Page 108 of The Boss

Luna’s face contorts, “Marlon?”

“Fine. He was grazed, just a big scratch. He’s sedated so he doesn’t hurt himself.”

“Sedated where?”

“In my living room, listen, please drink something, sit back,” my wife’s lifelong best friend tries again, but Luna doesn’t budge. “I’ll explain what I know andwhenI knew it. Every single thing, just drink some water, Luna!”

I think it’s seeing calm, sweet Eleanna raise her voice that finally gets my wife to take a sip.

“First of all, I am also angry,” Ellie says. Luna scoffs. Mark sighs. Ellie goes on, “I am not currently speaking to my husband who didnottell me that Skulls Quinn was one of us.” Luna’s eyes go wide at the use of that last word. Ellie corrects herself, “One of his men. On the inside, so to speak. So, I was in the dark about your marriage, their plans, the recent attack, secret underground bunkers, your escape, very impressive, by the way,” she half smiles. “I wish we could tell Mia.”

Luna’s nostrils flare at the mention of the younger Delgado sister. They’re close, I know, so I understand her protectiveness. Luna is fierce for her chosen few. I wonder if I’ll ever be on that short list.

“Tell her what, that your husband is a spy and you’re all a bunch of rats?”

“Hey,” Mark tries to warn again, but I don’t like his tone.

“Hey yourself, fucker,” I say, stepping between him and Luna.

“Both of you should leave,” Ellie says.

“No,” I answer. Mark simply leans back against the doorjamb and crosses his arms, disengaging. For now.

“I found out about Mark after I was shot. I learned some of the disgusting details you probably know—”

“Like that my father killed my mother?” Luna’s voice is like acid. I expected her to be angry but she sounds almost hateful. Not good. She sneers, “When did you find out about that,friend?”

“What?” Ellie gasps.

“Leave her, Ellie, she’s not worth—” Mark stands up off the wall again and I turn to glare. He pauses but says through clenched teeth, “Get a handle on your wife.”

“Get a handle on yourself,” I say, stepping toward him. “We both know I could flatten you like a gnat.”

Mark starts cursing in Spanish, and I join in, also in Spanish.

“What the fuck?” Luna says quietly.

“Your husband is reminding mine that every time they’ve ever sparred Mark has had to go to the infirmary,” Ellie rolls her eyes and then talks loudly to quiet all of us. “Anyway,no. I did not know about your mama. I’m so sorry, Lu, I am,” at her friend’s genuine contrition, Luna looks away. Ellie goes on, “Mark was supposed to be attacked, because my uncle was suspicious that maybe he was CIA.”

“Ha! I wonder why!” Luna yells, then winces. I move forward to beg her to sit back but she turns her venom on me. In Italian.“I know you can understand this you big ugly dumbass, don’t youdaretry to touch me.”

“He’s right, though, you need to lay back and calm down or you’ll reopen the stitches in your shoulder,” Ellie tries. Luna sits back but she howls out a frustrated growl through her teeth. Ellie pulls up a small armchair to the side of the bed. “Listen, please. I showed up to surprise Mark when the staged ambush was supposed to happen. So they knocked me out with the butt of one of the guns.”

Luna looks up, “Mark’s people, Van’s—Quinn’s—people, are the ones that smashed your head?”

Ellie nods and explains, “That was Mark’s call, so he could bring me in. Which he didn’t even have permission to do.”

Mark tries, “But I loved you so much—”

“Oh, shut up!” Both women say in unison. I fight a grin.

“So then you framed the Italians so I’d have to marry him?” Luna asks Mark, “All to get to Papa?”

Ellie scoffs, “You’re giving them too much credit.”

“Too much credit?” Luna squeaks, “I’m giving what has to be the biggest and best super secret international syndicate, shadow government, too much credit? You’re telling me all this wasn’t their plan?”

“Well…” Mark starts.