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All her life, she’d been nothing but trouble, a nuisance, expendable.
That was the last thing she wanted Zander to think when he saw her. She didn’t want to become a burden.
Which is what you will be if you stay and tell him the truth.
“It’s just the truth.”
He frowned. “But it hurt you.”
“I guess, sometimes the truth hurts more than a lie.”
He hummed at that, clearly thinking that through.
“I’m not who you need, Zander. I’m no good for you. I have something I have to do and if I survive it, well . . . you still need to stay away from me. All I bring with me is bad luck. You need to find someone who isn’t burdened by a lifetime of baggage. I can’t be your woman and I can’t be your Little.”
Reaching up, he cupped her cheek. “What you don’t seem to understand is that you already are.”
Before she could reply, his phone started ringing.
He drew it out of his pocket with a frown, then answered it. “Yeah? What? Fuck. Yes. Sure.”
When he ended the call, he sighed. “Fuck. I have to go on a job. I’ll take Eli and Ammo with me. Webb will stay here with you and Miles. Honey will be back in a few days.”
What kind of job?
“Is it dangerous?” she asked before she thought better of it.
He stared at her for a long moment. “Are you worried about me?”
Well, yeah.
But she shouldn’t admit it. Every moment in his presence was just cracking away at those shields. He could be a battering arm, he could smash his way through. The fact that he wasn’t, that he was instead chipping away at her . . .
So much worse.
So much better.
She was so freaking confused. It was killing her.
“Course not,” she said in a hoarse voice. “Was just wondering. If something happens to you then what about me? That’s all I care about, after all.”
The words felt dirty on her tongue and she readied herself for his anger or worse, his disappointment.
To her shock, he grinned. “I might not always read people correctly, but you, Little Thief, are a terrible liar.”
“I am not!” She sat up straight. “No one can tell when I lie.”
“You have a tell.”
She gasped. “I do not.”
“Sure do.”
“What?”
“Oh, I’m not going to tell you. Then you might try to get rid of it. I know you’re worried about me. You care about me.” He leaned in close and she got a hint of his scent.
Lord, please help me.
