Chapter 34
Gabby stood on the shore, dripping wet, her yoga clothes sealed to her skin. Getting out of an already too-tight bra top that was soaked—she might need to cut the thing off.
Gabby braced herself for what was coming.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Markus said. “I said no espionage.” He gestured to the paddleboard. “I’m guessing you weren’t doing that for fun.”
Gabby filled him in in a rush of words. “Naomi and Jasmine agreed to provide testimony against Genesis. Well, Jasmine did, and Naomi is going to agree. I can tell.”
He held up his hand for her to stop.
“Gabby, this is your second mission. You can’t just blow off direct orders and pretend there are no consequences.”
“I’m doing my job!” she shot back.
“News flash,” he said, “we don’t have jobs anymore.”
A seagull walked up toward them, looking for a handout. The waterfowl were reflecting her internal chaos today.
Markus rubbed his neck like the tension was killing him. “Gabby, remember how I was trying to get my career back on track with this mission, how I asked you to have my back?”
“I do.” Of course she did. “That was right before you started sneaking off to meet with Genesis, I believe.” She put her hand on her hip. She was facing into the wind, and her hair whipped behind her dramatically.
Over the bay, a bird was catching air and floating like a hang glider.
He huffed. “Oh, you think I’m up to something?”
“I do. Texting G surreptitiously, hanging out when you’re supposedly going to Sheridan’s. G’s our number one suspect! What did you expect me to think?”
“I expected trust.”
“You know, Valentina asked me for a report on your behavior.” Gabby leaned forward. “She doesn’t trust you either. This isn’t all my fault.”
“What?” He reared back. He shut his eyes and took a breath, clearly trying to control his emotions. “I can’t believe that. I’ve been a field operative for six years. Six years!”
“I didn’t want to,” Gabby said, her heart filling with regret now that she’d said it out loud.
“After six years, I haven’t earned the benefit of a doubt from my ex-wife or you. Whoever you are to me. Work wife, my ass.”
Gabby let him get it out. He was rightfully mad.
“I needed this one, Gabs, and you’re a fucking double agent, spying on me and playing my girlfriend.” He looked so hurt.
Gabby was silenced by guilt. He was calling her on everything.
He nodded. “I see how it is.”
“I’m sorry about that, Markus, but I’ve been in a bad position too. I didn’t know what to do, and you didn’t let me in! If you had just told me what you were doing and why… I asked questions, and you just brushed me off.” It was Gabby’s turn to be mad. “Do you see the position you put me in?”
He gave a nod. “Fair point. My communication could be better.”
“Thank you,” she said emphatically, like she’d just won.
But he didn’t elaborate, just stood there silently when there were too many times that he’d snuck off to talk to Genesis.
“You returned Sheridan’s phone without even mentioning that to me,” she reminded him, again.
“I had too much to drink. Sorry.” He looked out to sea. She could see the angry words gathering like a storm cloud. “You’re one to talk, Gabby. You’re conducting an illegal mission without my approval.”
She was in the most beautiful place she’d ever been. They should have been working together, enjoying everything about this place—the turquoise waters, the waves, the honeymoon cottage with a butler so she’d never have to lift a finger. Here they were arguing. It was hopeless.
Cold and emotionless, Marcus said, “I should have known from the beginning. I saw you hesitating to agree to dinner.” He let out a hollow laugh. “Work wives. How did I not see through that?”
“I was just trying to find a workable compromise.”
They’d compromised until there was nothing left. A vision of Naomi laughing at her on a paddleboard came to her. Why did she think she could handle more than anyone she knew when she couldn’t even operate a paddleboard?
“I want you, Markus, but I also want a career, and I already have a family I need to take care of.” Overwhelmed, she added, “I just don’t know how to have it all.”
“Did you think you could have it all?” he asked, his question more of an accusation.
For a hot second, she did think she could have it all.
All she needed was better planning. That color-coded schedule she had worked so hard on.
Ten minutes for kids in the morning. Phone calls in the car.
Romance at lunch hour. A tight schedule, clear boundaries, and labels—that’s how women did it.
Not to mention, strategic compromises: a work wife instead of a boyfriend.
Working out for fifteen minutes before she left work.
She couldn’t even have it all playing pretend in the Azores in a honeymoon cottage.
Gabby had always thought she wasn’t good enough for Markus—not in his league with too much baggage—but tonight she knew that had been her insecurity talking. She was enough. There just wasn’t enough of her to go around.
Coldly, he said, “Valentina’s coming.”
“Why?” Her voice came out in a squeak.
“Her ass is on the line for trusting us.”
Suddenly, Gabby was just tired. All her anger was spent, all her suspicions from the last week out in the air. And there was still more mess to mop up.
As they walked back to the cottage, Gabby said, “There’s still the matter of Naomi and Jasmine. They are willing to provide testimony against G in exchange for immunity.”
Markus groaned and walked a few more steps. “Fine,” he said. “We might as well throw that Hail Mary.”
She nodded. “It’s our only chance to come out of this employed.”
“New plan,” he said. “Get their testimony, save our jobs, and get the fuck out.”
“Even though they’re taking G down?”
He nodded. “If he’s guilty, he’s guilty. I can’t save him.”
Gabby had almost had it all for about two minutes. Now she had no romance, but at least she had her partner back.
Steely eyed, she said, “Let’s do this. What’s next?”
“We need to go get ready,” Markus said.
“For what?” Gabby didn’t have energy for anything anymore.
“You have to be at a bachelorette party in an hour.”
At that, Gabby started laughing. “Fuck me.”