Page 36 of Virtue & Vengeance

9

ZANDER

SHE WAS LYING TO ME.

I didn’t like that.

I watched her from afar as she moved through the tables. Her shoulders were stiff, and she was always looking around as if she were waiting for something to happen at any second.

Something had her on edge all the time. Fear laced her expression. And I had a strong feeling that it had everything to do with the stranger from my lobby.

Was he a danger to her?

The fact was, I would kill him if he even considered touching her.

In addition to her blatant lies, my feelings got twisted every time I was around her.

Sure, I wanted to protect her, but I also wanted to hold her.

Feel her.

Consume her.

All while raging against her at the same time.

The fact was, she was making me fucking crazy, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take before I snapped at someone or something.

I drove across town, and when I stopped at the red light, I plunged my fingers into my thick hair and tugged a little to remind myself I was in control.

I was always in control.

At least that was how it used to be before Eden stepped into Empire Sevens and knocked me off my throne.

By the time I made it across town and into Dr. Dempson’s office I was fuming with anger at myself.

As soon as she opened the door, I stepped inside and went straight to the large window on the far side of her office to look out at the people passing.

“Zander, please come in,” she said with humor in her voice as she shut the door behind me.

“I can’t deal with this shit,” I said to the window in front of me.

“Why don’t you have a seat and we’ll talk through it.”

I listened, unbuttoning my jacket as I moved across the room and took a seat.

“I’ve seen you more in the last month than I have since we started sessions. This woman is getting to you, isn’t she?”

“That’s an understatement,” I said, raking my fingers through my already mussed hair. “I find myself in the most bizarre situations, and she’s lying to me. I hate a fucking liar.”

I knew what I was saying wasn’t making any sense to Dr. Dempson, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was saying it out loud to someone who wouldn’t judge me.

“And her fucking innocent ways are driving up the wall. Then there’s the strange man in the lobby, and now I feel like she’s in danger. I’ll kill someone if they touch her.”

I couldn’t sit.

I stood and made my way to the window again, feeling like a caged tiger.

“And what makes you think she’s in danger?”

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