I meet his gaze.
“First choice is for her to be removed to a place far, far away. Second choice is that she turns to dirt in the ground.” He whistles low at my response.
“So you’re not asking me to —”
“No. If needed I can do that myself.”
“Shame. It would’ve been the simpler choice.”
“Yes, but this is too complicated. I don’t need the hassle of police reports and interviews. Leo is very emotional. I know he won’t let it go if she just disappears.”
“You’re really serious about this guy.”
“His name is Leo,” I say, annoyed as Marcus leans forward, elbows on the desk.
“You planning to keep him?”
“Yes.”
“Like… keep keep?”
“Is there any other kind?”
A real laugh this time leaves him to the point tears leak from his eyes. I’m glad he finds this so fucking amusing.
“You always were terrifying.”
“I’ll take the compliment.”
“It kind of is. You, of all people, playing house with a married man?”
“I’m not playing and please don’t use the word ‘married’,” I say, and I’m starting to get pisssed off. Marcus just wipes his mouth with his thumb, not affected by my tone.
“Does he know what you’re planning?”
“He resists a little to his fate, but that will change soon enough.”
“Of course he resists.” Marcus shakes his head slowly. “You’re building him a prison.”
“I’m building him stability.”
“With gold bars.”
“Exactly, who would say no to that?” I say, and it’s true, it will be the perfect solution for Leo. Marcus exhales smoke before speaking.
“And his wife? What has she thought about this whole thing?”
I stiffen at the term wife. It scrapes my brain so much I can’t even say the word.
“She believes she owns him,” I say. Marcus snorts.
“That’s marriage for you.”
“I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to be with him and uses him.”
“She sounds like she is hungry for the high life.”
“She’s loud.”
