We talked about my mom, and I asked him where his mom was.
I wish I hadn’t.His face changed, and then it all came out, in little pieces.How his mom had died when he was nine, and how his father had another family.
“What’s he going to do?”I ask, pushing past memories away, and worried again about my current predicament.
“He’s going to fix it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know how.All I know is that if anyone can fix it, Matteo can.”
“But the security—”
“Is his specialty.If he can’t, someone in his team will.He’s in charge of tech at the company.You can trust him.You trust me, don’t you?”
He’s a Knight, and there are a million reasons I shouldn’t, but Zach was never like the others.I wonder if he’s still the teenage boy I started to fall in love with.
“Yes.”A tight knot loosens in my chest.I do trust him, especially when I have no other option.He made it look so simple—one phone call and the problem is taken care of.It’s effortless.That’s what money does.It makes life easy.
“Cecil will kill me if he finds out.”
“He won’t find out.Though your boss might.”He gives me an apologetic smile “You look so worried, don’t be.This will be resolved quickly, I promise, and no one ever needs to know.”
“Why are you doing this?”I ask, curious.
“Really?Why do you think?”
The way he says it, I know instantly why.
Because once upon a time we meant something to one another.We started to talk, and share.We started to care about one another.He made me laugh when I didn’t expect to.He said I made him forget things for a while.
But then we left, so suddenly, and I never got to say goodbye.I never got to tell him I wouldn’t be back.
It broke my heart.
Until my mom told me why we couldn’t stay there anymore.And after that, I hated the Knights forever.
“Thank you.”I never expected to see Zach Knight again, and of all the words I thought I’d say if I ever saw him again, I never thought it would be these two words.
“You’ll have to come with me,” he says, making to leave.“We’ll need to go to his lab.”
“His lab?Where’s his lab?”
“In the basement.”
***
ZACH
Matteo doesn’t ask questions when I walk into his lab.Not even when Maya walks in after me, looking curious.
“You’re lucky I’m still here.”He nods, sleeves folded up, like he’s been busy working.
“You didn’t go to Dex’s?”I won’t look so bad, if I’m not the only one who missed dinner tonight.
“Been busy.We’re having some problems.Security breaches and shit.”
“Sounds serious.”
