Page 83 of Break

I’ve got her hair completely undone now, and I’m just running my fingers through it when Max joins us in the living room, now off the phone. He seems lost in his head, so I keep our conversation going to prevent drawing attention to him.

“Anyway, after I finished up my second year there and I was, for the most part, recovered, I decided to drop out and try my hand at the police academy. It’s eighteen weeks of rigorous training and classroom work, but I got through and was offered a job shortly after graduating a few towns over. I got some experience under my belt for a few years and then applied here so I could move back home. My parents are still here. I’m sure they’d love to see you again. They’re pretty badass.”

She hums softly at my suggestion. “I’d like that. They were always super friendly when we all were together.” She gently leans back against my knees, keeping her weight more on my left one, and I smile at her sweet consideration.

Shifting her to lean equally on both, I lean down and speak against her ear. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s been years and I’m fully recovered. Besides, you weigh practically nothing.”

Shaking her head, she leans back fully and turns to Max. “Is everything okay with your phone call? You seem upset.”

He offers her a forced smile, but I know it’s not because he’s irritated with her question. “It’s fine. One of my guys misunderstood his assignment overnight, so one of our clients was without a guard for the evening. Everyone was okay, but she had a scare in the middle of the night and couldn’t reach anyone for backup. It ended up being someone at the wrong apartment, but she was pretty freaked by the whole thing. It’s all handled now.”

“Who was it?” Ethan asks as he walks into the room, freshly showered after his early morning run. How he gets up even after shitty sleep on a couch is mind-boggling. I prefer evening workouts so I can sleep in as long as possible.

Grunting in annoyance, Max scrubs his face and leans back into his chair. “New guy. It’s handled.”

Nodding, Ethan looks at Mina sitting between my legs and using me as a backrest. His face softens for her. “You look cozy. I’m going to run out and grab the mail. You need anything before I come back?”

“No, thank you. I’m going to head up and get ready for the day, I think.” She moves to stand up, so I assist her by gripping her waist and helping her stand. Patting my hands where they rest on her body in a silent thank you, she makes her way upstairs.

I swear, every time that woman leaves a room, the three of us stop what we’re doing just to watch her. It’s not until she’s out of our vision that we all move again like we’ve just pushed play on life.

Ethan heads outside and I offer to make coffee for Max, who already looks exhausted, and the day has barely begun.

“Guys?” Ethan calls from the entryway as he shuts the door behind him.

“What’s up? Want some coffee?” I call to him where I’m busy scooping grounds into the filter.

“No. We have a problem.” I can hear the fury in his voice. Immediately, I set down the coffee stuff and find him holding a stack of mail, staring at an envelope on top of the pile.

Max isn’t far behind, pushing past me to grab the envelope in question. “What is th-” His words cut off as he reads the hand-written address before his face contorts with rage. “Thatmotherfucker!”

“What is it?” I ask, growing concerned over their reactions.

“We need to get Mina and take this down to the station. We can’t open it here.” Slapping it down on the small table against the wall, I walk over and read the front.

Narrowing my eyes, I hiss out a chain of expletives.Danny has got some fucking balls.

The envelope is addressed toMrs. Wilhelmina Reed. Flipping it over, I see where he’s written a note on the back.

Baby, read me immediately. I’ll be waiting for you.

~The Letter~

Baby,

Enough is enough. It’s time to come home. I’m not mad at you anymore, and I think you’ve been away long enough to have cooled down. All of this has escalated so far beyond what it ever should have, and people are talking. My parents haven’t been able to go anywhere without being questioned about whether or not I’m a wife-beater, which is absolutely asinine. Even your father is getting questioned and has essentially washed his hands of both of us, and my family. I think it’d be best for both of us if we just put this all in the past and forget it ever happened.

When you come home, I’ll agree to some rules that will allow us both to coexist peacefully, to ensure nothing like this will happen again. These are the rules that I propose, and I’d be willing to hear your opinion on them once we can sit down and go over them.

Rules for me:

1. I will continue to provide you with all the things you need to maintain a comfortable livelihood. (i.e., food, clothing, housing, vehicle, and health insurance)

2. I will refrain from jumping to conclusions over concerning behavior and agree to sit down and talk them out in a peaceful and rational manner.

3. I will agree to regularly scheduled marriage counseling (conditions will be listed below under your rules) where we will both promise to be 100% truthful over the events that occurred in the past month.

4. I will allow you more freedom to come and go as you please. As long as you keep me up to date and aware of where you are and who you are with. (I think this is a fair concession considering the things I have seen over the past few weeks and your past behavior, but again, I will address this later under your rules)

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