Page 3 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

Zoe laughed despite herself. "That's playing dirty, Kerem."

"Is it?" Kerem asked, smiling over the brim of his cup. "You have nothing to lose by taking a look at what he left you, do you? He always did have such an eclectic collection."

Zoe wasn't a coward, not by a long shot, but she wasn't feeling particularly brave to open the doors to her past. She summoned her stubborn streak that usually worked better than bravery anyway.

Fuck it. Just go.

It wasn't like Zoe had plans for her birthday anyway. Maybe a few days in Istanbul to clear up the legalities of her father's estate would be a good thing for her. It would get her out of London and into some warmer weather.

Hopefully, going back would finally lay her father's ghost to rest and she would be able to let his death go once and for all. She opened the leather folio in front of her.

"What time was the flight for?" she asked, straightening her shoulders.

Kerem smiled brightly. "Whenever you are ready."

CHAPTER TWO

Zoe was packing clothes into a suitcase when her phone started ringing loudly with her mother's ringtone. She hesitated before picking it up. She really didn't want to deal with her. Gritting her teeth, Zoe tapped the screen anyway.

"Hey, Mom," she answered, tucking the phone between her neck and shoulder while she zipped up her bags.

"Happy birthday, muffin!" Anita cooed from a beach in Mykonos. Zoe could see her in her mind's eye—tall, tanned, dressed in a white kaftan and with her bronze hair loose and wild in the sea breeze. No doubt there was also a cocktail in her hand.

"Thanks, Mom. How's Greece?" she asked.

"Fabulous as always. Please tell me you're going to do something with some friends tonight? You need to get out of the house more, Zoe. Flat sharing with your mom is bad enough at your age," Anita babbled on, telling Zoe she was definitely a few margaritas in already.

Zoe didn't bother trying to correct her mother that she was only staying in the upstairs half of the house because Anita had thrown a tantrum when she had tried to move out. Her mother liked to forget those facts when she was drinking.

"Actually, Mom, I'm going to get away for a few days." Zoe took a deep breath and added in a rush, "I'm going to Istanbul because I inherited the bookstore."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Zoe braced herself mentally for the storm that was about to hit. She picked up her suitcase and started carrying it downstairs, determined not to change her mind.

"Is Kerem there?" Anita asked finally, her voice colder than Zoe had ever heard it.

Zoe paused on the step. "Yeah, he is. How… How did you know that?"

Kerem was suddenly before her, taking the suitcase from her and carrying it the rest of the way down.

"Put him on the phone, Zoe," Anita demanded, ignoring her question.

Zoe offered the phone to Kerem. "Sorry, she wants to talk to you."

"Merhaba,Anita. It has been a long time," Kerem answered, his voice smooth as silk. He shot Zoe a reassuring wink. She couldn't hear anything her mother was saying except for loud squawking noises that said she was chewing him out.

"Ah. Hmm. Yes, I understand, but Zoe is a grown woman, and it is time she had her inheritance. Ah huh. Well, Zoe is capable of making her own decisions. She's not a little girl anymore. I will ensure she's well looked after. Hmmm. Yes, well you walked away from us first. Don't forget that." Kerem went silent as Anita blared over the top of him. "It is none of your business whether Kahil is involved either. Zoe will be fine. She has family in Istanbul that deserve to know her. Goodbye, Anita."

Kerem handed the phone back to Zoe, blowing out a frustrated breath.

"Yeah, she's like that," Zoe told him before lifting the phone back to her ear. "I don't know what's going on, Mom, but going back to Istanbul will be good for me. I need closure."

"Youneedto stay as far away from your father's messes as possible!" Anita shouted at her. It wasn't in anger; it was fear. Her mother was worried about her and had never learned how to express it properly. Zoe really hated being the adult some days.

"Mom, stop yelling at me. I'm going to find out answers because clearly, you're not going to give them to me, are you?" Zoe said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Go with Kerem then, but don't come crying to me when he and that fucking city ruin your life," her mother snapped and hung up on her. Zoe lowered the phone and took a long, deep breath in and then let it out.

"Are you okay?" Kerem asked, placing a warm hand on her shoulder.

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