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Jerking on the handle, Zara stopped. She wanted to keep the upper hand, she wanted Braden to know she was in control of her life. What better way than to call him on his betrayal?
Zara glanced back to Ryker. The man’s intense gaze still locked on her.
“Come on in,” she invited. “You want to know if those coveted scrolls are here. I have no idea, but if they are, they’re technically mine since I own the house. But you’re more than welcome to come and look.”
“And if I find them?”
Zara shrugged. “Then it sounds like Braden and I will have some business to discuss.”
Ryker eyed her another minute, and she didn’t know if she was more afraid if he came inside or if he didn’t.
Nineteen
“The hell you say?”
There was no way Braden heard right.
“She invited me inside to look around,” Ryker repeated.
Braden sank down into his leather office chair and processed Zara’s shocking actions. Ryker remained standing on the other side of the desk, the man never ready to fully relax.
“I didn’t go,” Ryker added. “Whatever is going on between the two of you is something I want no part of, and it’s so much more than the scrolls at this point.”
Braden didn’t want to be part of this mess, either, but unfortunately he’d brought it all on himself and he was screwed.
“I’ll take care of this,” Braden promised. “You have more work to do. We have a piece in Versailles that needs to be acquired before the May auction, too. I have the specs here.”
Braden slid the folder across his desk. Without picking it up, Ryker flipped it open and started reading. Laney had done all the online investigating. She was a whiz at hacking without leaving even the slightest clue anyone had done so. She was invaluable to the family.
Braden knew Ryker would take things over from here, which was good because Braden had no energy to put into this project right now. His mind was on Zara and the fact she’d so easily invited Ryker into her home to search.
Was she playing a game? Mocking him? Was she seriously just going to let him search with no strings attached?
As much as Braden wanted to rush over and figure out what the hell she was thinking, he also wanted to give her space. He wouldn’t give her too much, but he wanted her to miss him, to realize that they were good together and his actions had been justified in the beginning.
Ryker tapped the folder on the desk. “I’ll take care of it. I’m heading to my apartment, if you need me for anything.”
Braden nodded and waited until Ryker had stepped out before he braced his elbows on his desk and rested his head in his palms. What the hell was he going to do? He’d messed this up. In the beginning, had he known he would’ve fallen for her, he would’ve confessed what he wanted. But he’d never known any other way than to take what he wanted and not worry about feelings or personal issues cropping up.
Braden cursed himself as he slammed his fists on to the glossy desktop. Just as he pushed away, his cell vibrated. Glancing at the screen, Braden didn’t recognize the number. He wasn’t in the mood to chat, but he never knew when it was a business call. For the O’Sheas, business always carried on, no matter what was going on in their private lives.
Braden grabbed the phone and slid his fingertip across the screen. “Hello.”
“What the hell did you do to Zara?”
Stunned by the rage-filled tone, it took Braden a minute to place the caller. “Why are you calling me, Shane?”
“I went by her house to check on her, and she’d been crying.”
Braden wasn’t stupid; he figured Zara had cried, but he wanted to give her space. Still, the thought of her alone in that big house, crying with no one to hold her, comfort her, other than the cat, gutted him.
No one, but the prick Shane.
“How the hell do you know I did anything?” Braden asked.
“Because I know you, O’Shea. And now that she’s done with you, I’m moving full-force into winning her back. Just thought you should know.”
That arrogant, egotistical tone slammed into him.
“You went to her house?” Braden jerked to his feet. Gripping the phone, he started for the door. “Stay away from what’s mine. You won’t be warned again.”
Braden disconnected the call and quickly shot off a text to Ryker. Yes, he was in the same house, but Braden wasn’t wasting any time. He wanted Shane dealt with right now, and while Braden would love being the one to do so himself, Braden had someone else who needed his attention even more.
