Page 34 of A Wife’s Duty

B oone was gone the following day. She felt the empty space where he had been last night. She glanced across the room, and Betty was there, waiting to go out. It was already getting late. According to the clock, it was closer to nine now.

“I’m coming,” she said.

Lucia did have to make a quick pit stop at the bathroom. From there, she made her way downstairs, after throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a large, oversized shirt. Both had been worn by Boone, and they smelled like him as well.

Betty had gone to the toilet outside and was eating, while Lucia got the coffee on. This was how Frank found them when he entered the kitchen.

“Hello, Sweetheart,” he said.

She offered him a smile. “Hey, Frank.”

“You’re not looking too happy.”

“I’m fine.”

There was silence and Lucia poured herself a drink. “Do you want a coffee?”

“Sure thing.”

She poured him a glass, and Betty had gone to lay down. Lucia had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before the pups arrived. She was behaving strangely. Each time she watched, it was like she was getting settled in for a nest or something.

“How were Amy and the boys?” Lucia asked.

“They’re good. They all send their love.”

She nodded and then took a sip of her hot coffee. It burned on the way down her throat, but she didn’t show it. All she could think about was Boone.

“So, Boone told me I’ve got to take you to see Cameron. Badass, getting a piece of ink,” Frank said.

“Yeah.”

She couldn’t be happy right now. All she could think about was Boone—what he was doing, where he was, whether he was safe. Her family had taken everything from him, and now it was time for Boone to settle the score.

“You’re not very talkative today, are you?”

“Sorry,” Lucia said. “It’s been a long week.”

“I get it,” Frank said. “A lot of bad shit is about to go down.”

“What are the chances of Boone ... not making it?” Lucia asked. She didn’t want to cry.

“Look, I don’t want to bore you with facts and percentages—”

“Please, just keep it real.” Frank had never treated her like she was stupid. It was one of the many things she liked about him.

Frank sighed. “There are always risks with this kind of stuff, but Boone is not a fool, and he knows exactly what he is doing, you know?”

He didn’t give her anything. Lucia nodded.

“I’m ready to go when you are.”

She didn’t feel like getting dressed up, and with how she felt, getting poked by thousands of needles sounded like a lot of fun right about now.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

She walked to Betty, picked her up, and carried her out to Frank’s car. Boone had already left Betty’s car harness, and Lucia picked it up and gritted her teeth. He’d left it.

Lucia tried to count in her head, and tried not to think about what that meant. Boone was going to be in danger, and all she could do was attempt to live life as if he wasn’t.

Climbing into the back seat, she didn’t want to sit upfront. Betty moved in close to her, and Lucia stroked her head, then moved down her body.

“I’ve got you, honey. He will be back,” she said. “He will.”

Frank took her to Cameron’s, and he worked on her ink. He asked her many times if she was okay, and Lucia agreed. The pain of the ink didn’t stop her from thinking about Boone, though.

Cameron brought the session to an end, covered the ink, checked the other piece, and then told her how to take care of it. She would have another appointment tomorrow.

Another day of not knowing what was going on with Boone.

Frank didn’t take her home right away, and instead found a small park where there were a lot of families, along with an ice cream truck. He stepped out, got them both an ice cream, came back and handed her one. She looked in the back to see Betty asleep.

“She’s going to give birth soon,” Frank said.

Lucia nodded. “Yeah, I always thought Boone would be here, seeing as he knew what to do.” She pressed her lips together.

“You know, it is okay to cry,” Frank said.

“I don’t want to.”

“Lucia, I like to think I have come to know you quite well. The Lucia I know would want to cry right about now. Not because it made her feel weak, but because she was missing the man she loved.”

She turned to look at him and hated that her eyes filled with tears. “Why did you have to say that?”

“Someone had to say it, Lucia. You think we don’t see it. You’re in love with him, and we all see it.”

She sniffled and looked down at her ice cream, which was nearly melting. She quickly took a lick, trying to get herself back in order.

“Does he see it?” Lucia asked.

“Boone probably does. That man doesn’t miss a trick.”

Lucia took a deep breath and turned toward him. “But he doesn’t love me.”

“I didn’t say that,” Frank said. “Boone has always been a hard guy to read. He doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, never has. He’s a guy that gets things done, however, when it comes to you, I would say—and I would bet my wife and kids on it—that he loves you.”

