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No. Let’s not. let’s stay here and go upstairs and—
Oh. She’s outside, already getting in the car. Ric is staring at me. Because I’m frozen in the foyer.Am I ill? What the fuck?
The drive over is infuriating because my wife laughs and talks effortlessly…with my driver. I glare at Ric so hard I start to give myself a headache. And he—as if I don’t support his entire family with his paychecks—ignores me. Stone cold. Not one glance in the rear view mirror. Guess Ty was right.
We pull up to, I guess, the Austin Aquarium? Yes. This is for coastal clean-up, I think. It’s a dumpy building, but they’ve dressed it up with lights and greenery walls and a red carpet.
The press core is outside with cameras. I can’t see who gets out of the car in front of us, but Eleanna can. I move to look and catch a lot of leg and some long wavy hair. Maybe the Save Texas girl? Beats me.
Ric pulls up and gets my door. I get out and head around to the sidewalk. Ric opens the passenger door but my wife doesn’t get out. He turns to me, wide eyed.
“Eleanna?” I lean into the car.
She’s shaking again. Damn it all. “I’m sorry I can’t. I just can’t do this anymore.” She gestures at the circus behind me.
“Ellie, is—“
“Can’t you just tell them I’m sick or something?” She sounds almost frantic. Desperate to not have to do this. With me.
I nod. “Sure.”
“You’ll be fine in there, you don’t need me.” She says, almost as a question.
“Right,” I nod before closing her door and waving Ric on.
But it’s a lie.
I do need her.
CHAPTER 46
Mark
“Boss?” Ric says, startling me. I was staring at my phone again, watching my wife scurry from the kitchen to her room as soon as my car pulls in. It’s been this way for a week. I had to go to Washington after that dumb aquarium event. I asked her if she’d like to go, via text. She saidno thank you. My hatred of texting has reached unthinkable levels.
“Hm?” I look at my friend who, like all my staff, has been icy as ever since my wife stopped living at our house. Now, she only sleeps here.
Ric juts his chin out at a figure. A man in all black loitering on my porch. There is no car in the driveway ahead of us. He’s not trying to get in, he’s just waiting. He turns so I can see his face.
Oh fuck.
“It’s alright, I know him.” I say, trying to hide my nerves. Ric drops me off and I head to face the music. Whatever this is, it must be bad.
“Son.” He says when I reach him.
“O.” I croak. He hugs me hard, slapping me on the back. “You’re on my porch.”
“I am.” He has the sparkle in his eye that’s always there. He always knows more than everyone else. Which is why he’s almost always got the smug smile he’s sporting too. “Walk with me.”
“In the open?”
He laughs. I must be looking at him like he’s crazy. And rightfully so. He can’t just be seen walking through an Austin suburb with me. With anyone.
“Robbie’s diverted all the satellites for the moment, should one be so interested as to scan this neighborhood right now. Come.” He takes off down the steps. My mouth flops open.
“Can you just give me whatever horrible news you’ve come here with, instead of taking years off my life with the suspense?” I ask as I catch up.
“I hate that.” He says softly. I just look at him and wait. “That this is how we live. You see me, you think someone’s died.”
