Page 33 of Danger Close

Joe had stood up to my mother, my father. He’d been my hero, and for that, I’d given him my love. My heart. My body. My child…

I had given all of my faith to Ray as well. All for a kind word, and the occasional compliment.

I was such a fool. Iamsuch a fool.

I stepped away from Greg, because I didn’t need to open myself up in exchange for a kind word anymore. I was fine on my own. I wasbetteralone. And he was better not wasting his goodness on a lost cause like me.

“It’s okay,” I said, barely in a whisper, as I tried to find balance on my own feet. “You’re very kind, Greg, but don’t have conflicts with your friends on my behalf.”

I meant it sincerely. I wasn’t worth strife within this unit.

“I’ll just… I’ll just go.”

I turned away, ready to walk down the driveway. To walk… anywhere… No wallet. No phone. No one.

I’d figure it out. I always did. I was nothing if not a survivor.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Cobra’s voice was a menacing, cruel growl. Fear seized me, halting me mid-step. I was a frozen deer in his headlights.

I swallowed, because it wasn’t Joe’s voice that I heard. Not really. It was Ray’s.

I shut my eyes, my hands in fists, as I prepared myself for what could come next. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew deep in my bones that whatever would happen, it would be awful. It would hurt. It would break me.

“If you think I’ll let you walk away now—” Cobra’s footsteps rushed towards me, just as Greg called out, “Stay the hell away from her!”

“Do you think I’m ever going to harm mywife?”Cobra’s shout made me freeze. “Do you really think I would ever harm her? If that’s what you’re accusing me of, then you and I are about to have a real conflict.”

My heart leapt to my throat. I turned, catching Cobra’s eye. He stood firm, not retracting his statement. Not taking back the label he had thrust on me several times that day.

“That’s enough,” a softer, deep, feminine voice said.

Mamma Mack. Charlotte, the matron. Her gentle command was no less powerful than Cobra’s chest pounding.

“Greg, please show Mrs. Guerro into the house,” she instructed. “Put her in the guest room. You know where all the spare linens are, right, son?”

Greg turned to her, then looked at me. He hesitated, his eyes asking for permission. I didn’t give it, but I also didn’t dissent either. I suppose silence was consent.

“Greg, please,” Charlotte gently pushed. “I need a word with Cobra.”

Chapter 15

Moral Compass

Cobra

The boy, Greg,and Teri went inside. I watched them step into the house, his arm around her shoulders, out of view, resisting the urge to yank her from the kid.

“What did you do, Joaquin Anatoly Guerro?” I winced when Charlotte used my government name.

I was getting called to the carpet, and I was pretty sure that I deserved it.

I put my hands behind my back, ready to take my licks.

The deep heaviness of realizing that tonight, she would not be undermyroof, or sleep inmybed gutted me.

I hadn’t slept with her last night. I wasn’t that much of a bastard. I had slept on the chair at the other side of the room, and watched her sleep. I’d been there when she moaned and cried out. I swept the hair from her face when she whimpered, and ran my fingers over her scalp to soothe whatever dreams she had.

I expected to do that tonight. I expected to wake up in a room with her floral scent in the air.