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The two men might punch each other any second. I tried to sit up more, and that was when I really felt my hip pain. Yes, this really, really fucking sucked.
Michael stormed back in. “We have another problem.”
Zeke tugged his son tighter against him. “What now?”
Michael held up his phone. A video played, and it took me half a second to realize it was Tim’s grandmother.
“She saved my grandson.” Her smile was huge. “The woman’s name is Hope Radford, and I own her everything. A real hero.”
That was sweet but not the reason I’d done it. Why was this a problem? Max gripped the end of the bed, and Zeke cursed and then kissed his son’s head.
“I think I’m missing something,” I told the room, not caring who explained it to me.
Layla nodded. “Me too. Is there some issue with the State Department?”
“I suppose that could be.” Max shook his head. “But I don’t think that’s the current problem, right, Michael?”
Michael sank into a chair. “Putting your name out there like that. It seems to have stirred up the Russians. They had really put you on a backburner, but now your name is all over the dark web. Plans are being made. It’s a flood of Hope everywhere. This is bad. We’re going to have to lock you away even further. Probably take you out of here early and then lock you up in a place where you can be hidden.”
Max rubbed his eyes. “She needs physical therapy. You heard the doctor. They need to get range of motions back. She can’t be locked up where that can’t happen.”
My brother-in-law handed Noah to Layla. “She can come to Washington. I’ll move a physical therapist in to stay full time until the threat passes, and she can work with her on site.”
“Well, this is a fine mess.” Bridget patted my knee. “And Hope is here. She can participate in this conversation.”
I could, but actually, a headache had formed right behind my eyes. I closed them for a second. “How long do you think I’ll have to be locked away?”
My business was over. That was for sure. By the time I got back, I’d be so much a nothing, no one would hire me ever again. I sighed and forced myself to watch as my life was battered back and forth.
“Or she can come home with me,” Max supplied. “My sister is a PT. She works with vets and all kinds of injured people. Won an award last year. She can help Hope, and she’ll be nice and out of sight.”
Michael shook his head. “Nowhere in New York is she out of sight.”
“Not in New York. In Maine. My hometown. No one will see her there. Not for months and months. And if you’re any good at your job, you’ll have handled this by then, right?”
A muscle ticked in Michael’s jaw. “You cannot believe the layers of complicated this mess has been. Their father and brother are in on this. Yes, I would like to be done with this too.”
Bridget winced. I was pretty sure I was the only one to notice. Some other time, I was going to have to force her to tell me things about her and Michael. We were so good at leaving each other alone when we didn’t want to talk that too many things went askew.
That was another thing that occurred to me. I’d told Max my secret. I swallowed. I’d broken the dam on that plane, and I was pretty sure that Michael knew everything now too. Probably the whole plane heard me, for that matter.
“Max.” I interrupted the discussion. “You can’t take me to Maine. You have to work. The restaurant. In fact, you should be there now.”
“Leave that to me to worry about. That isn’t for you to concern yourself with.” He shook his head. “There is nothing here you have to fix.”
Michael stared at Max. “Clayton said that you might have a contact that could make this go away. Something about a high member of the underground there owing you a favor.”
Max Broadley. Chef extraordinaire. Former special forces. Underground operative? Who was this man I wasn’t dating?
“I would if I could, but he vanished years ago. I’d gladly make this stop. But I don’t know how I’d even find him.”
“Guys.” It was time for me to stop this endless talking. “I need to tell my sisters some things. And then, Max, can you come see me so we can talk about whether this is going to work. I’d love to come with you to Maine, although of course I appreciate Zeke’s offer and his constant willingness to help.”
I just wasn’t sure it could be. But before I could even consider it, I needed to tell the two people closest to me in the world what I’d never said.
16
It had been easier to tell Max. Maybe it had been the drugs on the airplane, or maybe he was just a person to whom I could more easily share secrets. In any case, Layla cried, Bridget kept grabbing my knee, and by the time I was done telling them what had happened with Shawn and me, I was a blubbering mess.
