Page 21 of Desolation

“Why would I?”

Of course Dax wouldn’t, he’s had my back for seventeen years.

“He cheated on me. A few times. Kept it all under lock and key with NDAs and lawyers. But I found out and it broke me Dax. I fell apart. I remember sitting on the living room floor crying. He barely tried to console me. He said it is what it is. I got so angry. I yelled at him. I slapped him. I couldn’t believe that he was so nonchalant about us. We’d been together fourteen years. And it felt like every single one of those years, months, days, didn’t matter. I told him I wanted a divorce.”

Dax grinds his teeth. “Big deal. Senators get divorced all the time.”

I swallow the rest of the scotch in my glass and walk over to pour more. I speak quietly. “He wants to run for president.”

Dax groans and I know without looking at him he has taken his glasses off and is rubbing his eyes.

“I’ve spent the last six months trying to figure out those damn files. My CFO at the foundation has too. I hired a PI and they couldn’t find shit. Most companies are proud to admit they donated to a worthy cause. But those deposits, those companies I cannot find a trace of evidence about them.” I groan into my hands. “I just want this to go away.”

I hear him walk up behind me and then his hands are on my shoulders. “Where does Michael think you are? Not at your house in Boston?”

I clear my throat as I force the tears down. “No, I couldn’t be there; he would know I wasn’t around. I let him know I was staying with my mom in Plymouth for a few weeks in between business trips. He’s in session so he’s back in DC. The girls are with his parents at their estate for the first month or so of summer.”

“Have you talked to him at all?”

I shake my head.

“Is he not concerned about your whereabouts?”

I shrug. “I guess not. Right before he left for Washington we got in a big fight. Him telling me to call off the lawyer for the divorce. He thinks this separation we’ve had is pointless. He is convinced I won’t follow through with the divorce. I told him I’ve made up my mind. He stormed off. That’s when I knew I needed to see you. My work thinks I am out finding new donors, raising awareness. But I don’t know how long I can keep up this charade.”

“I’m sorry, Mariela. I’m so sorry.”

I turn in his arms and see pain stricken across his face. “What do you know?”

He pulls away from me, grabbing the glass of scotch from my hand. “Whoever that file belongs to is in some deep shit.”

“How deep?” I ask, my voice cracking in fear.

Dax slumps back in the bar stool, pinching his eyes closed. “Deep enough that I don’t want you staying anywhere but here. My security system is state of the art. I know every person trying to get through my gate and any person trying to hack into my systems.”

I gasp. Fear creeping over my shoulders. I didn’t think that whatever was going on was this serious but by the look on Dax’s face I know it’s worse than I thought.

“I don’t think Michael would do anything to harm you, Mariela. But whoever is on the other end of those conversations wouldn’t give two shits about your life or your kids.”

“Conversations?” I ask timidly.

“Shit. I can’t tell you.” He groans as he leans his head back. “But this is bad. Really bad.”

A cry breaks free from my throat as I hunch over. I fucked up. I should have never looked in Michael’s office. I should have gone to him about the accounts. I’m so scared I just threw away the life of my family.

Dax’s arms wrap around me just before I collapse on the floor. “Shh. I will figure this out. I have the resources. I can help you, Mar.”

“The girls,” I cry.

“Will be safe,” he cuts in. “Two weeks, Mar. Give me two weeks.”

Chapter Eight

Landon

My feet slap against the pavement as I get my morning run in before heading to Cole Security. I’ve been there for a week and while it’s not like being a SEAL, I can see the camaraderie the team has. I yearn for it. It was my favorite thing about being a SEAL, the brotherhood. It was the family I didn’t have growing up and because of me, I lost it all. The only person I still talk to is Colton but his leave is almost over and when he gets deployed, I won’t have anyone here.

Besides Mr. Cartwell. He’s the only person that makes me feel normal. Not this brooding asshole that I’ve turned into.

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