Page 12 of Just My Ex

Quickly, habits of my work begin to assimilate in my mind. “I haven’t thought too far ahead but—”

He snorts like,Yeah, that’s obvious.

“—I’ll let her know I’m here on the premises. Just to be sure that lunatic uncle of hers doesn’t jump on a plane and do anything stupid. I’ll watch the security feeds. Talk to her about ways she can protect herself. I’ll accompany her to her appointments and any trips she needs to make into town. I’ll need some time to map out possible escape routes and cover stories, that kind of thing.”

Even as I’m saying it, it sounds stupid. She’s not going to go for it because she’s independent to a fault. Strong. I doubt she’ll even understand she needs help at all.

She’s not the Ostlins.

Except, she came here, didn’t she? With some luck, maybe she’ll see what needs to be done. Maybe she’ll accept it.

“Quinn is … well, she’s not going to be okay with this, Henry.”

“I know.” I stare at my hands, and then meet his gaze. “If it were Elianna—”

Sebastian growls, but I know I’ve made my point. “Elianna doesn’t despise me,” he says.

This hits a nerve. “I know,” I say again. “But what if she did? Would that just erase the concern you have for her?”

“No, but I would hope I’d respect her wishes.”

“But there’s Navie to think about! Quinn’s family worries me. They’ve always worried me, okay? Some of them are fine. Her mom is fine. She’s great. Her grandfather? Hey, I really liked him, and I was sad when he died. I—look, my job has taught me to listen to my gut. And my gut is telling me I have to be here.”

He licks his lips then raises his hands, as if to sayIt’s not my funeral.“You’re telling her right away. I’m not keeping any secrets for you. And if she says no to this, you have to leave. I’m taking her side because her comfort is more important.”

“More important than her safety?”

He scrubs his face. “Man, where do you get off? You don’t have any claim to her. You discarded her.” Sebastian’s jaw is tight. He’s looking at me like I’m scum.

My eyes burn. I don’t say “I know” again. I just nod my head.

“I let her go. And that was the biggest mistake of my life. I can’t fix it. I can’t change it. But I can show up for her now. That’s all I got, bro!” My arms go wide. There’s a pulsing loneliness I’ve experienced ever since she filed for divorce—that ugly word. I haven’t been able to shake it. And now? She’s here, somewhere, in this very building, and that ache has never been stronger.

Because I haven’t been lonely in a general sense. I’ve been lonelyfor her.

Sebastian’s mouth tics in frustration. “Okay. Ask her what she wants. And if she doesn’t want you to be here, you take the next flight out of town. Maybe you can get your Army buddy to come babysit her. And by the way, I have good security here. My system was specially designed for me, for the terrain and layout here. I consulted with multiple experts in the field. I spent a pretty penny—”

“I hate to break it to you, but that’s all well and good until crazy uncle Raymond strolls through the doors, unseen and undetected.” At Sebastian’s protest, I raise my hand and almost put it on his chest. Almost. “Trust me. It’s not nearly enough. You need boots on the ground.” I glance around the room. “It’s a nice system—Black Card. But it’s not enough.”

Sebastian’s scowl deepens, like he’s been stung by a swarm of hornets. “How did you know that? I never said that. I never told you anything about Black Card.”

“I do this for a living, okay?” I sigh and rub my eyes. It took me several minutes to see the tale-tell signs of the Black Card system throughout the building, but they’re there.

A headache is starting behind one eye. Soon it will spread to both, with halos of light around everything. Then the nausea will start. I need to do something about it—quick. “Can I please stay somewhere? It will just be for a month. I’ll pay you the going rate.”

“Don’t be stupid.” Sebastian’s nostrils flare. “I’m not going to charge my own brother. But it’s the start of our busy season, Henry. I gave Quinn and Navie the penthouse suite.”

“You’re not using it?” It’s a delayed response because it’s then that I realize that means my daughter and wife—ex-wife—are just through that far door in the corner. Just right there.

“I built a house.” He gets up off the couch, and his facial features have been rearranged into cool indifference—a polite and professional tone. “But that doesn’t matter. I’m glad to see you. I’m glad you’re here, in one piece.” He looks over me, and I’m reminded of when I was a kid and got myself in scrape after scrape. Sebastian rescued me every time. He even performed the Heimlich on me when I was an idiot and tried to see how many grapes I could fit in my mouth at once.

“I’m glad I’m here, too. A whole month. I could beat you in basketball and pool and pickleball so many times in one month.” I grin at the thought. Except, this isn’t a vacation. This is work. My most serious assignment I’ve ever had.

And let’s face it. I probably can’t beat him.

He snorts. “I don’t think so. Besides, just because you got leave for a whole month doesn’t mean you’ll be here. Quinn gets to decide that, remember?”

I nod. Yes, I remember.

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