“I’m sure that it won’t. Good night.” Shaking, I try Leith’s number. It rings once. Then I’m greeted by his voicemail. “Did my husband just press the away button?”
Eyelid twitching, I contemplate all the ways he’ll pay for this. Leith has a habit of mumbling responses when on the computer, which is exactly how he acted on our call around lunchtime. But to totally disregard me?
“Okay. Maybe he’s busy. Don’t be rash, Chevelle,” I tell myself.
There’s scientific proof that thinking about a glass of wine helps people relax. I imagine pouring myself a tall, generous glass of Chianti that tastes as rich as sun-drenched Sangiovese grapes.
“Forget Ophelia,” I tell myself. “What’s meant to be will be.”
Five minutes later, I open a bottle, allowing it a chance to breathe and the complexities of the wine to develop. I need this wine like air tonight so that I can keep from letting my mind wander.
Seated at the travertine ledge of the bathtub, I run the hot water. After a while, the tub is brimming with sudsy water. I pour myself a glass and lean back with a sigh.
I inhale the flavors of sour cherry, coffee, and balsamic. The profile resonates around me, and I imagine Leith and me in Italy's Chianti hills, wandering through a vineyard. He’s at home. I mean, he’s at Mable’s, probably went to sleep early.
I’m about to take my first sip when my cell phone rings. I glance at the unfamiliar number.
“I don’t feel like being bothered.” Wiping my sudsy hand on a plush towel, I press ignore and place the phone on silent.
Just as I’m placing the glass to my lips, it rings again. Sighing, I reluctantly answer. “Hello?”
A man with an effeminate voice says, “Hi, am I speaking with the wife of Leith MacKenzie?”
“Yes.” I cock a brow.
“I’m a coworker of his. He’s been out since mid-last week. I was wondering—”
“No, he was out mid-last week.” I cut the stranger off, on guard. Though pondering why I’m sharing my husband’s business, I assert, “Leith returned at the beginning of this week. Whatever game you’re playing—”
Click.
“What the fuck is going on?” I mumble to myself. My thumb hovers over my husband’s contact. I think about how he pressed the away button on me. Setting my phone down, I take a deep breath and a deeper drink from my wine glass. My thoughts are all over the place as I try to relax. The water grows cold, and my wine glass empties. I step out, wrapping a bath sheet around me. I pace, unable to finish my afterbath rituals.
Investigator senses tingling, I open an app and press the Find my iPhone button. Seconds later, malice burns my core at the sight of Leith’s location.
Chapter 40
Leith
Calling Yates’ bluff, I squeeze the trigger. In two quick steps, I’m back in the hallway. The little shite thought he was so smart. The explosion radius in his bedroom isn’t that wide. I’ve been in more peril shite-faced during a bonfire on my clan land. A heat sucks into the hallway. The blast exerts less power than a string of M-80 fireworks. I’ll be surprised if my eyebrows singed off.
When I climb up from the ground, there’s nae burnt nugget on the bedroom floor.
“Feck!” I glance out the window. Yates is clambering up from the ground, ankle twisted. He skedaddles aff into the dark.
I start to take a shot. Yates weaves toward the street, garnering more attention. Working my way back through the apartment, I take another exit route.
Five minutes later, I’m easing into my car. Sirens sound in the distance as I place a hand over the deep graze along my side where a bullet almost got the better of me. Blood trickles along my ribs. With a huff, I determine that I should head to the home I once lived in.
I ring up Camdyn while shifting into gear. “Run me an update.”
“Everything’s good. The girls are sleeping.” His voice rings with excitement. “You got that motherfucker?”
With one hand on the steering wheel and the other over the wound, I snarl, “Nae. Slipped through my fingers. Last feckin’ time, though. Keep my family safe for me, Cam.”
“I got you, bro.”
“This ends tonight.” I clip each word, then mash the end call button.
At the wee house I bought for Chevelle and me, I decide that, after I clean myself up, it’s time to come clean to Chevelle. I’ll just tell her what I’ve been up to and that I’m