Page 71 of Frankie and the Fed

“So maybe you’re not as weak as you thought?”

CHAPTER30

Ethan

It’s been two days since we rushed our plans and got back to New York. Improvement is slow but happening. Ayala still stays in the bedroom a lot and has not yet left the apartment. She does video sessions with her therapist, but it doesn’t feel enough to me. I don’t know what to do. How to improve the situation.

I hover around her all day, trying to help, but I feel like I’m just messing things up.

“You have to stop,KýriaWolf.” Madeleine looks at me with knowing eyes.

“Stop what?”

“Asking her every moment how she’s doing and how she feels. You treat her like she’s made of glass. She needs you to show her how strong she is.”

“I am.”

“You two have been through a lot. I saw the pictures.” She shakes her head. “I wish I hadn’t. I can’t believe she survived such horror. She’s not fragile. Ayala is the strongest there is.” Tears flood Madeleine’s eyes, and her voice trembles. “Show her that nothing has changed. That you still see her as before. That she’s still your love.”

“I’m trying. I don’t know what else to do.”

“Try harder.” She smiles. “Do what you would have done if it hadn’t happened.”

My phone rings, interrupting our conversation. “Yes?”

“I found who leaked your flight details to Summers,” Jess says.

“Who?” I jump up, ready to kill whoever it is.

“Looks like your secretary told him.”

“What? How could that happen?” I yell into the phone as if that would help.

“It seems it was a simple mistake. Their lawyer called her to ask for a meeting with you, and she told him you had a booked flight. She didn’t realize it was Mr. Summers’s lawyer.”

Fucking hell. “I want you to coordinate a briefing for all my employees. Something like this must never happen again.” I want to fire her. I want to blame someone. It would be better for my mood if it was her fault, and I could take my anger out on her, but I can’t.

Summers wins this round.

* * *

“Ayala, I want to go buy a tree,” I say to her during lunch.

Christmas is a week away, and it’s clear to me we won’t be celebrating. But every year, I put up a tree and decorate it with Anna’s favorite ornaments, which I’ve kept ever since.

Those blue eyes are so full of pain that I cringe a little. I want to kiss Ayala until this pain goes away, but I can’t.

“It was Anna’s favorite holiday,” I explain. “Every year, I buy a tree for her and decorate it with her ornaments.”

Ayala is still silent.

I sigh. “I’ll call Olive to come and stay with you while I’m out.” I get up from my seat.

“I want to come with you.”

“Come with me?” I turn to her, and my heart flutters.

“If you want me to.” She shrugs.