Anger filled Zander’s face and he stepped toward Jared. “Well, maybe I will now. By keeping her here. I am her guardian, after all. In fact, I owe you a beating for that. For taking her.”
“I owe you one for putting her in a vulnerable position,” Jared said back.
“Um, guys.”
“And you are not her guardian!” Jared added.
Dear Lord.
She rubbed her forehead as she stared over at Miles and Ammo. Miles just grimaced. Ammo shrugged.
Great. They were going to be a huge help.
“Yes, I am. As her only living male relative, I feel that I have the final say in who she is with. Still not sure I approve of her being with you, Bartolli.”
“Zander,” she said with a glare. “You are not my guardian. I’m twenty-six, for fuck’s sake.”
“Do not swear. It cheapens you,” Richard said.
She pointed at him. “And you! You definitely don’t get to boss me around. None of you do. I have a headache. I need cake.”
These guys were way too stressful.
Jared gave her a look filled with concern as he stepped away from Zander. “Come here, baby. No one is keeping you from us. You’re ours, now. Mine and North’s. All right?”
“She’s yours as long as you take care of her,” Zander said.
“Why are you all talking like that? She’s mine! My angel! My muse! I saw her first,” Richard cried.
“Yeah, but you’re a damn psychopath,” Zander said. “I’ve met some crazies in my time. Most of them I hired. Not you. Chopping off heads of innocent women. Not good.”
“I know,” Richard said mournfully. “That’s what the Deity said too.”
“Who is the Deity?” Miles asked.
Richard just stared at him.
“How long have The Children of the Divine been living here?” Zander asked.
“Is the symbol on your back something to do with them?” Zander asked, moving around him. “Ammo? Is this the same symbol as the carving on the closet at that house?”
Ammo walked around and nodded. “Yep.”
“Well?” Zander pressed.
“What?” Richard looked concerned at that. “Someone carved that symbol into a closet door? We’re not supposed to make the symbol obvious to anyone. That’s why it has to be in a hidden spot. Who would do that? Which room?”
They all stayed quiet.
“How did you know when I’d be at the library?” she asked suddenly. “Was that just a coincidence?”
“Oh no, I paid the librarian to call me if she saw you. She really didn’t like you.”
“That bitch is dead,” Zander muttered.
There was a knock on the door and Zander moved to open it. Webb was standing on the other side.
“Boss, we need you.”
