Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 135

He Holds Me–2

A flash of headlights. The violent sound of metal crunching.

I close my eyes, trying to steady myself, to push it all back down.

When I open them again, Zaid is watching me. His brows are slightly furrowed, concern etched into his features. His hand comes to rest on my waist, and he pulls me close to

him.

“Are you okay?” he asks, voice low enough that the others don’t hear.

I nod quickly, too quickly. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

But I can tell he calls bullshit.

Jake and Aiden are too busy bickering to notice as Zaid takes my hand in his, squeezing gently before leading me out of the kitchen. I follow him wordlessly, my breath unsteady as he guides me to his room, closing the door behind us.

It’s, only when we’re alone that I finally crack.

The weight of it all crushes me at once. A choked sob escapes before I can stop it, and suddenly, I’m crumbling.

Zaid takes the mug from my hands and places it on his desk before holding me tight against his chest. “I’ve got you.”

My entire body shakes as I sob.

“I’ve got you.”

The words unravel me further. I hold on to him, my fingers brushing over the scars on his torso,and the violent need to word vomit hits me. I pull away, his hands on my cheeks as

he watches me.

“I caused it,” I finally whisper, my voice barely audible.

Zaid blinks at me. “What?”

“On Valentine’s day.”

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He Holds Me–2

Realization crosses his features, and he closes his eyes. “Shit, love.”

I inhale sharply, forcing the words out before I lose the courage. “My dad took us out that morning. Breakfast, then the store to get flowers for my mom–just-”

My throat closes up. Zaid’s hold on me tightens.

I want to yell at him that he doesn’t understand. But he does. Finally, for once, someone

does.

“You’ve been carrying this guilt for so long, and you shouldn’t have to. You didn’t kill

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He Holds Me–2

them, love.”

My lips tremble. The memories are so strong, so suffocating, and the guilt has lived inside me for so long that I don’t know how to exist without it.

Zaid sees it. He sees the war happening inside of me, and instead of letting me spiral, he pulls me back against him, his arms locking around me.

His voice is softer now, but just as steady. “You loved them. They loved you. And they wouldn’t want you to do this to yourself.”

His lips press against the top of my head, lingering there as his grip on me remains unyielding. I break then, fully and completely.

And Zaid? He holds me.