33 ??The Lawyer ?? (1/2)

ZAYN

I barely slept all night. Thinking he was there with her . . . on the same bed as her . . . it was freaking driving me insane. What if that bastard laid his hands on her? Was he going to hurt her again?

These questions forced me to drive over to Anas's house in the middle of the night. I found his father in his usual spot, a bottle of some fancy red wine open in front of him. I grimaced. The smell of alcohol—or any intoxicants, really—brought back bad memories.

It was because of this that my Dad turned out to be the way he was. After he'd started drinking, he'd beaten my mom. He had tried his fists on me too—to 'make me stronger'. But he soon realised that they didn't have an effect on me. I just blurred everything out as soon as he raised his hand against me. So, he stopped.

I didn't want to think about that right now.

”Can you put this away?” I pointed to the half-empty bottle and he gestured to his servant for it to be taken away.

”Thanks,” I said, taking a seat opposite to him.

”Anas is upstairs in his room,”

I had a pretty good idea of what he must be doing so I kept those images out of my head.

”I know,” I said, ”I was here to talk to you actually.”

He took a gulp of water, shaking his head. To keep himself concentrated, no doubt. God. I could smell the alcohol till here.

”About that girl?” he asked. ”What was her name . . . Lana, Lehhhh . . .”

”Leia,” I supplied, wincing. Why did people drink if it drove them insane? All sorts of crimes were committed under the influence of intoxicants anyway.

”Yes. I prepared her case. We'll present it before the court tomorrow.”