Chapter 13
Tate
I feel like someone has just punched me in the gut. Beat me to the ground and is kicking me while I’m down. It takes me a full ten seconds to find my voice again.
“Husband?” I repeat, standing from the couch in Levi’s office and immediately exiting the room. I ignore the questioning stares from my brothers.
“Yeah. I heard she’s working for you. Is that true?”
I don’t respond. I’m still trying to register what this man is telling me. Lucy is married. Married. To this man on the phone.
“Look, I just want to know she’s okay. Is she there? Is she safe?” the man asks.
“Yeah,” I find myself answering, but it’s like pulling teeth to get the words out. Like I can’t suck in enough breath to say more.
“Thank you. That’s all I needed to know.” And then I hear the click of the call ending.
“Wait!” I start, realizing I should at least get this guy’s name. Ask verifying questions, make sure this is legit. But it’s too late. The line is dead.
I stand there in the silence, staring down at my phone. That warm feeling that’s been occupying my chest these last weeks has morphed into something terrible and strange. Heavy, painful, twisting my insides irrevocably. I don’t think they’ll ever be the same.
“Tate!” I hear Levi call from the other room. “Is everything okay?”
But I don’t have the energy to face them right now. So instead, I keep walking. Out the front door, into my truck.
And I drive.