“If you’re fucking lying to me, I’ll be back, and I’ll make sure my brother comes too,” she threatens, and I swear to God that Jerry is about to piss his pants.
“We’re done here,” Zoey says, and I lower the gun to my side but keep my finger on the trigger, just in case. I may have only had one lesson, but I know how to shoot if needed.
And then we walk out of the strip club as if nothing has happened and back to the car.
“Well, that was worth it,” I say as I buckle up and Zoey sits in the driver’s seat and starts the car.
“I’m surprised that Nate didn’t get the info that we just did,” she ponders as she pulls us out of the car park.
“Maybe he didn’t check here?” I hedge.
“Oh, he definitely checked here, but I’m betting that every time he’s come around, Jerry has been conveniently busy––as in, he’s scarpered and hidden until the coast has cleared.”
“So why didn’t he scarper from you?” I ask, because she can hold her own as much as Nate can.
“Because I’m not the one that has a thirst for blood, so I’m the easier one to deal with out of the two of us. And I don’t usually get involved in this side of things, so they don’t expect it, but I’ve had to recently…” Her voice drifts off and she clamps her mouth shut like she’s said too much.
“What do you mean?” I ask, because I am not letting this go. There is clearly a story here.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, Zoey, don’t try and bullshit me. I thought we were friends?”
“Oh, you did not just chuck that in my face,” she says with shock on her face. “I’ve not had a friend in so fucking long, so don’t you dare––”
“Best not keep secrets then,” I interrupt, and she eyes me, her eyes not focussing on the road, but I hold her stare. To survive in this family, you have to be strong, and I’m learning just how strong I am with every day that passes.
“Damn you, Kat Knowles,” she says, and I laugh as she looks back to the road with a smile on her face. “I knew I liked you from the first moment I met you.”
“Yeah, yeah, I fit like a glove, yada, yada… now, spill.”
“Promise me that you won’t tell Nate,” she says, and I groan out loud.
“Don’t make me do that. Don’t make me lie to my husband.”
She’s silent a beat before she stops the car at a red set of lights and looks to me. “You really love him, don’t you?”
“Yes.” I don’t hesitate, because there is no reason to. I do love him. So fucking much.
She gives me a soft smile. “I’m so happy you found each other.”
“Me too,” I say as I feel emotional all of a sudden. I don’t think she knows how we met, and I don’t plan to tell her. It’s our business, and we’ve come so far since that day.
My phone starts to ring in my pocket, and I already know it will be Nate without even looking at it.
“Better answer that and get it over with,” Zoey says as she starts driving again, the lights now green––although they could have been green for a while, and I would have no idea because we were talking.
“Hi, babe,” I say, a bit too cheerily, as I answer the phone.
“Where are you?” he asks, and I can hear the edge to his voice.
“Just with Zoey.”
“Doing what?”
“Driving.”
“Uh huh. And why did you feel the need to sneak out of here and not tell me?” he says, and I desperately try to search for a way to tell him where we’re going without him getting all stressed out.
