Chapter 75
“Thought you got bored of us already,” June adds from the couch, feet tucked under her.
Lila pops up from the kitchenette, wiping her hands on a towel. “Sit. You look like you’re about to fall over p>
“I’m fine,” I say automatically, even as my legs feel a little unsteady.
They don’t push and that’s what I like about them.
I drop onto the armchair near the window. The room smells like soap and something sweet, maybe incense?. It’s messy in a lived-in way.
June tosses me a card. “We’re playing Cards p>
“I don’t know the rules p>
“Perfect,” she grins. “Neither does Tessa p>
“Lies,” Tessa says. “I just cheat p>
We spend the afternoon doing nothing important.
Cards turn into listening to music, the music turns into dancing for no reason at all. Tessa pulls me up at one point, spinning me until I’m laughing despite myself. My head swims a little, but it’s the good kind.
At some point, someone brings out snacks. I pick at them. A cracker here, a sip of juice there. Enough to quiet the ache in my stomach but not end up throwing up.
They talk about stupid things, then gossiping about other staff members. Just peak girlhood moment.
By the time I check the clock, it’s late and dark outside. Way darker than I expect.
“I should go,” I say, standing. The room tilts slightly, then settles. “Before I get hunted down by my husband.” The word still feels foreign to me.
Tesaa raises a brow. “You sure p>
“Yeah p>
They walk me to the door anyway. June hugs me tight and Lila squeezes my hand.
“Come back tomorrow,” Tessa says. “Or later tonight if you feel brave p>
I smile. “We’ll see p>
I turn toward the door and freeze.
Zane is standing just inside the room.
He looks angry?. His face is hard, eyes scanning the faces around and taking in every detail. E
“Everyone out,” he says.
And everyone moves right away.
June grabs her jacket since it’s cold out, Lila’s already heading down the hall but Tessa hesitates just long enough to glance at me, then follows
The door closes after them.
It’s just us now.
My heart is pounding now… not from fear exactly.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
His gaze snaps to me. “You tell me p>
I cross my arms. “I was with my friends p>
He scoffs at my use of the word “friends”
“You didn’t take Aaron with you p>
“No I figured I was on compound grounds so there wasn’t any need to and you didn’t like it the last I was here with him anyways p>
He laughs but it sounds humorless. “You don’t get to decide that p>
“I actually do,” I say.
His jaw tightens. He takes a step closer to me but I don’t move back.
“That’s not what I’m here tonight. How long were you planning to keep this from me little spitfire?” he asks.
I sigh already tired. “Keep what p>
His eye flick down to me, then back up. Calculatingly. Like he’s piecing something together.
“When were you going to tell me Elaine?” he repeats.
My head starts to throb, a dull pressure behind my eyes. I swallow, steadying myself.
“Tell you what?” I ask.
He stares at me, anger burning just under the surface.
He shifts back from me, then just stands there, his hands loose at his sides and eyes fixed on me like he’s waiting for something to happen. I’m still near the door, one hand resting on the back of a chair, my body tired in a way sleep can’t fix.
“What did you do at the hospital?” he asks.
I keep my voice steady. “Routine p>
He tilts his head. “Routine what p>
I shrug. “Routine checkups, girl stuff. I told you before Zane why are we going over th p>
I don’t even finish the sentence before he’s on me.
His hand closes around my throat, fingers digging in hard enough to hurt. Not crushing, not yet.
“Don’t fucking lie to me little spitfire, don’t you dare lie to my face.” he says quietly. “I’ve had men killed for less p>
My pulse slams in my ears. I don’t pull away though, I’ve learned that doesn’t help.
“I’m not lying,” I say. “And get your fucking hands off of me Zane p>
His grip on my throat tightens.
“You went to a specialist, a specialist that specializes in lungs and respiratory diseases ” he says.
My mouth goes dry.
He releases me abruptly and steps back like touching me disgusts him.
“I know you’re sick,” he continues. “Not just sick. Terminally ill p>
I laugh but it comes out broken. “You had me followed?. Was it Aaron p>
“I had your hospital records pulled p>
I stare at him. “That’s fucking illegal, what the hell is wrong with you p>
“Almost everything I do is illegal,” he says flatly. “That’s not the point p>
My hands curl into fists. “You had no fucking right p>
“I’m your freaking husband Elaine. Your husband p>
“You’re my contract,” I snap. “Nothing more p>
That finally cracks something in his expression. Anger flashes hot.
He takes a deep breath. “How bad is it,” he asks.
I hesitate.
He notices. “How bad, Elaine p>
I swallow. My throat burning. “I have less than a year to live p>
Silence.
It stretches long enough that I start counting my breaths just to keep myself upright.
He just stares at me like he’s recalculating something.
“So that’s why,” he says slowly. “That’s why you wanted me to marry you instead of your cousin because you knew you didn’t have much time p>
“Yes p>
“Yes,” I repeat. “Because I’m dying. Because I don’t have much time left. Because I wasn’t going to let Ivy trade her entire life with you when mine is already short p>
His jaw tightens so hard I fear he might crush a tooth.
“You sacrificed yourself, for her.” he says.
“I did what I had to,” I shoot back. “Don’t romanticize it p>
He turns abruptly, reaching into his jacket, and flings a thick folder at me.
Papers scatter across the floor.