Page 152 of Keeping Kasey
My stunned expression pulls a dry laugh from Ford.
“Am I supposed to understand what that means?” I ask.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t,” he mutters, but after a long, deep breath, Ford drops his shoulders, and a look of resignation settles over his features. “I know you think my reason for not liking you is rooted in sexism, but it isn’t.”
“Matteo told me I wasn’t on your list of candidates for Logan. You were mad he ignored your recommendations.”
“That was frustrating, sure, but Mr. Consoli is the boss. He can do whatever the hell he wants. It’s not my job to make decisions for the family.”
“Then, why do you hate me so much?”
“I don’t hate you, Kasey. I’m—” He runs a hand down his face, which suddenly flushes red. “There isn’t a cybersecurity specialist whodoesn’tidolize and imitateCam’swork—myself included. Then I got the chance to actually meet the legendary hacker, expecting a middle-aged, ex-government cyber intelligence expert, only to realize you wereseventeenwhen I started following your work five years ago.”
The implication of his confession hits me in full force.
Ford doesn’t like me because he’s—
“You can call it jealousy if you want,” Ford says with an uncaring shrug. “But I prefer to say it was disappointment. Regardless, meeting you was… humbling. So, while I don’t like you and think you have the most unbearable personality of anyone I’ve ever met, I do nothateyou.”
The confession leaves my head spinning, and I have the urge to rest it against the table, though I suspect I’d fall asleep if I did.
While I technically slept, I didn’t get much rest last night. It was like the darkest days of my time on the run, when sleep was abundant but far from restful. I don’t remember the last time I made it through a night without torturous visions tainting my sleep.
I suspect it was before I ran.
The cup of coffee I ordered this morning sits half-empty beside me. Even exhausted, I can barely choke the stuff down.
The door opens, and James steps inside. Whatever minimal emotion Ford showed is masked by his usual blank indifference. He nods to me once before leaving, as if he didn’t just admit to spending years idolizing my work.
It strikes me as soon as the door is closed that I’ve fallen into the exact situation I’ve been waiting for. James will have no idea what I’m doing, and I can finally investigate how Logan found me.
I start by searching Logan’s emails, then James’s and Damon’s, but I don’t find anything. I pull up all base communications, but don’t find anything there either. I’m about to search Moreno’s database when a prickling sensation creeps up my neck.
“Am I supposed to ask why you’re staring?” I ask. “Or was I not supposed to notice?”
“I rarely expect you to do what you’re supposed to.”
“I bet you’re all on your toes wondering how I’m going to terrorize you next.”
“Not exactly,” he says. “But I’d be lying if I said you posed no interest to me.”
“I’d be lying if I said you posedanyinterest to me.”
James’s laugh is short. “Maybe the difference between us is that I don’t stop at research when it comes to getting to know someone.”
That gets my attention, and I turn to face him with a blank expression.
“Thedifference between usis that you didn’t spend months on the run from your bone-headed, bloodthirsty family.”
“No, I didn’t.” When he smiles, it strikes me just how alike he is to his twin. These Consoli boys have a way of constantly appearing unbothered by what’s happening around them.
James, however, doesn’t exude that confidence for the same reasons his brothers do.
Logan’s assurance comes from the knowledge that his power is great enough to stand against anyone who may come against him. Damon’s past has given him the ultimateit couldn’t be worse than…attitude as a way to cope with anything thrown at him.
For James, it’s neither of those things, and while I can’t exactly pinpoint what drives him, I know he’s right about one thing.
I won’t find it in any amount of research.
