Chapter 12
Adam started walking toward me, slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. The kind of measured, unhurried movement that made my stomach twist not with fear, but with something else.
Something dangerous.
He wasn’t just pissed. He was holding onto his control by a thread.
In his right hand, he carried a crisp white shopping bag, the handles dangling from his fingers like an afterthought. He stopped just short of our booth, his gaze flicking to my chest, where I still clutched the sheet against me, before settling back on my face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” 1 nsked, narrowing my eyes,
He didn’t answer.
“Layla, you know this guy? Xander asked beside me, his tone neutral but alert.
“Unfortunately, yeah, I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest.
placed the bag down on the table with a quiet thud. “Take it,” he ordered. “Go get dressed. We have an appointment, and you’re making us late.”
His voice was steady, but underneath it, 1 heard it, the restrained fury, the edge of something barely contained. I should’ve backed down. I should’ve just ignored him
But I didn’t want him calm. I wanted him to snap. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. All I know is that I wanted to see him tip over the edge, to see what would happen when he finally let go of that composure he was foking. Because it was definitely feigned.
Lifting the bag. I peeked inside, my brow furrowing when I saw what looked like a brand–new dress and a pair of sleek heels.
I scoffed. “Did my mother send you?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Go back and tell her I won’t make it. I have better things to do.”
His expression darkened. “Better things? he echoed, and the way he said it, low, sharp, made my pulse stutter. Then his attention flicked to Xander.
Xander, who was watching him just as intently, his arms crossed over his inked–up chest. They were the same height. Both broad–shouldered, confident. And neither was backing down.
“Get out” Adam muttered, his voice dropping to something lethal,
Xander’s expression didn’t change, but I saw the way his jaw tensed. “You wanna try that again, asshole?”
Adam took a step forward. “I won’t say it twice.”
Xander’s lips curled, though he clearly wasn’t amused. “See, I was just thinking the same thing
The air was mazor–sharp now, humming with tension. I swore I could hear my own pulse in my ears. I was about to witness a very bad decision, Adam’s hands twatched, like he was half a second away from making a move. Xander didn’t flinch, standing his ground. This wouldn’t end well.
““Alright, enought” I snapped, shifting off the table and gripping the sheet tighter around me. “Jesus, both of you need to take a damn breath.”
Neither of them moved.
1 sighed, irritated beyond belief. Faur. F’ll go with you.
Xander’s head snapped toward me. “You’re kidding, right?”
I shook my head and reached for my top. “Can you cover my next client? And cancel the one after?”
His jaw clenched, and he didn’t answer right away. I turned away from them both and pulled my top on, rolling my shoulders. Adam grabbed the bag, holding it out, but I didn’t take it. Instead, I met his gaze and nanowed my gaze to slits. I’d rather show up naked than wear whatever this is.”
His grip tightened around the bag’s handles, his jaw ticking. But he didn’t argue. Xander still wasn’t sold. “Layla, who the hell even is this guy?”
“It’s fine,” I assured him. “I’ll explain later.”
Claimed By My Billionaire Stepbrother
