The sliding door is faintly heard over my rapidly beating heart as I listen to Z and Kam argue.
Something about money. Something about a note.
A chill sends pricks down my arm and I move without thinking. Numbly I make my way to them in the sitting room. I only hesitate outside the door for a moment. It’s the statement “I don’t know if we should tell her” spoken from Zander that has me pushing the door open. The hinges creak, announcing my arrival in an eerie manner.
Both of them stand, Kam in a sharp suit and Zander just how I saw him last in laid-back attire.
“Ella.” Kam greets me as warmly as he can, but his grim look is telling.
“What’s going on?” My tone is even and I should be proud of that fact, but looking up at Zander I feel considerably less than proud. I’m an intruder in a conversation he obviously doesn’t want me to hear.
“Nothing to worry about. Just give us a minute, please.”
My cheeks heat with embarrassment and there’s a dull thud in my chest.
“I thought I heard my name,” I comment weakly.
“Zander is learning some things,” Kam comments condescendingly, his gaze fixed on Zander although he’s talking to me.
“What things?” I question and Z responds to Kam rather than me, “She doesn’t need to know.” His voice is calm, much more so than before, and sympathetic.
With a half step forward, I refuse to leave and let them discuss me without being able to speak for myself.
“She knows more than you ever will,” Kam says. His eyes flash to mine and there’s a pain there I wish I hadn’t seen. He swallows thickly before picking up his jacket and slipping it on. “I’ll let you decide what you’d like to do.”
With that he leaves. Barely squeezing my shoulder, quickly kissing my cheek and heading out without stopping when I ask him not to leave.
So many memories return. All of the times James and Kam got into it. There were a number of tense conversations and all for good reason.
But this?
“What happened?” I question Z the moment I can and pinching the bridge of his nose, he asks me to stop. To let it be so he can figure it out.
It’s hardly placating and I’m quick to open my phone.
“Who are you calling?” he questions and I answer “no one,” turning my back to him and telling him he can have his minute. I’m quick to make my way back to the office and text Kam.
Ella: Talk to me.
There’s the sound of a muffled bang from the sitting room and I’m vaguely aware of Cade coming back inside. Frustration echoes down the corridor and I can’t ignore it.
Betrayal and anxiousness run thick in my blood.
I text Kam again.
Ella: What happened?
When he doesn’t reply right away, I text him for a third time.
Ella: I’m begging, Kam. Please, what happened?
Kam finally answers and it doesn’t ease a damn thing.
Kam: You should probably talk to Zander before me.
Ella: Are you sure?
My heart races, not knowing if Z will even tell me. I look down the hall and I can barely hear him talking to his brother, but their voices are far too hushed to hear a thing. Cade won’t tell me what’s going on, I’m certain of that.