“Of course, boss,” he replies under his breath, flashing a quick wink before continuing on. I let him go without another glance.
“Is he going to be okay?” Wynter asks beside me. Her face is pale, her hand trembling slightly in mine.
“No,” I say evenly. “He’s dead.”
“But maybe they can bring him back?” she presses, her voice unsteady.
I shrug lightly, like it doesn’t matter. “Maybe.” But I already know they won’t. Joel did his job properly. The poison would’ve slowed his heart, dragged it to a stop without warning. Clean.Quiet.By the time anyone thinks to question it, there’ll be nothing left to find.
To everyone else, it’ll look like what it is on paper—a heart attack.
“It was probably health related,” Sofia adds smoothly. “A heart attack. He wasn’t exactly young.”
Wynter shudders beside me. “It just gives me chills,” she murmurs. “Knowing he was sitting there like that and I was . . .”
Her words trail off, her cheeks flushing. I glance at her, already knowing where her mind’s gone. “Sitting right opposite,” shefinishes quickly. I grin slightly, tightening my grip on her hand as we step out into the night air.
When we get home, Wynter disappears to shower. I head straight to Anika’s room to find her awake.
Her eyes fix to me and narrow, “What did you do?” she snaps.
I pause. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb,” she fires back. “A dinner party with judges? I’m not stupid, Ray.”
I shrug, like it’s nothing. “Vinn invited us.”
“You arranged it,” she shoots back, her eyes blazing. “So that you could get to Luke’s judge.”
A grin tugs at my mouth. She always could read me too well. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Stop it,” she snaps. “I know Luke’s going for full custody.”
My smile fades instantly. “And how would you know that?” I ask slowly.
I haven’t told her. Sebastian doesn’t know.
So, how the fuck?
“You’re wasting your time,” she says, her voice suddenly quieter. “Luke’s right. He can give Sebastian a better life.”
I close the distance between us, my face inches from hers. “Don’t you fucking say that,” I roar. “Don’t you dare give up on him.”
Her eyes fill with tears instantly. “You never listen to me anymore,” she whispers.
“Because what you’re saying is bullshit.”
“I don’t want to live like this—”
“Enough,” I snap, stepping back, running a hand through my hair. I can’t hear this again. Not tonight. “Yah know what, Ani,” I mutter, turning for the door, “I’m gonna break my promise.”
“Ray, listen to me,” she cries.
I stop for half a second, but I don’t turn back. “I can’t.”
I walk out, slamming the door behind me. It doesn’t block out the sound of her sobbing. It hurts more knowing I’ve broken my promise of never walking out on an argument, but I can’t stand there and listen to her talking like she’s giving up.
The carer appears from the spare room, startled. “Everything okay?” she asks.
