Chapter Fourteen
Z
“You know I could help?” Cosima offers from her place at the kitchen island, watching me.
“I got it.” Her lips purse, but she quickly masks it. Does she really not know how easily I read her? “Babe, if you really want to help, you can, but I enjoy taking care of you, if you haven’t noticed yet.”
I might have done a huge chunk of it behind the scenes, but I was always there. Maybe one day I’ll tell her all those ways I watched her but not yet. I don’t want to freak her out. We’re in a good place at the moment, and I want to stay here in our little bubble for now and enjoy it before we have to deal with the outside world.
Cosima might think my stalking, or whatever you want to call it, is endearing, but she doesn’t know how deep it has gone. There are so many things I should have immense guilt over, going all the way back to her first years of high school. There were more than a few assholes that I had to put in their place. It was convenient and helpful that schools started putting in cameras all over. It's also very useful when you can hack people's phones and listen to anything you want.
I hadn't stumbled into the deep, dark depths of the internet because I was bored. It started out because of Cosima and that need to always be close to her and know what she was doing. It was the driving force behind why I became so good at what I do. Why the government and other private companies and individuals use me to get them information. Or hide details that they don’t want any other human being laying eyes on.
"I just don't want people to think I can't do things."
"I have never thought that." In fact, she does too many things. Does she really not understand how necessary she is to the people around her?
Cosima can be spontaneous and a bundle of sassy energy, but she is reliable, loyal to her core, and always there when someone needs something. That means more than I think she understands to people, especially people who often are loners or don’t allow themselves to get close to others. Her two best friends are examples of that.
"I know you never did, but I don't want you to think I can't help. That I’m some princess who can’t get her hands dirty.” I can tell how important this is to her, so I’ll need to make sure that I’m hyperaware of it going forward.
"You help by keeping me company."
"All right." I finally get a soft smile from her. “I’ll sit here and look pretty.” That’s the second time she’s made that remark.
“You’re more than pretty, sweetness.” I round the kitchen island, sinking my fingers into her hair. I grip a handful, tilting her head back. “You’re everything to me,” I tell her. She stares up at me with those big, expressive blue eyes of hers. “You hear me?”
Cosima licks her lips. “I hear you.”
“Good girl.” I gently brush my mouth to hers. Cosima lets out a soft sigh. I release my hold on her, going back to chopping the bell peppers for our omelets.
“So you and Marks. I want the tea.” Her mention of a drink has me going to the refrigerator to grab her a glass of orange juice.
“You know I do work outside of the family business?”
“The family business.” Cosima snorts. “It sounds funny when you say it that way, but I suppose it is the family business.”
“I do a lot of private contracting.” Though it all can link back. I freelance for many different people, and that can earn favors, which can help the family. It also can have its risks. I know a lot of people’s secrets, ones that I shouldn’t.
“Yeah, you have a few pattens and that dark, spooky web.” Spooky web. If only it were just spooky. It’s a place where you can never unsee things.
“I do a lot for the government too.”
“I thought you might.”
“Marks does too, when she feels like it.” Which isn’t too often.
“That’s how you two know each other.”
“I knew moreofher before. I didn’t dig before she slipped into our lives recently.” I’m still not a hundred percent okay with Marks. I find it really fucking coincidental that, of all the people in this world, she ended up making friends with Tova, my now sister-in-law, in an online book club, and their friendship bloomed from there.
I just don’t have any proof of anything nefarious. Everything appears to be in order, and from what I've observed, Marks has shown protectiveness toward both Tova and my Cosima. I believe she cares for them, now at least. I’m not sure it started out that way, but time will tell. Secrets have a way of always revealing themselves. Let’s hope that Marks has good intentions for all of our sakes, especially hers.
“You both are wicked smart, but she says you’re better.” Cosima watches me intently. Damn is it nice to have her eyeson me and to be able to speak freely with her like we used to. To not always be at each other's throats because we both had pent-up feelings inside that we didn’t know how to handle. It’s interesting the things you don’t realize you enjoy until they’re gone.
“She’s still young.” Rebellious too.
Marks has gotten herself in a few sticky situations, and one time her handler had to help get her out of it. Which is why he’s so pissed she didn’t show up the last time he requested. You don’t want to owe the government any favors.
