Chapter 41 Chapter 41
Leah's POV
I noticed the slight frown creasing my forehead the moment Tariq returned to the table. He sat down. His gaze was soft with concern and he reached out to take my hand again. “Leah? Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice gentle.
My heart hammered in my chest. I tried to compose myself, but my thoughts were spinning too fast, still consumed by the message I had just seen. I forced a small smile, my voice betraying none of the turmoil inside me. “Yeah, everything is fine. Just… a little tired,” I lied and lowered my gaze to avoid his penetrating stare.
Tariq studied me for a moment, then shrugged. He seemed to be satisfied with my answer. He began talking again, his tone light and playful. “You know, I’ve been thinking about taking you on a weekend trip. Just the two of us. Maybe up to the mountains? I heard there’s a place with hot springs. What do you think?”
I tried to focus on his words, but my mind was elsewhere, consumed by the words I had read on his phone. “I need her to trust me completely for our plan to succeed.” The words replayed over and over in my head like a bad dream. I nodded absentmindedly, forcing myself to respond. “That sounds… nice.”
Tariq grinned and leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Good. You deserve to be pampered.” His flirtatious smile didn’t reach my heart this time. I could feel his charm, but it no longer felt comforting. It felt calculated.
My chest tightened with a mixture of fear and betrayal. I glanced at his phone, still lying on the table, wondering what other secrets it held. I had to know more. Who was that person he had saved as Honey? What plan was he talking about? But I couldn’t risk asking him, not yet.
Tariq’s voice pulled me back from my thoughts. “Do you want to dance?” he asked, standing and offering his hand to me, his smile inviting.
My pulse quickened with anxiety. The last thing I wanted to do was dance with him. “No, I don’t feel so well,” I replied softly, looking away. “I think I just need to go home.”
Tariq’s brow furrowed in concern, but he nodded. “Of course. Let’s go back then.” He waved for the check, and within minutes, we were walking back to the car.
The ride home was silent, thick with tension that neither of us acknowledged. I stared out the window, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of what I had seen. Had Tariq been lying to me this whole time? Was everything we had together just a game to him?
Tariq glanced at me, his voice soft. “Didn’t like the food?”
I shook my head, offering another forced smile. “No, the food was great. I just… I have a headache. I think I need to get home, take a shower, and rest.”
Tariq frowned, concern flickering in his dark eyes. “Are you sure? We can stop somewhere if you need anything.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted, my voice tighter than I intended. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to be near him. The sooner I got home, the sooner I could start thinking of my next move.
When we arrived at the house, I stepped out of the car quickly, barely waiting for Tariq. I muttered something about needing to shower and hurried inside. As soon as I was in the bathroom, I locked the door behind me, my hands trembling.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My face looked pale, my eyes wide with fear. I felt like I was sinking, like everything around me was crumbling. What was Tariq hiding from me? How long had he been lying? And why?
I let out a shaky breath and ran the bath, trying to calm my racing heart. As the tub filled with warm water, I slipped out of the dress and stepped in, letting the heat soothe my tense muscles. But my mind refused to quiet down.
He’s planning something. Something against me. I replayed the message in my head again, the words a knot in my stomach. “I need her to trust me completely for our plan to succeed.”
What plan? Was it about the pack? Or was it something more personal? My thoughts spiraled into darker places. Was everyone in the pack involved? Were they all in on it? I couldn’t trust anyone. Not anymore. Not after this.
I shivered despite the warmth of the water. I felt so vulnerable, so alone. If Tariq was plotting something, I had no one to turn to. I had to be careful, had to protect myself.
But first, I needed to find a way to get into his phone. That was the key. If I could see the rest of his messages, maybe I could uncover what he was planning. But how could I do it without him noticing? He was always careful, always aware of his surroundings. If I made one wrong move, he would know.
My mind raced as I considered my options. I could try to take his phone while he was sleeping. It wasn’t like I could just ask him to let me go through his phone. He would know something was wrong.
As I sank deeper into the tub, I felt the weight of the situation press down on me. I was in dangerous territory now. Every move I made from here on out had to be calculated. One wrong step, and I could end up in serious trouble.
The water around me rippled as my fingers flexed with tension. I had to be strong. Whatever Tariq was planning, whatever secrets he was keeping, I would find out. And I wouldn’t let him hurt me or use me. Not like this.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. From now on, I would start watching him closely. I would find a way to get his phone, to see those messages. And then I would decide what to do next.
But for now, I had to play my part. I had to pretend like everything was fine. Like I hadn’t seen anything. If Tariq suspected anything, it could all go wrong.
When I finally got out of the tub, I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my reflection in the mirror again. My eyes were hard now, filled with determination. I wasn’t going to let him manipulate me. I wasn’t going to be his pawn.
I dressed quickly, my mind still whirling with thoughts of the night’s revelations. As I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Tariq waiting for me in the bedroom, his face full of concern.
“You okay, babe?” he asked softly, standing from where he sat on the bed. “You have been in there for a while. I was getting worried.”
I forced a smile, hiding the anxiety gnawing at my insides. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed a long soak to relax.”
Tariq came closer, brushing a hand through my damp hair. “Good. You’ve seemed tense lately. If you’re not feeling well, we can take it easy for a while.”
I nodded, fighting the urge to pull away from his touch. Every word he said felt like a lie now, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in more danger than I had realized.
“I’ll be fine,” I replied. “I just need some rest.”
Tariq smiled softly, kissing me on the forehead. “Alright. Get some sleep, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”