Page 46 of Break

Max lets out an audible breath of relief. “Thank you. Seriously, for this.” He holds up the basket to show her. “And for making us another meal that smells incredible.”

She looks over at the dish sitting on the stovetop, then points at it. “It’s ready. You should probably eat before it gets cold.”

The sound of crunching gravel has us turning our heads to look toward the front of the house. “The hell? I thought Vincent had to work this morning,” Max says.

Stepping to the window, I lean to look out front and see Danny coming to a stop in his Mustang. “Fuck,” I say loudly, then look back to where Mina and Max are looking at me. Mina’s eyes are wide as saucers and Max looks concerned.

“Who’s here?” he asks, taking a step to come look for himself.

“Danny,” I say through my clenched jaw.

Max stops walking and drops the basket. “What the fuck is he doing here?Shit!Mina, I need you to-”

He doesn’t need to continue. She’s already out of the kitchen and flying up the stairs like she’s being chased by the Devil himself. Two seconds later, we both hear her bedroom door slam.

“Christ,” I mutter at the same time we hear Danny yelling from the porch, and Walter barking like a madman, sensing that our visitor isn’t welcome.

“Boys!Wake the fuck up and open the door!”

Chapter 20

Jesus Christ

Max

“Come on, guys! I need to talk to you!” Danny is pounding on the door, making Walt bark like a crazy.

“He can’t come in here,” Ethan tells me. He’s staring up the stairs where Mina just made her escape.

I’m at a loss. What the hell am I supposed to do with him? We’re fucking hiding his goddamn wife here, and he just showed up, unannounced? He’s never done that before; at least not in the last few years. “What am I supposed to do with him? He can’t know that we’re not on his side right now. I won’t risk it.”

“I don’t know. Fake it. But he can’t come inhere. This is Mina’s only comfortable place, so letting him through that door is going to destroy her sense of safety.”

Jesus Christ.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll take him out to the shop. Pretend I need to work on something.” That’ll work for now and get him as far away from the house as possible until he gets back in his car and leaves.

The pounding rattles the door frame as I silence Walter, before opening it to the exhausted and angry face of Danny Reed. “About fucking time!” he growls at me and then moves forward to come inside.

Putting my arm out, his chest bumps into it when we make contact. He stops, staring up at me with a scowl like I’ve wronged him somehow. I’m chewing my tongue to not lash out at him when he asks, “What? I’m not welcome in your home anymore?”

“It’s not like that. I’m just heading out to the shop. You can come with me if you’d like.”Okay, made it through that without sounding too hateful.

He relaxes and flashes me a grin. It’s like looking into the face of my sperm donor. They’re quick to anger and then smoothing it away behind fake smiles once they get what they want. Danny carries the face of an abuser, and I feel sick that I need to carry on like I know nothing of what he’s done.

But for Mina? I’ll fucking do it.

Danny spies Ethan over my shoulder, darts a look at me, then back. “You coming to hang out too? Been awhile since we caught up.”

“Can’t. Paperwork.” When Ethan resorts to one-worded answers, I know he’s struggling. Whether it’s because Mina left in a hurry, most likely freaked over the fact that Danny just showed up, or because Danny is standing in front of us, I don’t know. I can’t ask him. What I am is grateful that he’s staying here to check in on her. It’s got to be a mind-fuck to know that he’s only feet away and you’re cornered in a room.

“Too bad. We’ll go fishing or something. Meet up soon?” It’s almost like Danny is relieved that Ethan isn’t tagging along. I’ll take my win where I can get it, though.

Grunting, he says, “Sure.” Then he turns and marches into the office off my living room and shuts the door.

“Come on,” I say to Danny, shoving his shoulder back a little harder than I need to. “Shop.”

After crossing through my yard, Danny walks inside the shop once I unlock it, only to haul himself up onto the counter near the door.

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