Page 82 of Captivating

I’ve had enough.

I push my door open and hold it for her. “Well, you’re here now, so you might as well come in.”

Her eyes zero in on the ring on my finger, and what looks like a flash of anger appears before it’s gone just as quickly. She steps aside and waits for me to walk in before she follows me to the kitchen.

I pull the tins of food out of the to-go bag and set them in my warming drawer, then plant my hands on my hips and try to decide how to handle her just showing up at my house out of the blue.

I seriously need an extended sabbatical.

At least a year of writing without worrying about touring or recording.

Just living.

“Okay.” I pull myself up to sit on the counter and smile, thinking about what we did right here last night. “Might as well get this over with. How bad are they spinning my engagement? Do they think I’m pregnant? Spinning out? Addicted to drugs and covering up rehab?”

All things, might I add, I’ve been accused of before.

She places her Birkin bag on the chair next to her and rummages around inside for something, then pulls out a tablet. “Well, let’s see. I think the most pressing is that Killian made it appear that he was going on tour with you when you leave. We can’t have your fans thinking that. Little girls look up to you.Killian is what their mother’s warn them against. A bad boy who beats people with his hands. He can’t come on tour with you, Lilah. I really wish you’d consulted me before you?—”

“What?” I snap, pissed.

Truly angry. Not just annoyed.

Not just tired of being told how to live my life.

“You think I should have asked you before I wore my engagement ring?” I hop right back down from the counter, any pleasantries I was going for now gone. “I am so tired of this shit. I’m happy for the first time in forever. Can’t you just be happy for me?”

“It’s not my job to be happy for you. It’s my job to protect you from the vultures. It’s my job to keep them at bay.” She takes a step closer. “It’s my job to make sure you are taken care of, and since he’s come into the picture, you’ve made that very hard for me.”

“What?” My head spins. “It’s not your job to make sure I’m taken care of. Why does everyone want to claim ownership of that aspect of my life? Why don’t you all understand I can take care of myself?”

“Because you can’t,” she tells me calmly as she takes another step closer, and I suddenly feel uncomfortable. “Because I’ve always taken care of you, Lilah. I took care of you when you were young and naive and never stopped. You’ve always let me take care of you.”

“I’m sorry—” I sound like a broken record. I’m so confused. “What?”

“Where is Killian? I think he should be down here for this.” She looks around, like Killian will appear out of thin air.

It’s wrong. I’m not sure what it is, but everything about her... and about this entire interaction is wrong.

That’s the only excuse I have for what I do next.

“He left earlier.” I cross my arms over my chest to hide my nervous fidgeting. “He’s at the gym, debriefing with his team. He won’t be back for a few hours.”

“Fine.” Zoe cracks her neck from one side to the other and pulls her hand out of the pocket of her coat. Then, my entire world shifts and threatens to shatter.

“Zoe... What are you doing with a gun?”

“Step away from the counter, Lilah.” She points toward her purse. “There are zip ties in my purse. Could you get them for me please?”

“What the fuck?” I stand, shocked in place. “Zoe?—”

“Lilah, please, my love. Don’t make this hard. I know things have been difficult lately, and the fighter has made things worse. But once you’re away from him, we can be together. Don’t you see that?”

“You’re insane,” I hiss, wishing I’d gone back to Uncle Cooper’s self-defense class. I look around the room for a weapon, not wanting to scream and wake Killian. I don’t know what she’d do if she saw him. Would she shoot him? My God. Would she kill him?

Zoe trains the gun on my face, and I flinch. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I cry. “I didn’t mean it. You just... you scared me, Zoe. You’ve got a gun. Why—why do you have a gun?”

“I have a gun because I needed to get your attention, and I didn’t know if I’d need it to get rid of the fighter. But now that it’s just us, I don’t need it, do I, Lilah? You’re going to come with me because you love me the same way I love you.”

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