Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“On the contrary—consider myself merely along for the ride.”
It was clear neither Aiden nor James liked that idea much, but Aiden shook his head and dropped onto a bar stool several down from Halloran. “If we take out Mae, we might as well declare war on Alethea.”
Dmitri considered him. “It will have to be handled carefully. But then, this was always the plan.” He smiled. “Why don’t you contact that delightful brother-in-law of yours? What was his name? Jude MacNamara?”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “Jude is out of the game. He’s got more important things to focus on.”
“How is your little…nephew, was it? You O’Malleys certainly breed like rabbits.”
“Watch it, Romanov.” Aiden handed him the file. The only indication of anger he gave was a slight clenching of his jaw. “Our alliance only lasts as long as I say it does. Stop dicking around.”
“In that case, let’s get down to business.”
* * *
Charlie looked up from the book she’d picked at random to find Keira humming under her breath, twisting a lock of hair around her finger as she paged through what looked like an art magazine. “Do you draw?”
“Hmm?” Keira flipped another page. “No, I used to paint.”
“Used to?” She kept her tone politely interested. Aiden had mentioned that Keira dropped out of art school, but even without that information, Charlie would have put two and two together. There was evidence of art all over Keira’s room, though she’d destroyed most of it in one way or another. The fact that she was showing any interest in something that had obviously once been very important to her was a big deal.
She flipped another page, still not looking up. “It was a long time ago.”
“That’s quite the safe, pat little answer.”
Finally, Keira looked at her, hazel eyes flashing. “What do you want me to say? If you haven’t noticed, my life is pretty shitty these days. You can’t paint when you’re not inspired. I used to try before I realized it just made me more depressed.”
She’d spent enough time around Keira to know she lashed out rather than deal with something painful. It was easier to attack than to try to heal a soul wound. That was probably why she and Charlie got along like a house on fire—they both reacted to pain the same way. “Did you go to Krav Maga today?”
“Yeah.” She narrowed her eyes at the change in subject but finally said, “I feel like I got hit by a train, but I have another class tomorrow.”
“It might seem counterintuitive, but working those same muscles every other day or so will keep them from tightening up and will help with the soreness.”
“That’s what the instructor said.”
“He’s a smart man.” She sat back and considered how to approach the art thing—or if she even should. As Aiden kept reminding her—she wasn’t here to fix his family. But she’d seen the way he’d relaxed last night at the dinner once he’d had it out with Carrigan and then Teague. It was like some part of him that was always coiled had actually relaxed for once. He had rocky relationships with several of his siblings, but Keira was the one who worried him the most.
She worried Charlie, too.
The Krav Maga helped, but it wasn’t a magic pill that would fix everything. Learning a new skill that worked her body as well as her mind was just the first step of the journey—an opportunity, if Keira chose to take it.
That gave her an idea. “Could you teach me?”
“You’re a fucking brown belt, Charlie. It will take me years to get to a point where I actually have the ability to take you down, let alone teach you anything.”
She laughed. “You’ll be there before you know it. But no, I meant will you teach me to paint?”
“Why the hell would you want me to do that?” Despite the incredulity in her voice, there was a spark of interest there. Just like there’d been when Keira had watched the two black belts spar at the gym the first time they’d gone.
That’s as good of an opportunity as I’m going to get. Charlie set the book aside and sat up. “Sure. My dad was big on shooting ranges and hand-to-hand grappling, and that sort of thing. But I’ve never even taken an art class. You liked Krav Maga when I shared it with you. Maybe I’m harboring an artistic streak.”
Keira snorted. “Let’s stop pretending that you’re trying to do anything but manipulate me by bringing this up.”
“For fuck’s sake, Keira. I’m not trying to manipulate you. Call me a fool, but I thought we were getting to the point where we were something like friends. Friends share shit. If you want me to back off, just say so, but don’t pull the pissy teenager act. You want to be taken seriously as an adult? Then be one.”