Page 122 of Collateral Love
“No,” I agreed. “But it limits their reach.”
I paused, then added, “Which means they’ll go after someone else.”
“Chanel,” he said.
“Yes.”
He stood abruptly, pacing once.
“That’s why I don’t want you anywhere near this,” he said.
I smiled again. Slower this time.
“You don’t get to sideline me because I got hurt,” I said evenly. “That’s how men lose wars.”
He stopped pacing and looked at me like he wanted to argue.
Then he didn’t.
That was growth.
“Tell me about Miles,” I said instead.
His eyes narrowed.
“What about him?”
“What did he say when Cameron’s name came up?”
Zayden hesitated.
That told me everything.
“He went quiet,” I finished for him. “Too quiet.”
“You clocked that?” he asked.
“I clocked him years ago,” I replied. “I just didn’t have proof yet.”
Zayden went still.
“You never said anything.”
“Because wanting someone doesn’t make them dangerous,” I said softly. “What makes them dangerous is the resentment they don’t admit to.”
The air shifted.
“He wanted you,” Zayden said quietly.
“Yes.”
“And you never?—”
“No,” I said flatly. “Never.”
Silence.
“That’s why this hurts him,” I continued. “He didn’t lose power. He lost the story where he was chosen.”
