Lost

Chapter 74: Shots Fired!

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Salma took a seat next to James. Her mind was still all over the place. It kept straying to the havoc that wrecked on her the previous night, to the possible threats she may still have to her safety, to Zayn's nerve to visit her in the hospital and then ask to see her mother.

Most importantly, and although Salma did her best to avoid thinking about it, she was sickened by the worry of not knowing what happened when she was alone with Zayn.

"You okay?" James asked her, as Asim pulled out of the parking lot.

"Yes." Salma faked a smile.

Salma stayed quiet for most of the ride, letting the three boys do all the talking. She was deep in thought wondering if the man who gave her the chance to escape in the dark alley was actually one of Alex's subordinates. She wished she could have gotten an answer from Alex and some reassurance that the mystery man made it out of there alive. She was pulled to the present when James suddenly yelped in surprise.

"Sick bast –" James bit his tongue. "What the hell is he doing here?!"

It took Salma sometime to realize they were almost home. She followed James's stare and was shocked out of her skin to see Zayn standing by her front door. He was deep in conversation with Anne and her mother.

"I appreciate it," Zayn flashed her mother a modest smile. "Thank you, Alley."

Alley? Salma thought angrily as she hastened to get out of the car. That was a nickname reserved for people close to the family. Why was he calling her mother Alley?

Zayn took leave, and turned around to walk over to his ride. His eyes lingered over the four of them as they piled out of the car, a smug smile creeping on his lips. Salma's gut clenched with unease.

"What are you doing here?!" Asim questioned, his tone hostile.

"Nothing much." Zayn shrugged as he put on his sunglasses and unlocked his car. "Just having a chat with your mum is all."

"Having a chat, my ass! Tell me exactly what you were doing here?" James snarled.

Zayn chuckled pleasantly.

"She doesn't like cursing, did you know?" Zayn said, jerking his head towards Salma. Her heart sank with unease. Why did he keep forcing the conversation towards her?

"Answer the question!"

Zayn let out a breath, turning his gaze firmly on Salma. Her insides twisted with anxiety knowing he was about to throw another blow. She braced herself for his hurtful insults but nothing could have prepared her for what followed.

"Fine," he replied. "I was making sure my sole interest in this house is protected from further harm. Problem?"

Salma's lips parted in surprise. Her heart seemed to have suffered a seizure at what he was aiming at with his words. She stared at him, not willing to believe her ears. Zayn looked right back. A pained look in his eyes was evident behind the tainted glasses. As the shocked silence stretched longer, he turned away.

"Do you mind?" he said, gesturing for James to move out of his way.

James glared at him, clearly itching to punch his face but he did not want to risk drawing anyone else's attention to the meaning behind Zayn's thinly veiled message. Begrudgingly, he got out of Zayn's way, letting him get into his car.