Finally, Aylin spoke up. "Alright, listen. You need to know something. Without this info, you won’t take anything Zayden says seriously. I know you."

Zayn squinted. "What do you mean?"

Zayden took a deep breath. "It’s about Alexander."

Zayn got up right away. "Look, Z, I don’t care who Alexander really is. I love Emma, and that’s all that matters." He started walking toward the door. "I came here as you asked and answered your questions. Now, I have a date to get to—"

"Alexander killed my parents," Aylin said quietly.

Zayn froze, his hand still wrapped around the door handle

"And he killed Emma’s parents, too," Aylin added.

Zayn turned slowly. "What?"

He walked back to the chair and sat down heavily. "What did you just say?"

Aylin’s voice was steady, even though her eyes showed pain. "Alexander Kane. That’s not even his real name. His actual name is Elias King Kane. He was a government agent who went off the rails. He was part of a criminal organization and ran Kinova Biomed, a pharmaceutical company."

"And he killed your parents," Zayn said slowly, trying to wrap his head around it.

"Fourteen years ago, he murdered my mom," Aylin confirmed. "We think he also killed my dad five years ago, but we don’t have proof yet."

Zayn looked at Zayden. "You knew about this?"

"That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you," Zayden replied. "That’s why I didn’t want you getting involved with Emma."

"But Emma’s not—" Zayn started.

"Emma is totally innocent," Aylin interrupted. "She has no idea about any of this."

"Doesn’t know what?" Zayn asked.

Aylin took a breath. "Emma’s adopted. Alexander adopted her when she was two months old. Her biological parents worked for the same criminal organization; they tried to leave and had evidence that could blow it up. The organization had them killed. Alexander was the one who did it."

Zayn’s face went pale. "Emma’s parents."

"Emma was just a month old when Alexander killed her parents," Zayden said. "A month later, he adopted her. He told her that her mom died giving birth. Emma thinks he’s her biological dad. She has no clue she’s adopted."

"Jesus Christ," Zayn breathed.

Leo jumped in. "The guy you met—the one who shook your hand and said nice things about your restaurant? That’s just a front. It’s a disguise. Underneath, he’s a murderer."

"And if he figures out you’re linked to Aylin Alston," Reyes added, "if he finds out Aylin is Zayden’s girl, or if he makes any connection between Emma dating you and Aylin being here..."

"He’ll come after all of us," Liam wrapped up.

Zayn leaned back in his chair, trying to process everything. His hands were shaking a bit; whether from anger or shock, it was hard to say.

"So you’re telling me," Zayn said slowly, "that he killed Emma’s folks. But he’s into her?"

Aylin nodded. "As much as a guy like him can love someone, yeah. He really seems to care about Emma. But that doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done."

"And Emma has no clue about any of this," Zayn said, more as a statement than a question.

"Not a thing," Aylin confirmed. "She thinks her dad is just some successful businessman. She had no idea about his real job or what he’d been up to in the past."

Zayn was quiet for a while. When he finally spoke, his tone was different—much more serious than they’d ever heard before. "Alright. I get it now. I’m sorry, Z. I didn’t know. I should’ve listened when you warned me."

"You couldn’t have known," Zayden said.

"But now I do," Zayn said, looking at Aylin. "I really am sorry. For what happened to your parents. For what he did."

"Thanks," Aylin said softly.

Zayn stood up again, but this time he had a purpose. "Alright. Here’s the plan. I’m still going to that date. I’m still going to tell Emma how I feel. From now on, it’s my job to keep her safe."

"Zayn—" Zayden started.

"No, listen," Zayn interrupted. "Whether she accepts my feelings or not, whether we end up together or not, I’m going to make sure Emma is alright. I’ll make sure Alexander can’t hurt her."

"That’s risky," Reyes warned.

"I don’t care," Zayn said firmly. "She’s innocent in all of this. She needs protecting."

"And when do you plan to tell her the truth?" Aylin asked quietly.

Zayn met her gaze. "When it feels right. When she’s ready to hear it. When she’ll be safe knowing it." He paused. "I promise you, Aylin. When the time comes, she’ll get the whole story."

Zayden got up and walked over to his brother. "Do you fully understand what you’re stepping into? The risks involved?"

"I do," Zayn said. "But she’s totally worth it. And besides," he gave a little smile, "being a Virelli means we take risks."

"You’re such an idiot," Zayden replied, pulling his brother into a tight hug.

"Your idiot," Zayn shot back.

After they let go, Zayn looked around at everyone. "Thanks. For telling me. For trusting me with this."

"Just be careful," Liam urged.

"I’m always careful," Zayn responded.

"That’s a total lie," Leo chimed in. "You’re never careful."

"Okay, fine. I’ll try to be more careful," Zayn said.

"Better," Aylin said, standing up to give him another hug. "Make sure to look after her, Zayn. And take care of yourself too."

"I will," he promised.

As Zayn walked out of the study and headed for the front door, the others stayed behind.

"Do you think he can handle this?" Reyes asked.

"He has to," Zayden replied, watching through the window as Zayn’s car drove away.

*****

In his car, driving to Emma’s house, Zayn’s mind was racing.

The guy he met—the one who smiled nicely, talked about food and family, and seemed like just an overprotective dad—was actually a murderer.

His smile was fake. His concern was fake. Everything about him was just a well-made lie, so perfect that even Emma, who had lived with him forever, couldn’t see it.

Zayn tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

Emma had no clue. She loved her dad and trusted him completely. Meanwhile, she was living with the man who had killed her real parents.

That thought made Zayn feel sick.

But more than that, it fueled his determination.

He was going to protect her—from Alexander, from the truth (at least until she was strong enough to deal with it), from everything.

When the time came and she was ready, he would tell her everything.

Because she deserved to know.

And because he loved her.

Even if she never forgave him for keeping these secrets.

Even if telling her the truth meant losing her.

She deserved to know who she really was. She deserved the truth.

Zayn pulled up to Emma’s house and parked in the driveway. He could see lights on inside and imagined Emma getting ready, probably nervous about their date.

Sweet, innocent Emma had no idea that her whole life was built on lies.

He took a deep breath, put on a light and happy expression, and got out of the car.

He could do this.

He would do this.

For her, no matter what it cost him.