrating against my skin. "Never. Challenge. My authority. Not in front of my n."

I jerk against his grip, voice sharp. "I... I don’t need to be reminded what you think of ! I’m not... I’m not a child! And I’m not afraid of you!"

His fingers tighten fractionally. The cuttjin pressure makes gasp, my chest rising and falling erratically. I can feel the coldness of his control pressing through , but the anger boils hotter. "You’re....." I manage, voice trembling but fierce, "you’re insane if you think you can just... just... dictate mymy family and my life!"

For a long mont, he stares at , his eyes dark, and then slowly, just enough to let breathe, he releases . I stumble back, gasping, hand to my throat, my fingers trembling and heart still racing.

"You’re reckless," he mutters, voice almost to himself. "And stubborn. That’s... dangerous."

"Dangerous?" I snap, regaining so of my footing. My voice rises, shaking with fury. "You an controlling! Threatening! You’re dangerous!" My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. My whole body thrums with adrenaline. "I’m done letting you scare , Zane. I... I’m done!"

His lips press into a hard line, nostrils flaring slightly, but he says nothing. He just watches, silent and intense, like he’s asuring my words against the weight of his own power.

I don’t wait for him. I turn on my heel, my boots scuffing against the training mat, and storm toward the door. My fists are still clenched and my chest is heaving, my teeth set hard. Each step carries the fire of indignation, the refusal to be controlled or intimidated.

"You’ll regret pushing !" I yell over my shoulder, my voice echoing against the walls of the training room. "I won’t just stand here while you accuse my family, while you...:/"

I pause as the door swings open. The air outside the room feels cooler, a relief to my burning senses. I let the tension spill over with each rapid breath. My hands unclench slightly, but my body is still taut, coiled, and furious and as I walk down the hallway, the echoes of my boots on the floor and my pulse pounding in my ears are the only things I hear. I feel every inch of anger still simring, but beneath it, a flicker of clarity: I will not let him intimidate , not today, not ever.

And in that mont, walking away from the room, I know sothing crucial.... Zane may be powerful, but I will not break. Not now and not ever.