Page 17 of Innocent Princess

"Does she not know anything about your birth parents?" I wonder how Zella managed to turn out so sweet when raised by someone who seems so controlling and very honest. After hearing muttered comments from Cam, it sounds like she was also overprotective and not extremely supportive.

"She said it was a closed adoption. That she has zero information on them."

Cameron rolls his eyes and crosses his arms.

I lift an eyebrow and look at him. "You think differently?"

"Yeah, her mom's a piece of work. It wouldn't surprise me if she had names." I nod.

Zella sighs. "Anyway, I was just wondering, since you have the skills, is that something you could figure out. I would pay you, of course."

I reach up and scrub a hand down my chin. "Look, Blondie, I want to help you, I really do, but hacking into government servers, that's risky." I'm going with complete honesty here.

Cameron lifts his eyebrows and mutters, "Right."

So, for good measure, I add, "Risky, but I could do it. It wouldn't be easy; there are a lot of steps, and it wouldn't be a quick hack. The government is extremely protected, and not to mention, how much trouble I'd get into if I were caught. The job would also be expensive, and I wouldn't want to charge you for it."

"How noble of you," Cameron bites out.

"Stop, Cam." Zella shoots him a glare. "I understand, Ryker. I didn't realize it was so risky. It all makes sense though."

I feel bad. Real bad. Everything in me is telling me to throw caution to the wind and do this for her. "I could do some digging. Maybe you have rights as an adoptee to information."

This has her perk up a bit. "Really?"

"Yeah, let me see what I can do. What's your birth date, and what was the state your birth certificate filed in?" I really don't know much about her at all.

"February sixth, two thousand. Mississippi. Solitude, to be exact."

I jot the date and town down on the corner of my study guide.

"It's a rather fitting name for the place," Cameron adds.

Cocking a brow, I get more intel on Cameron and Zella's relationship. "And you've been there?"

"Born and raised," is all he offers.

So, they grew up together. "Ah, so you two." I wave my pen between the two of them.

Zella blushes, and Cameron chuckles and answers, "Best friends since seven."

I eye Cam. Who has a female best friend for that long and doesn't want to bang her? He reads my mind because he leans back in his chair and smirks.

Zella clears things up. "Yup. Best friends right here. I love him like my brother."

Hmm.My skepticism was enough for her to read since she feels like she has to reassure me. Cameron, though, his expression never changes at her brother comment. So maybe he does only see her as a friend.

Cameron breaks the awkward moment. "Well, this has been fun, but I need to run."

"Yeah, I've got dinner plans with my roommate, Milani." Zella says as if she had forgotten about her plans.

I shut my laptop and gather my things along with Zella and Cam. Zella stands and slips on her light purple ballet flats. I've started to notice the girl prefers to be barefoot.

We are quiet as we file out of the study room. Cameron chats with Zella about nothing of importance as we take the elevator down to the first floor and leave the library. Once outside the building, Zella catches my arm as I turn to walk in the opposite direction.

Looking down at her tiny hand wrapped around the crook of my elbow causes me to pause and wonder what it would be like to have her in my arms. I pull my eyes to her face, and I'm greeted with that amazingly sweet smile of hers.

"Hey, whatever you find will be more than what I have now, so thank you. And don't sweat it if you can't find anything at all. Maybe, it was just meant to be—me never knowing them." Her smile turns sad, and I immediately fight off the urge to tell her I'll find her parents.

---