Page 201 of Broken
“Nowhere to hide it,” she replied. “You?”
“Two.”
“No confidence in the security guards at the bottom of the hill?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” he bit out. “My sister was with Maul. He killed her, along with Gloria and Bert. My uncle…” A long growl rolled out of him. “If you want to fuck around with a woman who’s using you for your money, then leave your wife and retire with some damn dignity.”
Jacqueline pulled him to a stop.
In his ear, she whispered, “You were destined to run Armstrong. The plan didn’t go as expected, but it’s always been your legacy. You’ll surround yourself with brilliant, competent people so you can continue to work for Z. As far as Maul is concerned, Iwillfind him.”
“I’m so angry with myself.”
She stared in to his eyes. “Why?”
“I didn’t do my fucking job and good people have died because of it.”
“You shoulder too much. If you won’t be part of a team, you’re vulnerable. When you went after Maul, you took out everyone by yourself. Anyone else would have gotten killed. I will find Maul, and you’ll finish what you started.”
He kissed her cheek.
“Your brother—your best friend—is marrying the love of his life, and one of my closest friends in the entire world,” she continued.
“Nicky’s not my best friend anymore,” Prescott replied.
She laughed. “He got bumped? What happened?”
“You are.” He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s forget about the case for the next few hours.”
“I’ll try,” she replied.
The rehearsal went off without a hitch. When it ended, everyone moved to the other end of the barn for a sit-down dinner.
“Can we check on Loki?” Ethan asked.
“That’s a great idea,” Jacqueline replied. “We’ll be back in five.”
“I’ll go with you,” Prescott said.
Loki was sprawled on the bed. After spending a few minutes with him, they left.
“We can check on him in a little while,” Ethan said en route to the barn. “Do you think he’s sad because he’s alone?”
“I don’t,” Jacqueline replied. “He’s with us all the time and I think he knows he’s loved. What do you think?”
“I think he should come wif us to the barn.”
“We can do that at the end of the party,” Prescott explained.
Servers delivered chicken breast with a side of grilled vegetables and roasted parmesan potatoes. Jack started cutting Ethan’s chicken, then sliced the potato into small pieces.
“This looks yucky,” Ethan said.
Prescott whispered, “You have to try it so you don’t hurt Uncle Nicky and Aunt Addison’s feelings.”
Jack sliced of a piece of the herb encrusted chicken. “Mmm. Almost as good as Nana’s chicken nuggets.”
Ethan picked up a piece with his fingers and put it in his mouth. “It’s good.”
