DON'T DOUBT LOVE) loving you no matter what

MAYA'S POV

The tablet's glow seared the damning words into my mind: "Phase 2 ready. Keep them

distracted." My fingers clenched. Tahir—smug, arrogant, infuriating Tahir—had played us all.

So why did my chest tighten when I remembered how he'd shielded me from

Victor's goons last week? His hands firm on my shoulders, his voice rough with concern: "Stay behind me."

A shadow fell across the screen. Tahir leaned against the doorframe, his tie loosened, watching me with those piercing eyes. "Find

anything interesting?"

I lifted my chin. "Just proof you're a liar."

He stepped closer, his cologne (something expensive and woodsy) wrapping around me.

"Or proof I'm the only one keeping you alive." His thumb brushed my wrist—a traitorous spark shot up my arm—before he snatched the tablet away.

Damn him. Damn me.

AISHA'S POV

The party was winding down, but Ryder's tension hadn't. He kept glancing toward the hallway where Maya and Tahir had disappeared.

"Relax," I laughed, refilling his drink. "Tahir wouldn't hurt her."

Ryder's jaw tightened. "You sure about that?"

Before I could ask, Maya stormed back into the room, her cheeks flushed. Tahir followed, his smirk unreadable.

Odd. Since when do they stand so close?

TAHIR'S POV

Maya's anger was exquisite. She'd uncovered just enough to fear me but not enough to ruin everything.

And that flicker in her eyes when I touched her? Perfect.

Victor's warning echoed: "She's the smart one. Break her first."

But as Maya glared at me, her lips parted slightly, I wondered: Who's really breaking whom?

RYDER'S POV

I knew that look on Maya's face—the same one she'd worn when she first fell for Daniel years ago. But Tahir? No.

I pulled her aside. "He's manipulating you."

She wrenched free. "I know what I'm doing."

The lie hung between us. Outside, thunder rolled