Page 8 of The Karma Project
“Zoe... what?” He asks again standing from his chair, and the motion is followed by the other three.
“Hera.”
5
Coulomb's Law
Dean
Hera? She’s a fucking Hera? Kahl’s only child was his son, Brax. Brax died almost six years ago after his cancer had taken over. And Kahl’s wife died from childbirth complications when giving birth to Brax. It isn’t possible for The Sparrow to be his child. Is it?
“Brax was a little over a year younger than me.” Zoe explains. “My dad never mentioned me to anyone.”
“That’s a little convenient. Why should we believe you are Kahl Hera’s daughter?” I ask her, now standing over her.
“Ask me anything.” She shrugs.
“What cancer did Brax have?” I quizzed.
“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was diagnosed at eleven years old and went into remission twice, but the cancer returned each time, becoming more aggressive and ultimately claiming his life at the young age of fourteen.” Zoe stands from her seat and meets me toe to toe.
“How about we not ask questions about my dead baby brother and get to the questions you really want answers to.” Her whispers are almost lethal, and too scary to be coming out of this tiny woman in front of me.
I keep my stance in front of her, regardless of the tiny bit of nervousness I feel being so close to her. Her red hair vibrant from the sun peeking in from the window, and for the first time I catch a glimpse of a white streak in hair that frames her face perfectly and ends at her jaw. Her emerald eyes have little specks of gold in them only to highlight the fire within them even more.
“How was Kahl Hera murdered?” I ask. None of the details ever went into the news circuit, so only six people in this world knew how he was killed. Me, my three brothers, Kahl himself, and the killer.
“I put a bullet in each of his knees, then each of his elbows. Then I took his favorite dagger that he liked to use on me, and I slowly carved his heart out. I still have his heart sitting in my freezer.” She tells the details of his gruesome murder so slowly and methodically that it sends shivers down my spine. I look over at Teddy who looks like he’s about to come on himself and look back at the tiny woman in front of me.
“Holy shit,” Brandon says, breaking the tension as always. “You really did it.”
“Is this what love feels like?” Teddy sighs dramatically and holds his hands over his heart.
I finally step back and turn to face Max, who is gripping the table so tightly that I can hear the wood splintering beneath his palms. However, it isn’t anger that is fueling his aggression; it’s pleasure. He’s pleased with her answer, elated at the fact that she admitted it. Elated at the fact that she did it, and he caught her; trapped her. The four long and agonizing years that were spent on tracking and caging this bird has finally,finallypaid off.
Almost in sync all four of us men take a step back and lay hold of the beautiful but tragic devil that is now within our midst. Don’t get me wrong, Kahl was like a father to all of us-- more so for Max than the rest. But what she did also put Max in the position he is in now, a leader.Theleader.
Judging by some of the things Zoe said, there is a very good chance that Kahl deserved it. Kahl was a very controlling man, and incredibly vile if you weren’t on his good side. I, myself, have been on his bad side once or twice.
The dagger that he liked to use on me.
I can’t begin to explain why I would even begin to care what has happened to this woman in front of me, but for some reason those words filled me with a fury I’d never felt.
“Hehurtyou?” The words tumble from my mouth angrier than I intended.
“I think that’s enough questions about my past. Now that I’ve proved who I was, tell me why I’m here. Why is it that you kidnapped me?” Zoe asks, taking her seat again and popping a grape in mouth.
Max mirrors her actions and leans into his chair at the head of the table, “I have a proposition for you.” A smile creeps at the corners of his mouth.
“Not interested. Can I go now?” She quickly responds.
“No. Hear us out first.” Max points at her to stay in her seat. “You’ve got talent, and I honestly admire the work you do. I’d like you to join our team.”
Zoe leans forward with an unreadable look on her face, “What’s in it for me? Like you said, I’m talented. I work wellalone, clearly. So, I don’tneeda team. Sounds like only you’d be benefiting from this.”
“That could be true, but you would be heavily compensated.” Max shrugs and gestures to our home.
Zoe looks as if she’s contemplating it, almost like she is actually considering it. There is a look in her eyes that also shows that she’s calculating, plotting, planning something behind the scenes. The way her eyebrows furrow and a little crease forms between them. It’s like a canyon of deep thought and beauty rolled into one. It’s a simple, small detail that men would go to war over just to keep it to themselves.