“You shouldn’t be so careless.”

Frank laughed. “I’m not being careless. I’ve known Boone long enough to know he doesn’t go out of his way for someone unless he cares.

He needed to make you safe. The man is not known for causing scenes.

He doesn’t go out of his way to make waves.

Boone is and always will be a man that solves problems. However, with you, to get to you, to have you, he had to change tactics.

He made a lot of waves, caused a lot of issues, so he could claim you. ”

Lucia didn’t want to get her hopes up.

“And knowing Boone the way I do, I have a feeling when he is done doing what he has to do, when he gets back, he is going to give you a choice. Our boy is a man who is always offering choices. Then it will be up to you.”

Lucia felt that little spark. Did he love her? Had he really changed his course to protect her? She was with him now. She was not on his kill list.

Forcing a smile to her lips, she thanked Frank.

“Don’t thank me. It’s the truth, now eat your ice cream.”

Lucia licked her ice cream, and in a strange way, talking to Frank had been easier.

“Are you going to tell me how you and Boone met?” Lucia asked.

“Yep. I won’t give you details. Consider me an ex-solider, a war zone, left for dead.

Boone found me, rescued me, and we’ve been friends ever since.

Most of us that work for him are ex-military.

He earned our trust and respect out in the field.

That man has saved a lot of people. Not going to lie, he’s killed a lot of people as well.

But, all in all, he’s a pretty good guy.

I would not want to make an enemy of him. ”

Lucia laughed.

They finished their ice cream and Frank drove them home. When they got home, Lucia went to Betty, and she noticed her dog was panting and there was something about her that didn’t seem right.

“Frank, something is wrong with Betty,” Lucia said.

He opened the other passenger door. “Okay, our fat girl is about to give birth. Let’s get her to her bed.”

Lucia felt her heart racing. She had hoped Boone would make it before then.

Frank picked Betty up, and she noticed how he did so very carefully. Rushing ahead of him, she opened the door, quickly made her way upstairs, and she heard him following. Going to the special den Betty had made, Frank lowered the dog down.

“What do we do?” Lucia asked.

“In most cases, this big girl knows what to do. I’ll call the vet and get some updates.”

Lucia was left alone with Betty, and she tried not to freak out.

“It’s okay, girl. It’s okay.” She looked at Betty and reached out to stroke her head. Her dog was about to give birth, and she didn’t have a clue what to do. This was not fair. She wanted Boone back.

Frank came back. “The vet said to give her time, to allow her to give birth, and if she shows signs of distress, to call him.”

“Doesn’t she look in distress to you?” Lucia asked.

“No, she looks like a dog in control. You look in distress.”

“I am, my dog is giving birth and I’m not prepared for this.”

“The vet is up to speed, and he will happily stop by and check on the pups and Mommy soon.”

Lucia didn’t like this, but what else could she do?

****

“Y ou know, I had to make a decision. You or Enzo, or Enzo and then you,” Boone said. “I guess you could consider this your lucky day, I mean, I did come and deal with you first.”

He looked at Bruno who was hung upside down. It hadn’t taken much to get him into this position. He had been trapped for several days, but Boone wasn’t totally cruel. There had been food for him to eat, and he’d eaten it all.

He probably should have left Bruno for last. Unlike Enzo and Leandro, Bruno was not awful, compared to the rest of his family.

“Fuck you,” Bruno said.

This made him smile.

“It’s funny you should mention fucking, because that is one of the reasons you’re here.

” Boone clicked his tongue. “I mean, your father was proud of Leandro for what he was able to do, with all the explosions and crap. Then there is Enzo, with his ability to hurt people, which I’m guessing he got from his mother.

You, though, Bruno, you have a different gift.

You see, you have the ability to keep your dark secrets hidden. ”

“I don’t know what fucking game you’re playing, but I want no part of it. You got Lucia, you got your peace, and that is the end of it.”

Boone clicked his tongue. “It’s not the end of it. I know all about Leandro attempting to kill me and Lucia. Do you think I’m that stupid, that I didn’t know?”

Bruno just stared at him, completely clueless.

“Just like you don’t think I know about your little obsession with underage kids?” Boone asked.