Gregory
I step out of my empty bedroom wearing my normal business suit. It’s barely past five in the morning. Allison tends to sleep past eight. I move downstairs quietly and head toward the kitchen. Orin will have some coffee and toast ready for me, then I’ll take my car to the office-
“Good morning, husband. What time do you usually head out?”
I stop in the kitchen door and stare.
Allison’s sitting at the island. She’s in a black pantsuit and black heels, her legs crossed, coffee and cereal in front of her. A paper’s open and halfway folded to the business section.
I look over at Orin, who shrugs helplessly.
“I’m leaving shortly.” I walk to the island and accept my breakfast. Usually, I’d eat in the car. Instead, I stare at my wife.
She puts down the paper. “Good. I’m ready when you are.”
“I think you might be confused. Did our conversation last night give you the impression that you’d be joining me today?”
“No,” she says, snapping the paper. “But I decided that you need my help.”
I take that in. I see what she’s doing, and I don’t like it. “You aren’t needed today.”
“That’s the wrong answer, buddy.” She hops to her feet. “I’m coming with you to the office.”
“Allison-”
“You want me to be safe, right? You can protect me yourself if you let me tag along. What’s safer than right next to you?”
I work my jaw. “Here, in this secure house, surrounded by a dozen men. That’s much safer. I’m a target.”
“And I am too, especially when I repeatedly try to escape.”
“You wouldn’t be so self-destructive.”
“I will,” she says, giving me a seductive smile. I should be pissed, but I like this aspect of her. This stubborn, confident side, the businesswoman, the take-no-bullshit, kill-all-enemies warrior. “Unless you let me come and work by your side, I’ll make it so that you have no other choice. I’m pregnant with your child, so I doubt you’ll lock me up in some basement dungeon.”
I cock my head. “Are you sure I wouldn’t?”
She glances at Orin and clears her throat. “Yes. I am.”
I let the silence fill the room. I let her picture all manner of uncomfortable positions I could force her into. Chains, shackles, ropes, bars on the windows, big metal steel doors-
But she’s right.
I wouldn’t do any of that to my pregnant wife.
There are ways I could punish her that wouldn’t endanger the baby-but none of those ways are a powerful deterrent.
It’s an unfortunate position. She’s right that it will be bad if she keeps trying to escape. It’ll draw unwanted attention to the house, and she might actually succeed one of these days. I don’t know how closely her father and Paul are watching this place, and I don’t want to find out.
My main goal, from here until forever, is to keep her safe and take care of our child.
Which includes winning this war as quickly and as bloodlessly as possible.
“There has been violence.” I let the words slide from my tongue. Her eyes widen. “I haven’t told you. I’ve shielded you from the worst of it. But Paul did not stop with Corgan.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She’s talking too fast. I don’t believe her at all.
“But it does. You think he’d spare you? He’d revel in killing my wife.”
“He’d kill me here, or right out front, or down the block. I’ll give him the chance, too.”
I try not to smile. I believe she really would.
It’s foolish, of course.
She’s threatening to risk her own life, and for what?
But it’s also what I admire about her.
She has one single weapon to use against me, and that’s the baby.
“There are dead on both sides now,” I say, trying to scare sense into her with the truth. “Grudges are forming. There will be more blood. Do you really want to be a part of that?”
“I can help.” She doesn’t sound so sure anymore. For all her bluster, Allison is not a killer. “I helped run my father’s business for years. Let me help you now. Let me be useful, Gregory. Please.”
It’s a strong pitch.
And I know she could help, genuinely help. I’ve been avoiding using her to this point, mainly because I don’t want to incriminate her now that serious violence is brewing.
But if she really wants this, I can use her.
After a long pause, I finally nod my assent. “You can join me.”
She claps, looking delighted. “Great. I’ll grab my bag.”
“But not because of this little blackmail. I’ll let you join me because it means getting closer to you. Spending more time with you. Feeding my need.”
She pales. “I don’t really love that.”
“Too bad, princess. Orin, call for my car, and tell the men we’ll need extra muscle at the office. My wife will be joining me.”
“Right away, sir.” Orin hurries from the room.
I smile, already looking forward to this. “We’ll have fun.”
But Allison’s clearly regretting her decision. “I doubt it,” she says, and follows me outside.