13. Zeiden
THIRTEEN
zeiden
Silence was usually my companion, so why did it feel so lonely in Daisy’s silence?
I rubbed at my chest like that would stop whatever this vice was squeezing down inside me. When was the last time I’d strangled someone? I needed a fight, except even that didn’t seem like it was going to fix this.
What would I do to prove my obsession with her? Obsession wasn’t the right word though. There was something, and I wasn’t ready to actually understand it.
We sat in silence, my hand on her thigh because I needed to touch her. I also didn’t know how to tell her that X finished off her uncle. He’d deserved it all, but it didn’t seem like she would understand any of it, so I kept that little detail to myself.
Her father might be known for trying to clean up the city, but did she know how corrupt the government was?
“Your uncle, did you think he was a good cop, dove?” What were her thoughts?
The cars passed us by at this time of day, but although the world was going on, I couldn’t help but think that something about my world had stopped.
“Yes. He was an officer of the law. Aren’t they all good?”
I didn’t want to tell my dove that some people didn’t have a soul no matter how normal they might seem and her uncle had crossed the wrong people. Something also told me the younger brother who became a casualty of the Vipers might have signed his own death warrant.
The traffic thinned more the further we moved toward the established outskirts of the city, where the oldest and most prestigious cemetery was. This place felt a bit like home away from home, but not because I’d ever buried anyone here. No, not me. But the mayor? I’d watched from a distance to see who had showed up to his funeral. Strange how the senator hadn’t crossed my radar. I must be losing it. I’d known he was the brother of the detective, but it hadn’t seemed pertinent. Of course, there hadn’t been a single news article, cause of death report, or anything to make the younger brother’s death a flag. It didn’t matter now. He was on my radar for something else.
“The cemetery is ahead,” I said to everyone and no one. I could see X and Cali up ahead, turning onto one of the service roads onto the property while we continued through the main gate.
“Thank you.” Her voice was small, but I’d heard her.
“Thank you? For what?”
Daisy wouldn’t look at me.
“Dove,” I said and forced her to lift her head even if she still avoided my eyes. “I’m sorry about your uncle.” And I was. Sorry he’d been an asshole who deserved it.
“It’s okay. I’m fine. I hadn’t seen him in a few years anyway. He forgot about me. Just like everyone else does.”
The car came to a stop and the driver opened the door. I slid out and held out my hand for my little dove. She hesitated, but she still took it. Something wasn’t going my way. There was no algorithm here. No connections or patterns.
“Daisy, I might not be who you thought I was, but I am not using you. I will never lie to you. I don’t need to get close to your father. He isn’t something that will help us, now is he?”
She looked straight ahead, the black dress falling around her thighs as she stood up and righted herself.
“No. I guess he wouldn’t, would he? But neither should I. You’re the enemy, aren’t you?”
I couldn’t stop the way my face lost all emotion. Her words hit something raw inside me.
“Sometimes the devil you know isn’t what you think, dove.”
If she knew even the half of it. I would have to show her, but not now. Not today.
There was no glance up, no questions. Those were the last words she said before I watched her walk off toward a tent set up graveside. The turnout was a bit smaller than I would have expected, but the suits and dresses still screamed money even from this distance. There were still bodies in uniform from the precinct, but this was a controlled size, there was no doubt.
I glanced back at Cas, and without words I knew he understood. I jogged to catch up to her, reaching out for her arm and pulling her to my side.
“I am still here for you, even if you hate me.”
I supposed I was just happy she didn’t push me away.
We were close enough now that I could pick out who was who. It was curious that this was the funeral. There was to be a large memorial, but this seemed all backward. I supposed if you have more money than god, it really didn’t matter what you did.
We got closer and closer, and I swore it felt like she was trying to fall behind.
“I’m still here. We will be watching.”
She paused a few feet away from the tent, speaking just loud enough I could hear her.
“Thank you for showing me what it would feel like to be someone to somebody. Even if it was you, prince asshole.”
And then she pulled away and approached her father and her mother, who didn’t appear to give a shit that she was there. I reached for her hand, refusing to let her go alone. There was a moment where she didn’t hold my hand in return, but the closer we got, the harder her grip got.
I was a step behind, but I heard the whispered first words from her mother’s mouth.
“There you are. You left us in quite the spot. How is the migraine, dear?”
Migraine?
“Mother, I didn’t—” She was cut off when the new judge turned around with a smirk that was begging for me to wipe it off his face.
“Ah. There is the lucky woman. You’re even more beautiful up close.”
Her mother ignored me, but Senator Ashford couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off me. Fine by me.
“See, Judge Hart. I told you she would be feeling better. Perhaps you and Daisy can get to know each other.”
Perhaps I was the only one to notice, but Daisy’s entire body language changed. Gone was the woman I’d known for the past few days. A perfect mask now in place.
“No thank you, Mother. I don’t think that I will get to know Judge Hart at Uncle Eric’s funeral.”
I cleared my throat and took a step forward. This Hart character sized me up like I hadn’t already figured him out in seconds. He was a scheming shit. Daddy’s money had backed him, but he still wanted more. Daisy was his next game piece, and wouldn’t he be sad when things didn’t go his way?
“And you are?” Hart asked, looking like he’d swallowed something sour.
No one offered anyone a welcoming handshake.
