But a happy one. Pax had always been joyful and sweet, even as a toddler. That joy had changed to sorrow several months before, the night his best friend had died, a best friend that Lila knew wasn’t a best friend at all, not that Pax likely understood his own feelings.

Unfortunately, most of his mirth had perished along with his friend.

Lila shrugged under his scrutiny, feeling guilty that she’d spent time with Tristan while Pax mourned his loss alone. After Dixon had nearly died in front of her, she promised herself that she’d spend more time with Pax. She had followed through, but it didn’t feel like enough.

“I had work. We just took over another family’s compound, remember?”

“Work? Lie all you want, Lila Randolph, but I’m onto you.” Pax circled her, brow raised. “Work hasn’t kept you away the last few nights. I know how you look when you don’t sleep.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. When you’re really busy, you get these heavy, dark circles under your eyes.” He pointed at her face. “The ones you have now are just a little dark, which means you’re still sleeping some. Besides, you’re not nearly cranky enough.”

“I’m taking naps at the office. I have my own apartment there,” she reminded him, annoyed that she couldn’t reside in the security office all the time. It was the rare chief of security who lived in her chairwoman’s great house, though. Most would jump at her arrangement, but those chiefs didn’t have to deal with a network of spies always peeking into her life. It didn’t matter that they were rarely successful. It was the fact that her mother believed that Lila’s business was her business, too. She also seemed to believe that if she kept Lila safe and close, then her daughter might one day decide to toss her career away and become the prime heir.

Her mother had the patience of a tortoise.

“Naps in your office? I don’t believe you. I suspect you’re up to something more than work, and I think it’s about time.”

Pax tried to smile, his own private tragedy scrawled all over his face. It made it worse that he was trying so hard to be happy for her. This young boy who’d lost his best friend and his first love all at once, making such an effort because he cared so much about her.

Gods, she was a horrible sister.

Lila put her arms around her brother, squeezing him as tightly as she could. “Come visit with me.”

“No. I have to get ready.” He pulled away and dug his thumb into his doorjamb.

She doubted Pax needed to be ready for anything. He just wasn’t up to talking this morning. She could see his eyes turning a bit red, and knew he’d be gone in a few minutes.

Alone. Lying on his bed. Staring at the wall. Trying not to cry.

“You can always knock on my door for a chat, Pax. I’ll never be too busy for you.”

“I know, but you have places to be, just like I do.” Pax smiled softly. “Life goes on and all that. Breakfast and work come around each morning, and they’ll come around tomorrow, just like the next day and the next day after that.”

“Pax—”

“That man died yesterday.”

Lila nodded.

“You saved that boy. Perhaps Mother too, and the prime minster. You could have died.”

“I didn’t.”

“You got hurt.” He jutted his chin at the purple bruise on her jaw.

“It looks far worse than it is.”

“That’s what you said about your hands. You have to go around in gloves now. I’m glad you can’t ride your Firefly for a while. You go too fast on it.”

“I’m careful.” Lila grabbed his chin. “Everyone is okay, Pax. Did you sleep?”

The boy shrugged.

Ah, it would be one of those days. A day when Pax just went through the motions. She’d get nothing out of him.

“Are you going to the hospital?”

Tags: Wren Weston Fates of the Bound Crime
Source: readsnovelonline.net