I heard it all, I wasn't asleep and I heard every last word.
Dammit, just when I thought I'd managed to stop those two from falling into the same pattern again, there they go getting all gooey eyed and mushy on me.
It's like an inevitability with them, no matter how much they hate each other, or how bad the circumstances that force them apart are; somehow they always find a way to fall back into each other's beds.
The rest of the drive is awkward, I can tell that Kiera wants to talk to him, I can see the wheels turning in that pretty little head of hers. Only God know what damage a confession from her will do at this point.
Dastan, on the other hand, had looked about ready to throw himself from the moving car. I suspect he didn't intend to say as much as he did and from the way Kiera reacted she didn't expect it either. Knowing him, he probably thinks the feelings are in not reciprocated. I don't blame him, she did do a real number on him when they broke up, I mean the things she said. But somehow, even that wasn't enough to keep him away. He always was a slow learner I guess.
We end up at a seaside cabin, although it's more of a massive colonial house built right into the cliff face overlooking the ocean. It would have been peaceful, had I not walked in with a hundred new issues and a mission to put a stop to whatever blossoming between Dastan and Kiera.
We end up rooming together, with Zia and the boys take the other room full of bunks. It's helpful to know they can't sneak around without everyone noticing because of the sleeping arrangements.
But now I needed a plan, Kiera's all but shit me out and there's only a limited number of options I have available to me. Spending the day on the beach, the entire group is raucous and hungry by dinner when we all pile back into the house, tanned and dripping water everywhere.
"Dude, you didn't even get a tan. You went straight from pasty to tomato," Dastan is saying to Connor where they both sit at the counter. He pokes Connor in the shoulder watching his splotchy red skin go white and then an even more aggressive shade of red.
Now that I'm thinking about Dastan's relationship with Connor should have been my first clue that him and Kiera were sneaking around again. The suddenly acceptance and lack of hostility is very telling.
Kiera and Theo are both leaning against the counter next to them laughing. Kiera's long blond hair soaked through and darkened by the water, it drops slightly onto the counter as she slowly towels it off.
I catch Dastan's eyes falling to her multiple times, I watch the expression on his face go soft before he realizes what he's doing and wipes it clean only to do it again.
The next time he looks at her, I turn to Haider. "How long do you think that's been going on?" I ask, gesturing in their general direction and hoping he catches on.
"Maybe since I caught them kissing," he says though it sounds like he's asking for confirmation. I don't really think so, I would have noticed. She'd been completely normal with me after that. It wasn't until after the investigation we were running ended that Kiera's behavior started getting weird.
I make a sound of disagreement in my throat, indicating my thoughts on the matter. He runs a hand thoughtfully over his chin, scratching at his beard.
"Definitely around the time Theo showed up," at this I nod. I remember that night, the whispered conversations at the counter, the intense eye contact, the 'I love you' to the Tylenol bottle that seemed to charge the air with static electricity.
"Possible," I agree. "Maybe her birthday?" I ask, remembering the gift he'd gotten her and the way she'd thrown herself into his arms and he'd clung to her like she was the last molecule of oxygen in the room.
"Oh, yeah definitely then." Haider says, he seems to hesitate which piques my interest. Turning to him, I find his eyes distant and thoughtful. I give his shoulder a nudge.
"You think it's the therapy that's maybe brought them closer, that's allowing her to finally be less guarded about her feelings for him?" he asks, in a soft almost hopeful voice.
The what?
Kiera isn't in therapy, she hasn't been for over two years. Not since she started doing those investigations by herself and with good reason, she can't afford the types of episodes uncovering memories cause. If she were in therapy we'd know, she'd have called me multiple times after a dissociation and she hasn't.
Haider sees the questions in my eyes and makes an educated guess, "You didn't know?" his voice is incredulous, almost like he can't believe she didn't tell me and honestly I can't believe it either.
"She told you and not me?" I ask bewildered.
"She didn't tell me," he offers in an almost placating voice. I just raise my eyebrows waiting for an explanation. "I got an email from Doctor Delany last night."
Suddenly, it clicks. The weird behavior, the sketchy plans, forcing us all out of the city. Somethings up, Dastan and I were right. This isn't just about spending time with us, somethings wrong.
Almost as if he's debating with himself about how much to reveal, I watch the conflict play out in his eyes watch him weigh the pros and cons of giving me all the information as he runs a trembling hand over his hair.
"She contacted me because she's concerned for Kiera." I start, turning to face him fully.
"What's going on?" I whisper yell, my pulse frantic. There isn't much trouble Kiera could have gotten herself into without me knowing. Unless, Dastan's been an accomplice this whole time and has been covering for her. It wouldn't surprise me if that was the case at this point.
"Apparently, she's been making great progress in recovering her memory," Haider shrugs and my heart sinks. If Kiera has her memories, there's no telling what she knows, if anything and that could explain the distance she's put between us recently. She might know more than she's letting on.
"But?" I ask, knowing that it's coming.
"But it seems that she's attracted the attention of one Nicholas Barnes." He says and that cause my heart to plunge further unto my stomach. Nicky Barnes should be in prison. He got arrested in attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, in a police officer, the captain no less. He should be rotting in a cell.
Apparently not.
"He's been looking into her, stalking her and Doctor Delaney thinks it's best if I remove her from the city for a while. She said he seemed agitated and aggressive. He was saying something about giving a name of friend to Kiera and then the friend disappeared. Apparently he thinks she had something to do with it."
"That's ridiculous," I scoff, hoping that it comes off as genuine.
Sweat drips down the back of my neck and the sound of Kiera's tinkling laugh filters into my mind. I look over at her to find her absorbed in a conversation with Theo, Connor and Dastan. Her eyes alight with amusement and life. How didn't I notice before?
The energy and vigor returning should have been my first clue, the second should have been the way she cut me out. As if it wasn't bad enough when she was just keeping whatever is going on with Dastan firm me now I find out she's hiding her recovery as well.
She must know something if she found it necessary to lie about her progress. She's been acting like a clueless amnesiac for months now and all this time I'd been playing into her hand.
Appears she's picked up a thing or two from me over the years, but I'll always be the master of this game. All I have to do is find my way in again and I'll have control of the situation once more.
We are in such deep shit, not only has she been lying about Dastan but she's also been in therapy. God only knows how much she's managed to piece together,
Why is it, that I'm never able to just catch a break. Now, I've got to figure out what she knows and try my best to undo all of that damage.