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I used to cry over what my sister was going through.
I didn’t just dislike Zane then. I hated him for putting that look on her face. I didn’t know why she would stay with someone who treated her so shittily.
But then again, that was a different side of him.
And now I was seeing him in a new light.
This man who cared about my ankle was the one I didn’t understand, and I didn’t know what to do about him.
I glanced at Casey. I was taking him into the lion’s den, to the man who had destroyed his mother. He didn’t know it, and neither did my parents. But according to what Zane said, Casey would find out about his parentage soon enough.
I just wished it didn’t have to happen. I wished Zane would get bored of Casey and no longer be interested in ruining his life. But I couldn’t guarantee that. So I just needed to protect Casey with everything I had.
“Hey,” I said, tapping his thigh and gesturing for him to take out his headphones.
“What’s up?” he asked as he obliged.
“Um, when we get there, if Zane says anything to you, anything weird, let me know.”
He looked confused. “Anything like what?”
“Anything like well…I don’t know.” I didn’t want to give him any ideas. Casey was a pretty smart kid, and he would figure it out if I gave him enough clues. “He says weird things sometimes, and I just don’t want him putting strange ideas in your head.”
Casey was still staring at me, all confused, when I added, “Oh, and be careful with him. If he tries to make you feel bad or bully you, let me know.”
Casey smirked. “You think your boyfriend is a bully?”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Fine. Your friend, who just so happens to be a boy, is a bully?”
“No,” I said exasperatedly. “Yes. I don’t know. It’s complicated, okay?”
“Ah, I see.” He nodded with a kind of prepubescent awareness as though he finally had it figured out. “I get it. You want me to vet him.”
“What?”
“Vetting. I heard a few girls in twelfth grade talking about it. It’s when they bring the boy around their friends to make sure he’s a good person.” He winked at me. “Don’t worry. I’ll pay attention.”
I shook my head, but there was nothing more I could say to him without raising his suspicions, so instead, I asked, “What are you doing around twelfth-grade girls anyway?”
But he simply winked at me again and slipped his headphones back on.
When we finally pulled up in front of Zane’s house, Casey whispered, “This is nice.”
“Yeah.”
“Is your friend rich?”
“I think so.” I remembered all the designer stuff Kelly was wearing after they got married. That was pretty much all we knew about Zane Kazan when we met him—that he had a shit ton of money. We didn’t know where he got it from, what he did, or anything else. My dad was convinced he got the money illegally through mafia connections. I didn’t agree with the theory, but I could understand why he would think that. Zane would be the stereotypical mafia boss with his tattoos, scars, and broken nose.“Probably not all legal, though.”
Although, I didn’t want to make assumptions about him like that.
With a deep internal sigh, I walked up to the door and knocked on it loudly.
It was only a few seconds before the door was pulled open, and a giant glowered down at us.
I gasped and grabbed Casey, both of us taking a step back from the giant tattooed man whose muscular arm propped open the door. But then he did something very strange.