“Yes. Do tell. Who was so kind as to escort my dear daughter to a family affair?” The senator looked the part of a grieving brother in all black, but something about the absence of even a small tear, well, it was all unexpected. I studied him, watched his mouth, his eyes, even the way his brow didn’t shift. He wasn’t a man grieving. Not even I could hide my feelings this well, telling me this man might be a bit more of a monster than I’d realized. He was shooting up the list quickly.
However, right here, right now, that list was only so good. This wasn’t where I was an expert. I didn’t do small talk. I didn’t smile.
“Zeiden.”
There was no need for formalities because I already knew who they were.
“Well, Zeiden no last name, it appears you’re lost,” Senator Ashford said.
I didn’t miss the way the mother slid her arm through the arm of Judge Hart.
“Walk me to get a drink while my husband thanks the driver.”
Hart eyed me, but it seemed he was smart enough to walk the fuck away.
“Of course. Allow me, Mrs. Ashford.”
Her mother grabbed Daisy’s arm.
“Sweetheart, walk with the judge and me.”
I didn’t miss the wince on Daisy’s face or the way her mother’s fingers turned white as they dug her nails into her daughter.
This wouldn’t work for me, and I reached for Daisy, but she pulled out of my grasp.
“Don’t.” That was all she said.
I wanted to protest, but her father moved with a speed that I half expected and half underestimated.
He stood between me and my dove.
“What will it take to make this go away? Five hundred thousand?”
I put my hands in my pockets and then found a place to focus on this man’s face. I wouldn’t meet him where he was at. He didn’t deserve my respect.
“You think your daughter has a price tag?”
He lowered his voice.
“A million? I don’t know who you are, but you are not an acceptable choice. We have expectations for Daisy, and she knows this. She will play her part.”
I raised a brow.
“You think I care? Maybe you should know who you’re talking to before you decide if your opinion matters.”
I could see the irritation in the way a small muscle in his cheek seemed to tighten. Not an easy tell, but I saw it nonetheless. Good.
“She isn’t available. Leave now or I can have you escorted.”
He glanced over his shoulder to men in suits that I’d already pegged as hired security.
“It seems that manners don’t come to this family naturally. Detective Fuller was just as charismatic, and it seems that karma found him.”
I saw the moment his eyes shifted from slightly sane to psychopathic. I was well versed in crazy, but before threats could fly, Daisy reached for her father.
I could flip a switch too. I could meet the eyes of a crazy person because there was nothing normal about them. I thrived on crazy. I glared at him, trying to see who would crack first, if either of us would. Would he see my crazy?
I hoped so.
My heart beat slow and steady. I controlled the need to reach out and snap his pathetic little neck. There was movement in my peripheral, and I gave in to look away, because I knew it was her even before I could see her.
Her body, warm as it pushed between me and her father, her ass pressed against my cock. I couldn’t control the hand I trailed over her arm as she stood against me.
“Daddy. Weren’t you at all worried about me?”
I looked over at a small table with some drinks and other crap. Her mother and the fucked little judge stood there, but I saw the looks of disapproval.
Her father’s voice was low and the sharp edge obvious.
“Worried? Worried that my daughter would go and throw herself at some lowlife like this? No, I can’t say that was a concern. We knew you’d come back. Especially since I didn’t think you’d have it in you to keep a man. You’re just as useless as your mother.”
“You’ll excuse me, but it appears you’re confused on who is useless and who is the lowlife,” I interjected, grabbing his wrist as he tried to reach for his daughter.
He turned his eyes back on me, but at least he wasn’t making his daughter feel worthless.
“Who are you that you get to tell me anything? The offer has expired. Leave or I will make you. Makes no difference to me. Daisy is already bought and paid for. She isn’t my problem anymore. Daisy, say goodbye to whatever this was.”
Daisy didn’t look up. She just kept her gaze on the grassy ground.
Her hand brushed over mine before she shifted away.
“Goodbye. Thanks again.”
I reached for her and this time she didn’t shy away. I pulled her hand to me as I grabbed her phone out of my jacket and slid it into her palm, yanking her out of her father’s grasp and holding her to me.
“You want me to leave?”
She just nodded against my chest, and I swore the entire world ceased to exist.
“I won’t.”
She didn’t say anything, just tried to push me away.
My hands wrapped around her upper arms as I turned her so I could see every single crease in her face. Looked at her eyes that had lost all the sparkle.
I simply nodded. I didn’t understand, and maybe I didn’t have to. I would give her a bit of time.
“Keep your phone on. I told you, I don’t play games I can’t win. I’ll see you soon, little dove.”
She pulled away from me, standing there like she was lost, and I hated it.
This time I made sure her father heard me.
“I came for you, and if you ask me to stay, I stay.”
There she went, shaking her head.
“Good. At least my daughter knows her place. You? You are no longer welcome.”
I smirked as I backed away.
“Let the games begin,” I whispered under my breath just loud enough I knew the man I wanted to hear would.
Now to go play and find my brothers who would be hiding somewhere in plain sight.
I headed closer to where the line of limos was. Eeny, meenie, miney, mo, which car would each fuck stick use? Certainly the senator would have a large limo. Then there were several town cars. A sports car. Would the good judge drive himself? Doubtful. But while I had some time to kill I pulled my phone out, looking over files downloaded to a server I controlled. I’d already spent enough time hacking into the records while Daisy slept that it made today’s homework much easier.
Rich people did things strangely.
But the odds that I could find whose driver was whose? This was a fun challenge I intended to win.