Page 42 of Finders Keep Her
“She told you about me chopping all her Barbies' heads off?”
“No, you psycho.”
“That one I was joking about,” he deadpans.
“This is what I would ask about. Just you. How you are in general. I only viewed you as being stoic. Never cracking jokes or laughing. But now?”
“I guess it’s you. Cause I’m usually not a big talker. I’m more do than say.”
“I know.” I enjoy both of them. That he’s willing to share with me but also when he’s giving out those short orders that get me wiggling in my seat. I rather enjoy his bossy side. I think because I love pushing some of his buttons to see him react.
“What else did she tell you about me?”
“That you always take Zero’s side.”
“I do not. I stay out of that. Always have. Even when we were kids.”
“Did you know the whole time about them?”
“I think I knew about them before they could piece together what was happening between them. Z really latched on to Cosima when she came home from the hospital. He was an angry little shit. He and I could have a full-out fist fight.”
"Really?" I laugh. I would not want to see War, Zero, and Ronan fight. That would be a bloody mess.
"Both his parents had died, so I got that he was angry, and I was always up for a good fight. War, not so much."
"Really?" I would have guessed he was right in there. War has this cold, deadly air to him. I'm sure some would say that about Ronan too, but I've never felt that from him. Ronan is all welcoming warmth. Ha! Ronan being described as welcoming warmth—yeah, I'm pretty sure I’m the only one that would say that. That makes me feel extra special.
“War isn’t going to fight you and waste his energy unless there is a reason, but that’s not to say he didn’t trade me a knife once to give Z an ass-kicking.” I snort a laugh. That sounds about right. “But it’s been since we were teens that Z and I got into it. I’d made my sister cry. Stepped on her e-reader she left on the floor and Z was pissed Cosima was upset.”
“That, I believe. That girl is a hot mess.” I only lived with her a month, and shit was everywhere. It was pure chaos, but she still managed to always know where everything was. “I miss her and Tova.”
“How about we go to the psycho warehouse and then see about going and staying out at the farm.”
“I like that idea, as long as it’s safe to go to the farm. I know you keep that warehouse locked up tight.”
"I know you miss them, and I'm going to fix that."
"No more hiding?" That is a terrifying thought, but having Ronan at my side, it isn't as scary anymore.
"No more hiding," he agrees. "And I did some of the off-the-grid stuff at the warehouse to toy with you, little fox."
"What!"
"That's the only way I could get you to come out and play."
"You know how annoying that got sometimes!"
"Well, it should be pretty secure right now, but we'll change that."
"What do you mean?"
"We're going to hatch a plan, and it's time for Cyberius to come out and play. Instead of waiting for him to come to us, we’re going to force him to make a move on our terms.”
"How much did Zero tell you about him?" Does Ronan know what he's getting himself into?
“Not much; we’re both going to get an ass-chewing.” I still can’t get over that Ronan set a trap and got both Cyberius and me to fall for it. The man really is a hunter if he was able to lure us both out. I’m impressed and mildly annoyed by this. "But I know he's wanted by the FBI and Interpol."
"Who isn't? I mean, are you really living if you're not?"
