Striker (K19 Security Solutions 6)
Striker nodded.
“You’re still alive, which means I knew you must’ve had a damn good reason for ending things with her.” Razor scratched his chin. “I don’t think you’re giving her enough credit, though.”
“I’m sure if Aine knew the truth, she would tell me it doesn’t matter, but Razor, it matters to me.”
“How much of what you told her is true?”
Striker hadn’t expected the question. “I don’t know.”
“The part about not wanting to be in a long-term relationship—was that the truth?”
“It doesn’t matter. There are other reasons—”
Razor held up his hand. “I understand that, Striker. What I’m asking is if those other reasons didn’t exist, would you have stayed with Aine? Made a life with her?”
“I don’t know,” he said for the second time.
7
She wasn’t surprised to see Ava’s car in the open garage when she walked up to the duplex, but she was that her sister wasn’t outside, waiting for her.
Aine punched the code into the keypad and opened the front door when the lock clicked. She was almost done packing her stuff when she heard someone knock.
She stalked toward the door and flung it open, ready to tell Ava everything on her mind, but it wasn’t her sister standing on the other side of the threshold; it was Striker.
“Can I come in?”
“I’m in the middle of something.”
“I know.”
“What do you mean you know?”
“Ava told me you two had an argument.”
“Interesting. First my sister doesn’t have enough respect for me to let me live my life the way I want to, now she doesn’t have respect for my privacy either.”
“In her defense—”
“Spare me,” said Aine, attempting to shut the door in his face, but he put his arm out too quickly and came inside.
“She was crying, and when Razor pushed her to tell him why, I overheard.”
“I get it. The bad twin hurt the good twin’s feelings.” She rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “I need to pack. I’m going home.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“You don’t get a say in this.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “I know I don’t have any right to even be talking to you, but I’m going to say what I came over here to tell you anyway.”
“Don’t bother.”
When Aine stalked toward the bedroom, Striker followed.
“Once you get back to Yachats, you’re going to wish you hadn’t left so abruptly. You’re going to feel sorry about your argument with Ava, but your pride won’t let you get on a plane and come back.”
There were countless things Aine wanted to say in response, but he was right. That is exactly how she’d feel. Instead of being vindicated, she’d be lonely and filled with regret, but unable to force herself to say she was sorry and come back.