the conversation.
“You hang it over your bed. It won’t protect you, but it’ll make a little sound to alert you if someone or something bad is coming near.”
“That’s amazing. Thank you.” It would certainly help me sleep.
“You didn’t notice it? When you weren’t in your room, I put it up for you. Didn’t you see the note? It was right on your pillow.”
How did I tell him I hadn’t been in my room after what happened? Did I lie? My life had been built on lies growing up. I’d lived a life of pretend ever since I was a child. Pretending my mother was something she wasn’t. Pretending I was something I wasn’t. That I didn’t hear and see things. That I was normal. It had gotten me nowhere, but I could already feel Belinda’s eyes on me again, and I didn’t need more problems. If I didn’t give it a good try, this situation was going to go from calm to disaster.
“I didn’t notice. I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to check when I go upstairs.” Now please shut up.
Zab nodded, but I could tell he was still trying to piece together how I’d missed both. In the short time I’d known Zab, I’d grown to love him, but he was being awfully thick right now.
Belinda’s gaze of death was fully centered on me, and she was about to lose her shit completely. Someone had figured it out. I didn’t know what had upset her before, but she hadn’t known I’d spent the night in Hawk’s room until now.
Hawk stepped closer to me and Zab. “Tippi didn’t see it because I moved her out of her room last night.”
He hadn’t said where. Maybe Belinda would leave it be? Nah, that wasn’t her way.
“Oh, yeah, I can see that,” Zab said. “You know, after the attack, that’s reasonable. Anyone would’ve done that.” Zab’s cheeks were glowing and the boy was finally catching on.
“Moved her where?” Belinda asked, like a shark smelling blood in the water. If she found out, I was fairly certain it would be my blood about the office.
“I took her to my place,” Hawk said. There was something laced in those words that sounded a little bit like an apology, as if he didn’t relish the thought of hurting her. But his tone was firm enough that he didn’t regret his decision either.
Or maybe I was just reading way too much into one sentence and had no clue what I was talking about? That was a good bet, too.
She slumped back, as if she’d taken a sucker punch that had caught her hard and off guard. “Your place? You don’t even bring me there.”
He didn’t? What I’d thought about wanting to hear every word? I changed my mind. I didn’t want to hear any of this, but I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get that opportunity. It looked like Belinda was going to blow, and there wouldn’t be any back-room option on the table. We’d all be dodging shrapnel in a moment.
“I explained this to you. There are things beyond your concern that need to be handled.” Hawk dropped his papers and walked across the office. I didn’t know if he was planning on leaving or going in the back room, but wherever he went, Belinda tailed him.
“You didn’t explain anything,” she replied.
She was talking to Hawk, but her eyes were burning me at the stake, like the bad witch she claimed I was. Actually, she wasn’t the only one claiming that either. She had to get in line behind Jasper. He got the original credit for labeling me “evil.”
Shit, what card had I just sorted? I picked up the last one off the accept pile.
Destroy the world in a fiery blaze.
Definitely a shredder. This was what happened when you pretended to work when there was no possible way you could. Hopefully it wouldn’t have passed the negotiations, but right now, Belinda would gladly work out a deal to set the world to blaze if I was on it.
“Because it’s none of your concern,” Hawk said, walking away from her again.
I glanced up and locked eyes with Zab. He made a whistling face, minus the sound.
I gave a little shake of my head.
Musso wasn’t as subtle about the situation, groaning as he looked over at the scene. If they heard him, no one cared.
Hawk walked to the front door.
“Where are you going?” Belinda asked.
He left without answering.
Hawk now out of reach, she switched targets like a seasoned sniper,