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I almost snort. Here? The wellness center with rows of unused equipment gathering dust? The only moves I’ve seen made here so far are from older, richer men on the younger, poorer employees.
My hands fall limp by my sides as I tilt my head. “I don’t know where he learned those moves, or even when. One minute Kordin was the same man I’ve loved for eight years, the next he was fighting like a trained hit man.” If this lie makes it back to Kordin, at least I know he won’t refute it. It paints him in a positive light after all. We haven’t discussed what all happened in that office, so it shouldn’t raise any flags that I’m going along with his fabricated account. How could I possibly know what took place before I got there? “It just goes to show no matter how well you think you know someone, everybody has their own hidden parts.”No, not good enough.“Secrets,” I amend, my gaze touching on each of theirs.
“Not my Greghory.” Yelena snickers. “He’s too pure of heart to ever keep a secret.”
The other women’s eyes drop to the floor while their eyebrows lift as high as their frozen foreheads allow.
“You’d be surprised,” is all I say, nudging the seed a little deeper into the soil so it can take root.How well do we knowour husbands really? What are they capable of?
If I can’t even answer those questions, then I can’t imagine them trying to because while love is blind, money is downright stupefying. Both are incredibly effective weapons when used correctly. Separately, they’re dangerous. Together, they have the potential to be lethal.
I’d probably be dead if I ever loved Kordin. Maybe. I don’t know.
That’s just it, I don’t fucking know.
My mouth as dry as my eyes, I tell the trio, “I appreciate your concern…” What was their concern for? Certainly not me. “But if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some contracts I need to read over.”
A chorus of gasps erupts. If pearls went with athleisurewear, these women would be clutching them in their over-moisturized palms right now.
If I told them what I’m really going home to read, they’d be clutching rosaries.
“They don’t seriously expect you to work right now, do they?”
“Especially on a Saturday.”
“They” might not. But I do. There’s not a single person at Kordin’s firm I trust to cover for me, and I’ve already been out of the office, working remotely from the hospital for the past two days just to make sure I don’t fall behind.
“As much as I’d rather stay by Kordin’s side day and night right now…” I conjure genuine sadness at that scenario. “…it just isn’t feasible. As a portfolio manager, I don’t have the same freedom my husband does. I need to get back into the office.”
“Maybe Matthew should assign you security, too.”
“Security?”
“Yeah, in case those lowlifes come back to finish the job.” Reagan leans in to whisper, “You know, tie up loose ends,” before straightening again. “After Matthew visited Kordin last night, he put one of his men on him. Didn’t he tell you?”
My head moves noncommittally. That’s where I heard her last name. Matthew Hull, as in Chief Hull, as in chief of the fucking police department. Kordin didn’t mention so much as knowing Chief Hull, let alone that he’d be getting a personal visit from him. While I was meeting with Fox Hollow’s biggest criminal, my husband met with Fox Hollow’s police chief.
Not only that but now he’s got a cop stationed outside his hospital room.
Double fucking damn it.
“Kordin’s a good friend of ours.”I bet he is. The best connections are the ones your enemy knows nothing about.
Reagan insists, “I’ll call Matthew. See if he has someone he can put up at your house at least. It’d give us all a little peace of mind knowing you’re still safe in Kordin’s absence.”
A scream bubbles in my throat, ready to spew at high volume. Kordin does not keep me safe. No man has, does, or ever will.Ikeep me safe. Me. No one else.
And if Kordin was able to keep this big of a secret from me, then I’m currently fucking failing because the more steps I fall behind my husband, the less safe I am. The less safesheis.
After untangling myself from the women, I grab my belongings and head home.
Lex
Monday morning, I’m walking to my office when Phil, the COO, stops me to ask, “How’s he holding up?”
I’m taken aback at first that he’s even talking to me until I remember he sort of has to. His boss is incapacitated and I’m the closest one to him.
“Oh, you know Kordin. Stubborn as always.”
