Chapter Twenty
Laila’s POV
Zane stood unmoving, his towering silhouette casting a long, dark shadow across the polished wooden stage. The heavy silence stretched out between us until the air felt thick, suffocating, and far too hot to breathe.
Slowly, deliberately, he reached up with one broad, calloused hand, unhooked the silk ribbons tied behind his head, and pulled off his black leather mask.
His sharp, dangerously sculpted face was revealed under the harsh spotlight. His jaw was set in a hard, unyielding line, and the subtle stubble along his jawline made him look even more ruthless than he had back at the auto workshop. He didn't look surprised to see me. He just looked utterly exhausted, his golden-flecked eyes drilling straight through the thin lace covering my face.
“Congratul
