Page 109 of Deceived Wrath

On one hand, Fiona is an open book. Her face is beautifully expressive. Yet, when it comes to her personal life, I know very little, and for some reason, I want to change that.

“Like you can talk. Every subject is touchy for you,” Fiona retorts.

Ouch.

Her words sting, but only because there’s so much truth to them.

I can hardly have a go at her for shutting down when I do exactly the same thing.

Settling into the cushions, I throw my arm over the back of the couch.

My fingers are barely an inch from her hair, and I fight the urge to tuck the loose strands behind her ear. “Fine. Ask me whatever you want. I’m an open book.”

“More like an encrypted hard drive, but okay…” Fiona mutters, and I roll my eyes.

“I’m being serious.”

“I can ask anything I want?”

“Only this once.”

“How generous of you,” Fiona mutters.

She thinks for a moment, her eyebrows pulling together in a frown, before she glances sidelong at me, and I brace myself for whatever ridiculous question is about to come out of her mouth.

“What happened with Scout’s mom?”

And there goes Pandora's box of questions.

“Scout’s mother isn’t around anymore,” I say gruffly.

“I gathered that much.”

When I don’t elaborate, Fiona narrows her eyes but continues to force the subject.

“It must have been hard for you, raising him alone… And, of course, for Scout. Not having his mother around must be tough for him?—”

Even after all these years, any mention of Nadia has all those old wounds ripping open.

“It’s none of your business. You’re here to take care of Scout, not grill me on his family history.”

“You literally just told me I could ask you anything I want. If there was a topic that was off-limits, you should have said so. Don’t take your bad mood out on me.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be in such a bad mood if I didn't come down here to find you sitting around reading smut. I’m paying you for a reason, and I would appreciate it if you would find things to do around the place when you’re not looking after my son.”

Fiona’s cheeks turn crimson as she glares at me.

“I’m going to bed,” she says, getting to her feet and tucking her book beneath her arm. “Unless, of course, that’s not allowed?”

I wave a hand. “It’s fine.”

Fiona stomps off, leaving me to dwell on how spectacularly I managed to fuck that up.

It’s my own fault for giving her free rein to ask me anything she wanted.

I should have known she would have been curious about Scout’s mother, especially after the comment he made at dinner last night.

Maybe next time, I should think twice before offering Fiona a free pass into my personal life.