“That’s ridiculous,” Rick said. “He needs to –”
She cut him off. “Why did you go behind my back?”
“I didn’t go behind your back,” he said. “I needed to talk to someone immediately who had power to do something about this.”
“That’s not it.” She dropped her hands to her sides. “You treat me like I have no idea what’s going on. You’re no better than he is.”
“Come on,” Rick said. “You can’t be serious.”
“Now he thinks I’m sitting here, scared to death. He told me to grow up.”
“You should be scared. You were threatened. You –”
“I’m not going to be scared, Rick! If they think the threat is gone, maybe the threat is gone. Maybe it was never there to begin with.”
“But it was. Itis,” Rick stammered. “What are you saying? Do you want me to go?”
“I – that’s not what this is about.”
It was too late. His chest was a vise. No air was getting in, no matter how hard he fought. He shut his eyes. Addy could not see him like this. He turned, pushed the front door open, and walked out.
Twenty-four
Huh, so that was it. He was really going to walk out on her like that.
Addy picked up the frying pan and slammed it onto the stove. She spun, pulling at the fridge, glasses clanking in the door.
She shoved the milk aside. Where were the eggs? Were they seriously out of eggs?
Shane had spoken to her like she was a child. A scared child, telling her to grow up, to stop making this about her. She slammed the door shut.
“Is everything okay?” Sheila asked, standing at the end of the kitchen island.
Addy looked up. “Everything’s wonderful. Why?”
“You look like one of those women photographed in the Dust Bowl during the depression.”
She was just hungry.
Sheila took a step closer. “Where’s Rick?”
“Rick’s gone.”
Sheila looked around as if she didn’t believe it. “Gone where?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care.”
Sheila crossed her arms over her chest. “Aw, a lover’s quarrel?”
“Not lovers, Sheila!” Addy snapped. “We had a professional disagreement.”
Except it didn’t feel professional. It felt like she wanted to throw up. Her ears were hot and her sweater was too tight.
Sheila put her hands up. “I’m sorry. I’m just kidding.”
Addy sighed. “I don’t know if it’s a disagreement. He decided to tell everyone except me that his protection contract had ended.”
“Hang on. He’s not going to be your bodyguard anymore?” Sheila’s mouth dropped open. “How does that make sense? I thought he was trying to get more help out here, not less.”
