Page 58 of Protective Phlox

“I’m just saying. I don’t know why he’s there, but what I do know is that Nathan is insane about you, like borderline crazy. There is no way he’d mess that up for a piece of random ass. That’s all I’m saying.”

“So, you don’t think I should go?”

He shook his head. “No, we might as well. It’s on the way, and it will put your mind at ease. I don’t think Nathan is going to mind being surprised a day early. But again, what do I know? I’m just a lowly soldier.” He smiled.

“Oh, shut up. You know you’re a lot more than that to Nathan. If I didn’t have you this week, I’m not sure I would’ve survived the chaos of my mother and ex,” I said.

Vlad slowed, and we pulled into the parking lot of Euphoria. I looked up at the sign that had changed, and so had some of the decorative shrubbery from the last time I was here four years ago, but aside from that, it looked the same.

I took a deep breath of the salty air as soon as we got out, and even though I’d never lived here before, it felt more like home than anywhere else I’d lived aside from Italy.

The guard manning the door held it open for us, which was a totally different reception from the one I’d gotten the first time around. I clearly remembered being told that they were ordered to, Keep the Fed outside. I was no longer a federal agent, now. That was for sure.

Loud Caribbean music signaled that the theme had changed, but the exotic aspect remained. It now looked like everyone was in the middle of a tropical island. There were even beach volleyball nets set up with topless girls playing while booths of men watched. Those dancing in the ropes were painted to look like animals. I couldn’t even imagine how many people this place employed.

We walked to the office, and the door was closed, but a couple of guards stood outside. As soon as they spotted me, they paled, eyes going wide, and my heart sank through the floor. They never showed emotion, so it was bad, like all the way to the top of Everest bad. I’d believed Nathan when he said he only wanted me. My chest hurt. The pain constricted my throat and made my hands shake.

“Um….” The guards started and looked over my head to Goran, who I knew was behind me.

“If you want to live another day, get out of my way,” I growled at them. The guards swallowed hard and stepped aside. Grabbing the handle, I took a deep breath and readied myself for what I was going to walk in on. Glancing down at the ring on my finger, it had never felt so heavy until this moment. He promised me there would never be anyone else. If he was in there with a woman I would kill her and then rip his balls right off his body. I locked all my emotions down like Fort Knox, very aware of all the guards standing around and the tension pressing in on me.

“You don’t have to….”

I pushed open the door, ready for battle, despite Goran’s final attempt to dissuade me, and came to a sudden halt at the sight before me. Cutter was sitting on Nathan’s desk, playing cards with two women I didn’t know. One was clothed and looked like she’d been on her way home, but the other was in a sparkly bikini with glitter all over her body.

“What the hell?” This was not what I expected, and in some ways, this was a whole lot worse.

“Mommy!” Cutter jumped up, and I walked over and picked him up off of the desk. His arms wrapped around my neck as he kissed my cheek. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” I said, eyeing the women.

Glitter cleared her throat and stood. “Hi, I’m Rita.” She held out her hand. “Mr. Mikhailov had to come in, and we said we’d look after your son. He’s amazing.”

“Yes, he is. Thank you for looking out for him, but….” I stopped as I heard Nathan’s voice in the hall.

“Damn, that took a lot longer than I thought it would. Goran, what are you….” I marched out of the office and faced Nathan, ready for blood. “Oh, fuck.”

“Oh fuck?”

Cutter gasped. “Mommy, you said a bad word.”

My eyes never left Nathan. I’d never seen him scared. I didn’t know he was capable of it, but he looked scared now, and with good reason. If our son weren’t hanging on to me, I would’ve killed him on the spot.

“Yes, I said a bad word, Bud. Cover your ears. There are going to be a few more.” I took a step in Nathan’s direction, and he rolled out his shoulders but remained still. I got the feeling he wanted to turn and run for the door, but he was too fucking proud and stubborn for that.

“Oh fuck? Is that all you have to say about bringing our four-year-old to a strip club and leaving him with people I don’t know? One of whom is barely clothed, I might add.” He opened his mouth, but I cut off whatever argument he had. “I left Cutter alone with you for one week. One fucking week, and he ends up with a dislocated wrist and a cast. Tackled and terrified at a hockey game so badly that I had to calm him down, and now you bring him to a strip club.” I pointed at the open door. “And here he sits at nearly midnight playing cards like he is some shark at a poker table while you’re off doing god knows what.”

“Guys, give us a minute,” Nathan said, and the guards started to turn, all too happy to hightail it out of the line of fire.

“No, don’t go anywhere.” They all froze, and even Goran looked concerned, like he was caught in the middle of a domestic. “I’m taking our son home. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll give me some time to cool the fuck off before you show your face. It’s way past his bedtime, and I’m beyond furious.” Whipping around, I marched for the stairs and out the front door, letting the guards scramble to keep up and surround us.

I got into the back of the limo while Goran and the guards who had been accompanying me followed. No one said a word until Cutter spoke, breaking the silence.

“Mommy, are you mad at Dad?”

I smoothed back his little mohawk and kissed his forehead. “That’s not for you to worry about, Bud. We’ll get it sorted out.”

He looked down at his hands covered in gold and silver glitter. “Was I bad?”