Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
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.
The phone pings.
Kam: I’m sure. Ask him to tell you.
As the conversation continues, my worries intensify.
My first question is the one most obvious to ask.
Ella: Is it something like … like that would have made James mad?
His answer makes my blood run cold.
Kam: Yes.
Ella: Something Z did?
Kam: No. Z didn’t do this.
Ella: Can’t you just tell me?
Kam: Is that the way you want it to go? Or do you want to ask him to tell you?
ZANDER
Ella faces off against me, her phone in her hands, her cheeks pink with emotion. I fucked up. I know that. We shouldn’t have spoken about Ella when there was any chance she could hear. I can feel her slipping and it’s a first for us since her breakdown.
It won’t be the last.
Ella taps out one more message on her phone, then lets out a frustrated sigh. “You could tell me what it’s about at least,” she murmurs, peeking up at me, her head down, but her shoulders squared.
“Boundaries, jailbird.”
“You need to tell me what you were talking about. It’s not okay for you two to decide that you’re going to keep things from me. How is that fair?” The leather chair in the office groans under her weight as she sits down, only to immediately stand back up. She paces as she types out another message.
Kam better not fucking tell her. “That’s not what’s happening,” I say, attempting to reassure her.
“Isn’t it?” She holds up her phone so I can see the text from Kamden on the screen.
Kam: Is that the way you want it to go? Or do you want to ask him to tell you?
“He won’t tell me. Kam apparently thinks I should ask you, so that’s what I’m doing. What were you talking about?” she asks.
Good. Knowing that Kam isn’t going to put this knowledge on her is a relief, but I keep my expression neutral.
“We will take care of it.” This is as much a test for her as it is for me. She gives me the burden, and I bury it for her. A chill runs down my spine, knowing that’s exactly how Kam handled it last time. Or at least that’s what he implied.