Page 54 of Coff

I laugh. “I thought I could, but my brother informed me the threat is still there, which means I have to stay married to that monster forever.”

His shoes shuffle on the wooden pier, and in my peripheral, I note he is facing me now.

“Monster? Does he hit you often?”

I hide my gasp. “How did you know?”

“I was at your office when he slapped you. It took everything not to march in and hit him back.”

I turn and stare into his eyes. The deep-blue eyes that I’ve only seen in my dreams for the past twelve years. His gaze is full of concern, and I wish I could go back in time and make different choices. I’d pick him every time. Knowing I chose the wrong path tears me up. Tears fall, and I don’t try to stop them.

His gaze is a mix of concern and anger. Then he turns back to the water. “We shouldn’t be seen together.” Then he takes a few steps away.

“Wait!” I say.

He stops but keeps his back to me.

“Will I see you again?”

His head drops, but he doesn’t turn around. “Take care of yourself, Delaney.” And then, he walks several blocks and turns out of sight.

Take care? What the hell? Why has he been following me if he’s just going to leave again? He can’t deny the emotions he’s feeling. They were there in his eyes.

I slump against the pier. But why would he want to take on my mess? One wrong move and he could be killed. He probably followed me long enough to see I have too much baggage.

Why did I let myself get my hopes up that maybe somehow he was here to save me? Oh yeah, because I have no idea how to save myself. But I better figure it out fast because relying on the men in my life has only given me grief.

CHAPTER7

Logan

KnowingDelaney’s husband hurts her is all I can think about. I had to force myself to get in my car and drive away before I did something foolish, like whisking her away somewhere. No, she needs to get away from that situation, but there needs to be a plan in place. Otherwise, her husband or brother will search for her.

Imagining Nelson and what he might have done filled me with rage yesterday. I tried to go for a run, but my lungs said no. I ended up getting a guest pass at my brother’s gym and lifting weights for an hour.

It helped until this morning when I woke up with all of it front and center in my mind again. When I saw Nelson slap her, I threw the rock at his car to stop him from going further. But knowing he’ll do it again. I have to find a way to stop him.

And that’s why I’m following Nelson today. After watching Delaney for two days, I’ve discovered her movement is limited. She works, gets coffee, goes home. Three places. That’s it.

Well, except for her visit to the FBI offices.

It’s like she’s in a prison with little freedom. It’s hard to make sense of that and the Delaney I knew. She was spontaneous and said what was on her mind. Her dad did this to her. The dad she wasn’t willing to leave behind.

I shake those thoughts from my head. Right now, I need to stay focused. But as I wait for Nelson to leave the restaurant, my mind keeps drifting back to Delaney. When we talked all those years ago about her college courses, she was upset that she couldn’t pursue what she wanted. She loved design, but her dad insisted she pursue business. Whenever her dad asked something of her, she did it without question. But now that he’s gone, can’t she see she is free? I don’t know why Duke has her believing he’s in danger if she divorces. One thing I know about Duke Manzia is he can take care of himself.

My phone rings. Brian. If I don’t answer it, he’ll keep calling.

“Hello?”

“Where are you? Your appointment ended hours ago, and you’re not at my place.”

I check the time, and it’s barely after lunch. “Are you home?”

“No.”

I scratch my forehead. “Then how do you know I’m not?”

He laughs. “How do you think?”

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