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“I’m still working on my music. Hell, I might have more time for it now than I did before. There won’t be a ton of dinners to attend with stuffy politicians who want to kiss Dad’s ass all evening.”
Ava laughs. “Yeah, I guess you do get to avoid that now. I’m jealous. He hosted a dinner the other night. You should have seen the looks on their faces when they asked me what I did. Dad tried to play it off as if I was just a nurse. I think Mom nearly shit herself when I told them I was a nurse at the Ryderson Penitentiary.”
“Of course.” I smile, everything about my body feeling lighter with Ava here. “You know she is never going to let you forget that you embarrassed her in front of the people Dad wants to impress.”
“He’s the Head of State. I doubt he has to do much more than flaunt his title around to impress anyone.”
We fall silent for a few minutes, rocking in the hammock and watching the clouds drift across the sky with the gentle breeze.
Ava hums one of my songs to herself, her eyes drifting shut.
I can’t remember the last time I got to spend a day with my sister, relaxing and enjoying the day.
Even when I was at home, there was always something that we had to do to impress the politicians Dad was working with or help him get ahead in his career.
At Christian’s house, there is none of that. I finally feel like I have the space I need to be who I want to be.
“Are you happy here, Zoe?” Ava asks, finally breaking the silence between us. “Are you really happy here, or is this all just an act because you’re afraid to disappoint Dad?”
“I’m happy here,” I say, and it feels like the truth.
Christian isn’t the worst man to have as a husband, and Camila is a great sister-in-law, when she isn’t bothering me about teaching me how to shoot a gun.
It isn’t the life I pictured for myself, but it seems like what I need right now.
For the first time in my life, I feel free.
11
CHRISTIAN
The light in the office is only growing dimmer as the sky darkens outside. The low shuffling of trains echoes through the night as my general manager walks into the office with his dinner tucked under one arm.
“Evening, boss,” Tomas says as he goes over to his desk and takes a seat. “So far, there is only a twenty-minute delay in the schedule for tonight. We should have everything cleared by the time the sun comes up.”
“Good.” I close the door to my office behind me. “See to it that the men are kept busy all night. I don’t want to get any reports of trouble going on like I have the last few nights.”
“Won’t be happening on my watch.”
“Good. Have a good night.”
Rain is starting to drizzle as I step out of the office building and make my way to the parking lot.
I sigh and pull my coat closer to my body, trying not to get soaked as I walk around a couple of empty shipping containers.
A heavy weight collides with me as I round the last one.
I groan as we go sprawling to the ground.
Fists collide with my face as whoever jumped me manages to get on top of me.
I throw my forearms up to block the punches before driving my knee into the man’s back.
As he rolls off me, he pulls out a knife.
I jump back as he swings the knife at my ankles.
It takes him only a second to get to his feet and come charging at me.
