Page 78 of Fast Justice

His drinking alone at three in the afternoon wasn’t the only sign that something was wrong. She’d been his wife for more than twenty-five years. She knew damn well he hadn’t been sleeping, had barely been eating lately. Yet she didn’t seem to care, beyond admonishing him that he ate less than she did.

It wasn’t like her. The total lack of wifely concern was strange. As was her sudden improved mood over the past week or so.

He rounded the island, placed his hands on it as she worked. He hadn’t told her what was bothering him, because he couldn’t. But normally she wanted to know everything, be involved in his life in whatever way he would allow it. Something was…off.

Elena stopped to look up at him. “Something wrong?”

“Yes.”

Surprise flashed in her eyes and she set the scissors down to give him her full attention. “What is it?”

He chose his words carefully, a niggling suspicion taking root that he could no longer ignore. “There have been complications with several operations this week.”

“Concerning what?”

“Juan Montoya.”

Her face stiffened ever so slightly, the change subtle enough that he would have missed it completely had he not been watching so carefully. “Is that so?” She reached for the scissors again. “What has he done this time? Or not done, I should say.”

“He was supposed to take care of two very important things for me.”

“What things?”

“Taking care of a certain problem. And then finding something important for me.”

She looked down at the clothing. Avoiding his gaze. “And he failed, I take it?”

The tiny thread of suspicion in his gut expanded, even as his brain refused to connect the dots his subconscious laid out for him. It was impossible. She didn’t even know about Oceane. He was so run down and sleep deprived, he was becoming paranoid. “Yes.” Holy hell, his heart was thudding, an awful tension forming in his chest.

“Well, I’m sure it will all work out.” She looked up at him through her lashes, flashed him a smile that seemed a little forced. “It always does.” She set the scissors back down and gathered her clothes before turning and walking away.

Manny stared at her retreating back with hot, unblinking eyes. “Elena.”

She stopped, cast him a weary look over her shoulder. Or was it wary? “What?”

His hands curled around the edge of the countertop. “Tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

She gave a frustrated sigh. “Manny, it’s been a long day and I’m in no mood for cryptic riddles. I’m going upstairs.”

Oh no you’re not.He stepped around the island, stopped to face her without a barrier between them. “Do you know what’s happened?” he demanded, testing his suspicion, unable to control the anger bubbling beneath the surface.

For a long moment she didn’t answer him. Then something shifted. Almost as if she’d been waiting for him to ask it. She lifted her chin and raised a dark, perfectly-groomed eyebrow. “And if I did?”

It felt like someone had kicked him in the diaphragm.

For a second he couldn’t answer, the shock and pain sucking all the air from his lungs. “Did you do it?” he whispered in horror, unable to accept the truth that was staring him right in the face. “Did you?”

The haughty edge to her expression melted away. Her face twisted into a mask of pain and hatred, the look in her eyes sending a cold chill racing down his spine. “Yes,” she hissed, eyes shooting sparks at him.

His eyes bulged. “You ordered the attack?” How? How was that even possible?

“You’re damn right I did,” she shouted, indignant as she threw her new clothes onto the tile floor and spun to face him, thrusting an accusing finger at him. “You think you could humiliate me like that and get away with it? Keep your whore and your precious bastard tucked away for twenty-four years in a luxury estate paid for withourmoney? You didn’t think I’d find out someday? Well I did, you lying piece of shit. And so I did what any woman in my position would do. I took care of it.”

Manny didn’t think. He reacted. Before he knew what he was doing, he had his wife by the throat, pinning her to the kitchen wall, his entire body vibrating with fury. “You bitch,” he snarled, his breathing choppy. He was out of control, unable to rein the rage in.

Elena choked and stared up at him, her dark eyes wide with fear…and loathing. “You betrayed me,” she shrieked in his face, clawing at his hands. “You betrayed everything we have together, everything! Why? All because she could give you a child and I couldn’t?” Her eyes filled with tears as he squeezed harder.

“Manuel.”

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