Page 75 of Zimyra

“Oh, so you’re going to follow me around like a shadow now to make sure I’m safe and sound?”

“Yes, if that’s what it takes.”

“Zander, you taught me how to defend myself.”

“Yes, but I didn’t think it would ever come to this.”

I open the refrigerator, take a bottle of water, and then close it back. “Ugh…I need to get out of here,” I mumble under my breath.

“What you say?”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I say, “Nothing.”

“That’s what I thought.”

I head for the living room or any room where he isn’t, but before I can even exit the kitchen, he says, “Oh, by the way, did Mother text you?”

“Yeah.”

“What did she say?”

“That she met Axel.”

“Well, she texted me to let me know that he was heading this way to see you. Any reason for that?”

I can think of many. I tell him, “He probably just wants to check on me and give me a property update or something.”

“Yeah…the same way he wascheckingon you at The Promenade? Jeremiah told me all about it. I should’ve pulled up.”

“And did what, exactly? Confront a guy because I’m out with him?”

“Do I need to be concerned about this cat, Myra?”

I sigh audibly. “No. No, Zander. Is everybody a suspect now?”

“Yeah. Absolutely! You were attacked.”

“And Axel was the one who saved me! Can you at least give him some credit for that?”

The doorbell sounds. Zander says, “That must be yoursavior.”

My savior.

I love my brother dearly, but he knows how to work my very last available nerve. He has that overprotective big brother syndrome, and he needs to lose it. It’s highly annoying.

He opens the door and asks, “What up? How can I help you?”

And then I hear Axel’s voice. “Hi. I stopped by to check on Zimyra. I’ve been trying to call and text her. I haven’t been able to reach her.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to be reached. Have you considered that as a possibility?”

“I did, actually. That still doesn’t mean I can’t make an effort, does it?”

I step in front of Zander and say, “Hey, Axel. Please excuse my brother.”

Zander walks away, giving me a little privacy. Still, for good measure, I step outside to join Axel on the porch and close the door behind me.

“I’ve been trying to reach you. Are you good?”

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