Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 43

I'm Not Answering That

The door to Zaid's bedroom creaks as I push it open, my breath still shaky from everything I've just learned.

Zaid is Aiden's brother.

Jake's son.

The revelation crashes over me over and over again, making my heart race like I've been running for miles, making my stomach turn until I feel like all of my insides will spill out.

I step into his room, not knowing what to expect, not wanting to have any expectations at all. Still, when I turn from the door and face the room, I'm surprised.

I expected chaos.

I expected clothes to be thrown everywhere, maybe even a lingering smell of cologne or

sweat.

But it's not like that at all. It's neat, meticulously so. The bed is made, the sheets smoothed out as if they haven't been touched in days. A small shelf on the wall catches my eye-trophies, gleaming under the dim light coming from the window alone.

Basketball, trophies mostly.

I drop my bag on the floor and step toward the shelf, squinting as I read and look at everything he has set up. I bite my lip. Zaid doesn't seem like the sentimental kind to keep stuff like this up where he can see it everyday.

Pictures of Zaid with his team, arms slung around each other's shoulders, all grins and

adrenaline.

My heart turns sour, twisting in my chest. I suddenly realize why Jake looked so familiar

when I first met him. Zaid looks so much like him. They smile the same way.

There are so many pictures of him in the court, some from the local newspaper with detailed articles. O

He was good at it, probably still is.

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I'm Not Answering That

too, unfolded, with the creases still neat and leaning

wins and I step

a full-ride

step away.

good, better than Aiden,

for longer until I see it. A

him holding a basketball or

It's a mugshot.

as I reach out to touch the glass, the coldness of it seeping into my skin. There's a smirk on his face,

twisted joke.

nauseous and

out of my thoughts, followed by raised voices. I know

but I can't make

they don't like

have I gotten

a family that could

mine.

closing my eyes for a second. All I can think

take over me when the door open and Zaid steps inside, his eyes locking

head when he realizes what picture I've been looking at. "You like that picture, too,

anger. "Is this like a prize

the easygoing mask he usually wears slipping away. "No, it's not

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I'm Not Answering That

"You have

a good picture," he says, his voice flat,

my father and

his face. His hands

take a breath, trying to calm the pain inside me. "What

away for a second, his gaze narrowing on

He looks over my shoulder to the pictures and

on me

a thousand heavy secrets in those eyes