The Insiders (The Insiders Trilogy #1) - Tijan Page 0,61

mean, seriously mean. Hearing about it, being warned about it by Kash, hadn’t fully prepared me for what I saw just now. It was like walking on a bed of embers. I had no idea where to step to go forward, and I was starting to become wary about Kash, too. It seemed there were even more secrets he was hiding.

He closed his eyes for a second, rubbing at his forehead, before he looked at me. There was exhaustion in there, but also the same wariness I was feeling. “I need to know how you’re doing.”

“With what?”

He nodded behind me, his hand going into his pocket. “With Matt. His attitude. With what he’s spilling, or insinuating.” A new light shone from him, bright and yearning, and before he blinked it out, he stepped close to me. His head dropped so he could see me better. Only a few feet separated us, so he also dropped his tone and I could still hear. “Matt is more bark than bite, but his bark can hurt. I’ve witnessed it before, and he’s doing it again. These guys…” He looked past my shoulder, his gaze hardening. “They don’t grow up wanting things. They grow up being bored. They don’t have normal worries like the rest of us.”

Us?

“And because of that, they like games and they like toys and they like to get their kicks from places they shouldn’t.” His eyes found mine again, a warning in them. “Matt’s not intending to hurt you, but he’s not being considerate, either. He won’t see how he’s battered his toy until it’s destroyed. Then he’ll feel bad. Then he’ll stop and think on what he shouldn’t have done, but not till then. It’s been his way since he was a child.”

A heaviness came to my shoulders, pushing me down.

I thought about what he was saying, but I wasn’t worried about Matt. I really wasn’t. My brother didn’t have the capability to destroy me.

Kash, on the other hand …

“Matt’s nothing more than a spoiled little grown boy,” I said. “There’s good and bad in there, but he needs to learn to make the good more than the bad.” My tone was dry, because that wasn’t my job. It wouldn’t be my job. “I can handle him.”

“But?”

Kash moved even closer.

“I asked you once if you were head of my father’s security.” I tipped my head back as Kash finally, finally closed in. One foot gone. Six inches melted away. He was there, right there in front of me, and his eyes were looking right into me. “You said you weren’t. Did you lie to me?” I remembered what else Matt had said. “Matt said his mother was dumb, but not yours.” I waited, seeing the wariness flare forward in his eyes. I kept on. “What about your father? Your mother? What was your family like?”

Kash didn’t answer. His gaze remained locked on mine, and I couldn’t see anything.

He locked me out, and after thirty seconds, I started to swing forward to the tent’s opening. I took one step before that same hand took my arm and pulled me back. His arm wrapped around my waist and he maneuvered us to the side, out of sight of anyone looking in. He pulled me against him, and his head dipped down.

“My father was a good man, but he was simple. And my mom…” He stopped, his jaw clenching. “The Francis family consider me family. I grew up with them. I slept in their home. But I am not one of them. I’m a whole other different animal.” He paused, rubbing a hand over his face.

Secrets were popping up. Anywhere I looked, it was a secret trap door to history I was being warned about.

Taking Kash’s hand, I squeezed it. “I can adapt to anything. Us Hayes women are known for that talent. Whatever comes, I can handle it.”

Yes. Matt had a mean streak. Everyone did in this world.

Yes. I was missing Chrissy and my old life something fierce.

Yes, there were reasons I wasn’t going anywhere. I had three siblings to love and to know.

Kash …

But there was one thing none of them knew, either. Not fully. Not really. Not yet.

Me.

THIRTY

I was ready. Battle hat on. War paint applied. Figuratively.

I was prepped and ready to destroy anyone or anything coming at me—except water. I wasn’t prepared to be soaked by a water balloon the second I stepped out of Kash’s car.

“I got Bailey!” Giggles and shrieks were heard as, looking up, I