Silence. Then: "Drogo? What the fuck—where are you? Where have you been? Do you have any idea what—"
"How is she?"
"What?"
"Alena. The crash. How is she?"
Marcus's breathing changes. Harder. Angrier. "You're calling to ask how she is? After six months of nothing? After—"
"Marcus. Please. Just tell me."
A pause. Heavy. Then: "She's alive. Broken arm, bruised ribs, concussion. She's home now. With Lucy." His voice drops. "She was drunk, Drogo. Point-two-one. She totalled the Mustang. She could have died."
I close my eyes. "I know."
"Do you? Because you left her. That note—'found something better'? That destroyed her. She's been drinking herself to death for six months thinking you abandoned her after finally—" He stops. Growls. "Where the fuck are you?"
What fucking note? I haven’t left her any note other than one that morning. What the fuck? I didn’t know I could get angrier. The pen I grabbed from the desk a moment ago bends in my hand and I want to scream at Marcus “I didn’t leave her that note! I love her! Please tell her I am coming back soon!”. But I don’t.
"I can't tell you that."
"Can't or won't?"
"Both."
"Then why are you calling?"
"To know she's alive. To—" My voice cracks. "To know you're watching her. Protecting her."
"Don't you care about her?" Marcus's voice is raw. Accusatory. "Don't you care that she's falling apart? That she thinks you used her and threw her away?"
"I'm doing this for her," I say quietly. "Please understand."
Silence. Long. Heavy.
Then Marcus, quieter: "You're in trouble."
It's not a question.
"Yes."
"The kind you can't get out of."
"Not yet."
Another pause. I can hear him thinking, calculating, the old pit fighter instincts kicking in. "Does she need protection?"
"Yes. But don't tell her why. Don't tell her I called. If she knows—if anyone knows—it makes her a target."
"Jesus Christ, Drogo."
"Keep this call secret. From everyone. Especially her."
"She deserves to know you didn't abandon her."
"She deserves to live," I say. "That's all that matters."
Marcus exhales. Long. Defeated. "I understand."
