Page 69 of Nest Of Lies

She flinches, and her shoulders hunch. It isn’t right how much power this woman has over me. I chide her; she wilts, and I want to go buy her an entire shop of flowers just to see her smile again.

I stiffen my spine, refusing to give in.

“What is it?”

She glances at me and back down at the box, and then pulls it away as if I’m the threat. The first thing I note is there are holes cut into the box.

The second thing is that it’s mewling.

My attention focuses on what’s in her hands, and I have a suspicion I might know.

She wraps her arms around it and glares at me mutinously, as if she expects me to take the box by force.

“Show me what you have, Lia,” I coax.

Lia huffs. “It’smine.”

“Okay.”

She opens the box, her eyes narrowed in warning, and then she smiles, her entire face transforming. She’s radiantly happy, and she coos into the box as if she’s forgotten I’m even here.

My eyebrows raise, and I get a sinking feeling that I might have another charge to look after.

It’s confirmed a moment later when I look in the box and see a tiny little ball of black and white fluff.

“You found a kitten.” Oh, dear. I am not going to be the one to tell Zaden.

Lia picks her new baby up and coos to it, cuddling it close.

It’s all black except for a white mask on its face and a white streak down its chest like a tiny tie.

But then it starts to rumble, and all I can do is stare at the pair of them in amusement as the tiny kitten lets rip like my damn bike.

“Harley,” I say with a lopsided smile.

Lia looks up, and the colour in her eyes is so vibrant I’m taken aback. They sparkle, they are so light, she’s so happy. And I know that I can’t do anything to make her sad. Not a single thing.

We’re keeping the kitten.

“You can hide him at our place when your mum visits.” I reach out and just manage to save my finger before a hissing, spitting ball of rage takes a chunk out of it. “Oi, you!”

Lia snickers.

“Are you the one who dropped off the bird?” I ask, watching her out of the corner of my eyes.

Lia looks down at the kitten, her cheeks turning rosy.

“Lia? Have you been bringing us injured animals?”

“I don’t like to see them in pain.”

I reach out and cup her cheeks. “Don’t ever change, Lia, you are absolutely perfect the way you are.”

She blinks up at me, and for some reason, my words make her sad. “I’m not perfect.”

I snort and finally get to touch the kitten. Its fur is the softest I’ve ever felt.

“You are to me,” I admit. “Now, what shall we do about this little monster?”

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