Page 87 of Army
Her insides turned to ice, and her stomach churned. The room spun around as she gripped the opened door of one of the lockers to steady herself. He knows! How the hell did he find out?
“Hello … Vic?” She stalled for time, pretending she couldn’t hear him.
“Mia? Can you hear me?”
Will he believe I can’t, or will it prove to him Iamwith Army. Second guessing her brother and mother when she’d been young had been a full-time job. Most of the times when she’d gone with her instinct, she’d gotten it right. Her gut was telling her to answer him.
“Vic?”
“I’m here. Fuck!”
“I can hear you. I was in the back room and my reception is usually shitty there. How are you?”
“I asked who you’re fucking.” He was hard and angry, and she cringed.
“I’ve never discussed my sex life with you—it’s just weird.” She laughed lightly as if this was a joke between brother and sister.
“Are you fucking a Night Rebel?”
Oh God! He knows. How? Noe? “A biker? No,” she lied. She ran the cool bottle over her forehead then down the side of her face and neck. “Why would you ask me that?”
“I heard you were fucking one of those assholes.”
“That’s absurd. Where did you hear that from?” Mia tried to control her breathing—the last thing she wanted was for Vic to pick up on her anxiety.
“Never mind where I heard it from. Who’s this Army dude Noe told me about? You dating him?”
“Not really. I told you I wasn’t attracted to Noe in that way.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were with someone before Noe came to Durango?” Suspicion still laced Vic’s voice, but he didn’t seem as angry as he was when he first called.
“You wouldn’t listen to me that morning. You seemed hell bent to make us a couple.”
He grunted.
“I have to go. I have a client coming in. Business is real good.” Mia willed her pounding heart to slow the hell down.
“I’m gonna look into this a little more. I better not find out you’re bullshitting me.” A thread of warning wound around his words.
“I guess you don’t have anything better to do.”
“Go take care of your customer.”
The phone went dead and she covered her mouth and rushed to the bathroom. His words, his anger, and his hatred sickened her.
Several minutes later, she wiped her ashen face then brushed her teeth. As she left the break room, Chloe—another stylist—waved to her then stopped. “Are you all right? You look sick.”
“I’m fine,” Mia croaked. “Wrong time of the month.” She placed her hands over her belly, the corner of her mouth lifting into a weak smile.
“Bummer. I hate cramps. I’ve always got some Advil on me. Let me know if you need it.”
“Thanks,” Mia mumbled as she walked over to her station. She hoped she didn’t screw up Elizabeth Danby’s hair. She refused to acknowledge all the fear and panic and dread playing havoc inside her. I have to get through the day. I’ll think about all this later. Mia went to the lobby and gave Ms. Danby a huge smile then escorted her to the booth.
* * *
Mia sat infront of the gas fireplace watching the blue flame shoot up from under the fake logs, drinking a glass of white wine she’d bought on sale at the liquor store on her way home from work. The autumn air had a chill in it that matched the one that had been running through her ever since Vic had called. It was just a matter of time before he’d find out that she lied to him, then he’d bluster around, ranting and raving and planning vengeance on her … and Army. She took a big gulp of wine then promptly began to choke—sputtering and coughing as she pressed her hand at the base of her throat. Startled by the sudden burst of noise, Snickers ran into the other room. “Shit,” she croaked as she rose to her feet and went to get some water. After a bit, all was back on track and she went back to the couch, sank down into the cushions, and stared at the fireplace again. The blue flame reminded her of Army’s eyes: flashing, burning, dangerous.
“Fuck you, Vic,” she muttered. The more Mia thought about the ridiculousness of the situation, the more she wanted to bash her brother’s head in. He’d always thought he was the boss of her, and he could be cruel just as he could be kind with her. She’d left their small town so she could escape from him and their mother. This shouldn’t concern him at all. But in his crazy mind, he thought everything about her was his business.
