"I didn't—” Emily Blair instinctively tried to defend herself.

Tristan Davis cut her off. “Don't lie to me! I saw everything. Tell me, why did you let Andrew Lane hold you? If I hadn't shown up, what else would you two have done?"

A heavy pressure settled in Emily's chest. Her heart thudded so hard she could barely breathe.

Tristan pressed her. "Say something. Now. I want an explanation."

Emily bit her lip, her gaze darting away for a second. "Can you maybe let go of me first?"

Instead, Tristan's arms tightened around her. "Not until you explain."

A thought flickered in Emily's mind-something about Tristan that she couldn't quite grasp, gone as soon as it appeared.

She forced herself to answer. "I didn't let him hold me. He "

"He forced you?" Tristan jumped in.

Emily nodded slowly.

Tristan finally smiled, his arms pulling her even closer. "I knew it. I knew you wouldn't let that happen."

Emily pressed her lips together, silent.

"Hug me," Tristan murmured right at her ear.

Emily's mind was slow to process what he'd just said. “What?”

His voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it. "Hug me. Andrew Lane is watching."

She wanted to ask why that mattered, but before she could think it through, her arms automatically slipped around Tristan's waist.

Not satisfied, Tristan demanded, "Tighter. Is that all you've got?"

Confused, Emily frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Tighter," he insisted.

Left with no choice, Emily squeezed him hard.

"That's it," Tristan whispered.

Emily sighed quietly, resigned, and let her forehead rest against Tristan's shoulder.

Behind her, a silent battle was raging. Two men-Tristan and Andrew-locked eyes, sparks flying between them, all cold hostility and unspoken threats.

But Tristan looked smug, holding Emily in his arms while shooting a mocking grin at Andrew.

The moment Andrew saw Tristan embrace Emily, his face darkened, becoming almost frightening. His hands balled into fists at his sides.

Emily sensed a slight movement to her right, but it was so subtle she couldn't tell what it was.

Andrew watched as Tristan's lips curled in a cocky smirk. Then, Tristan tilted his head ever so slightly, brushing a quick kiss against Emily's hair.

Andrew's glare deepened.

Tristan's eyes glittered with amusement, but underneath, they were ice-cold. He lifted a hand, gently stroking Emily's hair in a tender, almost possessive way.

Andrew looked like he might storm over and rip Emily out of Tristan's arms right then and there.

But he didn't.

Instead, Andrew turned and walked away.

Emily was still wondering when Tristan would finally let her go when his arms slowly loosened.

The second he released her, Emily took a step back, eyeing him suspiciously. "What was that about?"

She glanced over her shoulder.

Andrew was gone.

Tristan had just started to calm down, but the moment he saw Emily look back, irritation surged through him again, his temples throbbing with anger.

But Emily quickly turned back to him and held out her hand. “Did you bring my phone?"

Tristan pulled her phone from his pocket, his voice cold. "How did you run into Andrew Lane? Or did you plan to meet him?”