“Yeah, sorry. I know that. I’m just tired. Um, I don’t think that list will work. It’s more like a feeling, an instinct.”
“I figured this list applied to men as well, so I have been trying to make eye contact and remember everything she says. Plus, complimenting her. None of that is hard to do. But figuring out whether she feels the same way, that is more difficult.”
“Have you ever been interested in anyone except Charlene?”
“No, and what I feel for Keira far surpasses what I ever felt for Charlene. It is different. This is something I felt for her almost from the first moment I met her. When she was scowling up at me, giving me attitude one moment then telling me to kill her the next. The idea of her dying, of not being able to get to know her . . . it felt like someone was stabbing me in the gut.”
“So you decided to bring her with us rather than hand her over to Kent or Reyes?”
“Bartolli might have gotten hold of her.”
“But now he’s dead and you still won’t let her go because you feel something for her.”
“Yes.”
“And you want to determine if she feels the same?”
“Yes.”
“She might fight you because she’s scared to trust you.”
“I know.”
“Just wanted to warn you that this might not be an easy path. She’s not like Charlene.”
“Thank God,” he muttered.
“What?” Webb stared at him with wide eyes.
“I know you all thought that Charlene was some sort of angel. But the truth is that most of that was an act. She could also be vindictive and mean. She left me because she said I was too weird for her to handle. And that she was embarrassed by me.”
“She fucking said what?”
Zander braced himself for Webb’s disbelief and pity. He intended to hit him as soon as he showed any sign of pity, of course, because he wouldn’t put up with that sort of shit. But instead, fury lit his face.
“God, she always was a bitch, but we never knew she said shit like that to you.”
“Wait, you knew what she was like?” Zander asked.
Webb grimaced. “Yeah, we did. Or at least Ammo, Eli, and I did. Miles was oblivious to her as he is to everything and Honey, well, Honey adored her. I think Honey liked having another woman around. And she liked that Charlene was girly and sweet. Or at least pretended to be. I’m sure Honey would have figured out eventually that she was a complete and utter cow. I’m sorry she said those things, man. You know she was just being a bitch, right?”
“I think she was more interested in my money than me,” Zander told him. “And when she found out I wasn’t interested in a lavish lifestyle she went to find someone who could give her that.”
“Oh, that’s exactly what she did. I keep an eye on her online. She’s married to this old, rich guy. Poor bastard. Now, about this list, ignore it. You’ll figure out if she wants you. It’s difficult because she’s been through a lot and she has some thick shields you’ll need to get through to reach the real Keira. But it’s always you she turns to when she wants something. She barely spoke to me when you weren’t around. She stares at you when she thinks you’re not looking. I think she definitely wants you.”
Zander wished he had more than feelings or instinct to go on. Those weren’t his strong suit.
The door opened and Lochlan walked out with his arm around Keira.
Keira was making some terrible noises and fear filled him. He jumped to his feet and rushed over to them. “What is it? What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing is wrong,” Lochlan told him quietly. “And she’s just fine.”
“Then why is she making that awful noise?” he asked. He winced as her voice went high. That was worse than listening to nails being scraped over a blackboard.
There had to be something wrong with her.
“Is she in pain?” Webb asked. “But wait . . . is that?”