Page 24 of Kissed By the Alien
“What is the family business?”
“I’m not supposed to say. We have enemies. Which is why all the security.”
I motion towards her treehouse. “And the reason for this?”
“Yes.”
She’s being honest with me. This pleases me more than it should. “Why not tell me this before?”
“Why should I? I mean, we just met.” She tucks a lock of hair behind an ear. “When it comes down to it, I’m nothing to you, Lutan. A passing acquaintance.”
She’s so much more, but I can’t tell her. The battle of emotions inside me bubbles out as a low growl. I’m tempted to tell her everything, but that could make her trust me less. Humans don’t believe in heartmates. And even heartmates can lie.
“And then there’s that growling you do when you’re mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you. Frustrated.”
“I don’t understand why you’d be either.”
“You keep running from me, Lexi. Did I not give you the gun you desired?”
“Yes.”
“And I followed the bus to ensure those males would not harm you.”
“I know.”
“Then explain why you don’t trust me.”
She walks up to me, plants the tips of her boots on mine and says, “Would I still be standing here talking to you if I didn’t trust you?”
That’s a good question. “You might engage me in conversation to trick me.”
“Trick you?”
“You’ve escaped me twice, now.”
“Escaped? I didn’t know I was under arrest.”
“You’re not. Not exactly.”
Her brows raise. “What does that mean?”
“I should have arrested you the other day, for working with Moses.”
The change in her expression is fast, anger taking over rapidly. I’ve pushed her too far this time. Good. Now, I might get some answers.
“Listen here, Warrior,” she says with her hands on her hips as she surges toward me with such ferocity that I back up. Never in my life have I backed up from any confrontation. A warrior’s trained to stand his ground, even against a female. But Lexi is not an ordinary female, and this is not because she’s my sholani.
She’s… bossy.
“I don’t work for Moses. Never have, never will. I needed a gun, for protection, exactly like I told you. And I don’t appreciate being called a liar.”
“But you are involved with criminals.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?” She waves her hand. “Never mind. I don’t care. I am as I appear, soldier boy. Aside from buying an illegal weapon, you have nothing to charge me with. So either cuff and arrest me or stop inferring I’m a criminal.”
“I won’t arrest you.”
