Page 106 of Gorgeous Misery

I take a casual drink of my beer and caution myself to be cool. “That’s right. You heard me.”

“When did this happen?”

“Last New Year’s.”

“Well.” Adam turns his body so he can face me. “I’m hurt that I wasn’t invited to the celebration.”

“It was a private affair.”

“I expect it was.”

Seconds tick off in silence and I can practically hear the wheels grinding inside Adam’s head. He’s not sure of me now. Maybe he had some reason cooked up for why I was suddenly so involved in his life. Maybe he sees past the whole Sasha phone call.

But I doubt it.

He has no idea what I’m doing here.

“Can I ask you something?”

I shrug. “I might not answer, but whatever.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why Wendy?”

“Why not Wendy? No.” I put up a hand before he can speak. I should let this go, but I can’t. I should let him think anything he wants about Wendy and me, but I won’t. I’m going to set him straight. “I love her, Adam. And I hope you don’t doubt that because it would be unfortunate if anything happened to her at any point in the future. I will destroy everything in front of me if it comes down to protecting Wendy.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on there. You’re touchy tonight, Nick. I wouldn’t dream of harming a single hair on Wendy Gale’s head. She is a valued member of my team.”

“I understand that. But this needs to be said.” I pause to look him in the eyes. “Because there will be no second chance. Wendy might have been a valued employee in your organization”—I practically sneer that word—“but she is mine now, do you understand me?”

“Perfectly. If anyone should ever hurt… our Wendy, trust me”—he tilts his chin up like he’s superior to me—“I would be the first in line to deliver retribution. She is one of us.”

“One of us,” I agree.

Adam smiles. “Exactly. Us, Nick. Us. We are all on the same team.”

I hold my can of beer up and knock it against his. “That we are.”

But it’s not the team he thinks.

I am on Team Wendy and regardless of what Adam Boucher thinks, there is no room for him and his ilk with us.

“So. What have you been up to all these years, Nick? Keeping busy, I’m sure.”

“You know what I’ve been up to. Nathan St. James lives here, and he’s far more us than I am. Where is he, Adam?”

Adam actually has the gall to look around. Like Nathan is hiding in the bushes and we just misplaced him. “Oh, he’s lurking somewhere.”

“Building that house across the lake, maybe.”

“Maybe.” Adam smiles. “But back to you. Tell me more.”

I almost laugh. “I haven’t told anything, so how could I tell you more?”

“Is this how it’s gonna be then?”