Page 56 of Code Name: Reaper
“Please call me Kyra.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It wasn’t her fault her son was an asshole—or maybe it was, considering she’d accosted me in a café to apologize on his behalf. Not that she was apologizing. I scooted my chair from the table.
“Please.”
I couldn’t say if it was the word itself, the way she said it, or the look on her face that stopped me from getting up and leaving. Or because I suddenly felt as though I could confide in this person who was basically a total stranger. Maybe it was my own lack of sleep.
“He did hurt me,” I whispered.
She reached over and put her hand on my arm, and while that would normally make me flinch, it didn’t.
“The first thing I want you to know is that Kingston didn’t put me up to this. In fact, if he knew we were speaking right now, it would likely anger him.”
“Most things do,” I muttered, again under my breath.
“You’re right.”
My eyes met hers.
“My son has always been quick to anger when he’s scared. When he was fifteen, he found out his girlfriend was moving away with her family. Instead of telling her how much he’d miss her, he picked a fight with her about something trivial and broke up with her first. Better to control the ending than risk being abandoned.”
Abandonment was something I knew all too well. Despite everything, I almost smiled. “Did it work?”
“About as well as his current approach is working.” She leaned against her chair, studying me. “Kingston has a need to control every situation, every outcome. It’s served him well professionally, but it’s hell on his personal relationships.”
“I gathered that much.” I traced the rim of my coffee cup with my finger. “Though I’m not sure we have a personal relationship.”
“Oh, honey. You wouldn’t be this hurt if you didn’t.”
The gentle observation hit harder than any accusation could have. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“Why? Because he made an ass of himself?” Kyra shook her head. “If that were the case, Rick and I would’ve divorced thirty years ago.”
“This is different. He thinks I betrayed him. He accused me…” This was pointless. While I tossed and turned all night, furious with him for many reasons, including that he’d left me alone without having the decency to tell me where he was going, I’d also worried. And I didn’t want to have to worry about him or Mercury or anyone. When would the time come that someone worried about me?
“And that wounds you because you care what he thinks.” It wasn’t a question. “But more than that, it wounds you because, somewhere along the way, you started to trust him. And trust doesn’t come easily for you, does it?”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, wishing I’d left when I had the chance. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“My dear, I spent my career reading people. How do you think I was so certain who you were? You have the bearing of someone who learned early that the people who claim to love you will disappoint you when you need them most.”
My throat tightened. “I think this conversation is getting too personal.”
“Perhaps. But Kingston has that same bearing.” Kyra’s voice was soft but relentless. “Different reasons, same result. Two people circling each other, wanting connection but terrified of vulnerability.”
“He’s not the one who—” I stopped myself.
“Who what?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Of course I would.”
“My life has been…complicated.”
“His wasn’t easy. No one’s is.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “When he told you about his asset, why do you think he did it?”
“He said he wanted me to know I could trust him.”
