27. Kiera
KIERA
Shit. Shouldn’t have asked that.
The kitchen was eerily quiet as Spencer scanned my face.
Eventually, she shrugged. “That’s a fair question.
I could get away with it.” A jilted laugh came from her chest, like she was visualizing it as we spoke.
And I couldn’t blame her, after that night in the warehouse, it was hard to imagine having the self control to not take it all into my own hands.
Then a deep breath followed. “The truth is, as crazy as it sounds, I don’t think it’s what’s best for the kids.”
Just as I raised my eyebrows, ready to question her logic, Spencer continued, “They’re real people, maybe little ones but people nonetheless. They have their own feelings to contend with. And I can’t be sure that they wouldn’t want him around later in life.”
“I never got the chance to forgive my mom for what she did to Jess and me as kids. Never got to decide if I wanted her in my life. And I never got to tell her any of it to her face.”
I could see the hurt on her face, how hard it was to lose her mom so young. All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around her, and hide away from all of it with her.
Spencer sucked her teeth. “It was taken from me. All of it. Even the chance to see if she could do better.”
Shaking her head, she stared into her cup of coffee as Leo came back into the room. “Ultimately, I decided it wasn’t my Justice to take. Even if that motherfucker tests my resolve every goddamn day.”
Leo scoffed as she got back to the stove. “No kidding.”
The dark clouds over the kitchen cleared as Spencer laughed with Leo. I could understand all of it. My own mother tested my patience every day, making it impossible for me to forgive her. But if she just disappeared now, I’d never have the chance to make her realize how badly she’d hurt me.
Or, I’d never have the choice.
From under my ass, I felt the vibration of a ringing phone.
Spencer dug under me, grabbing her cell from deep in her pockets and pulling it to her face. “Be right back.”
Scooping me up, she set me down on the stool and headed into the hallway to take the call.
Once she moved fair enough down the hallway, I turned my attention to Leo. “You little bastard.”
Whipping around, Leo pointed at herself. “Who? Me? What’d I do?”
“You should’ve been there. She could’ve used the support.” I crossed my arms as I watched Leo lean against the island.
“Is that right?” Leo licked her lips at the challenge. “Bold little Princess, aren’t you?”
Despite the seriousness of my accusation, I could tell how much my antagonism was turning Leo on — her jaw tense with anticipation for a fight.
But instead, she moved around the counter, coming to my side and towering over me.
She let her hand caress my chin as she tilted up to meet her light brown eyes, the morning sun making the flecks of gold shimmer.
“Here’s the deal, darlin’: me and that asshole don’t get along.
It’s not very kumbaya when I’m around. And I know those kids, have for a couple years now. It’s best for me to stay out of it.”
I kept a suspicious eye on her. “Sounds like a cop out.”
“Did Spencer tell you she wanted me there?” Leo challenged me.
Licking my lips, I shrugged. “No. But?—”
Shushing me, Leo tightened her grip on my chin as a charming smile flashed across her face. “No buts, Princess. Why are you picking a fight over something that isn’t a problem?”
“Because, if I wasn’t here, would you have let her go alone?”
“No.” Leo held my gaze. “I would’ve asked if she wanted backup. But you’re much easier on the eyes than I am. The best thing I can do for Spence and those kids is that.” Nodding her head toward the dining room, I knew she meant making calls.
Dropping my chin, Leo put her strong hands on my arms. I knew it would be easy for her to hold me in place.
“If I can get those documents in Spencer’s hands, it’s evidence.
A case built with legal documents that help get Caleb and Abi away from that monster as quickly as possible.
It makes our little Spencer’s life a lot easier. ”
I opened my mouth to fight it, trying to find the words to prove her wrong. But I came up empty. They’d been friends a lot longer than I’d been around. Fuck, even Spencer said the logistical help was more useful.
Maybe I am just picking a fight.
As if she could read my mind, Leo leaned down. Her eyes flicked between my eyes and my lips. “If you want a fight, I can give you one, Princess.”
Suddenly, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea to keep digging myself into this hole.
I’d wanted to see Leo lose control, to let her really have me.
I knew she’d been holding back when she took me after my kill.
As I’d taken her into my mouth, I could feel the way her hips begged to buck forward.
She wanted to fuck my face, to make me choke on her strap. But she hadn’t.
Stepping toward her, I batted my lashes up there. “I fight dirty, Doctor.”
I looked up into her golden eyes, a fire of desire burning in each fleck.
But good things never seemed to last for me. Dom’s heavy footsteps fell into the room, followed by Spencer just behind her.
My stomach dropped, all the nerves of flirting with my captor overwhelmed by the tension of seeing Dom’s pissed off face. My new bracelet turned cold as she walked in, the metal chilly my skin.
At this point, I had no idea why she made me so uneasy. Maybe it was the auto shop whipping or knowing that Dom owned this mansion that just kept sparking more questions in my mind.
When my eyes flicked back to Spencer, I remembered my mission. My real one, not the culty investigation The Oracle was sending me on.
I’d seen Isaac Dumont’s name, somehow connected to Spencer and I. And I’d hoped the anxiety it had made me feel would disappear overnight, but it hadn’t. At this point, I’ve seen most of the property.
But one place remained that might jog the locked away memory that kept me awake at night.
The South Wing.