Page 72 of Saved By the Boss

That’s one of the reasons I kept putting off Jade. I didn’t want her to see me like that and let it change her perception of me. And I definitely didn’t want her to feel guilty. It wasn’t her fault that the tree fell on my car, but she was so worried about me. This was an experience I needed to go through alone so I could maintain my good reputation.

A month later, I’m finally in a place where I can move without wincing every second. I’m still limping slightly, and the pain lingers, a dull ache that flares up when I push myself too hard. But I’ve always been good at gritting my teeth and powering through. Now, at least, the fracture seems to be almost healed.

I glance around my cabin, at the monitors running code and the small mess of dishes in the sink. I’ll need to clean up before Jade comes over, but I’m glad she’s finally coming. I feel a lot more comfortable in my cabin than out in the town somewhere.

If only Jade and I had gotten snowed in here. Maybe it wouldn’t have been nearly as romantic, but at least we would have had power. With my job, I have to make sure that the electricity runs at all times, come hell or high water. We could have popped popcorn and watched cheesy movies together. Of course, that’s still a possibility for our date. As strange as it may seem, I’m a little nervous about seeing her again, but also incredibly excited. I’ve missed her, and I’ve been eager to see if our connection is still strong outside of a disaster.

I glance down at my phone, the screen lighting up in my hand. It’s one of those cheap burner phones, the third one I’ve gone through in the past two years. Every few months, I swap out phones and networks, just to be safe. Some would probably accuse me of paranoia, but I could never accurately describeto them just how dangerous my family is. If anyone knows anything about mafia life, its that you never truly escape.

I’ve taken many precautions to keep my brother from finding me over the last few years. He’s been locked up, but he’s still got guys on the outside doing his work for him. He wasn’t exactly thrilled when I told him I wanted nothing to do with the family business and fucked off to the middle of nowhere. I haven’t spoken to him in five years, but my hair still stands at end when I hear from someone from my old life. Patrick could find me at any time and decide he wants me to come home.

I’m reminded that no matter how many precautions I take, it’s impossible to stay completely off the radar. Patrick may not have the same computer skills that I do, but he knows people. The number on my phone screen is one I’d recognize anywhere, even though it isn’t saved.

Hey, little brother. I’m out. Need to talk. Let’s meet up.

And there it is. My worst fears realized. The words feel heavier than they should, like they’re pressing down on my chest. I stare at the screen for a long moment, my mind racing. How? How the hell did he get out? Last I heard, he still had another five years left on his sentence.

I stand up from my computer screen, completely ignoring the pain in my ankle now, and begin to pace. The possibilities churn in my head, each one worse than the last. I know my brother. I know what he’s capable of, what he’s willing to do to get what he wants. And if he’s reaching out to me, it’s probably not because he’s feeling sentimental. He wants something. He always does.

My first instinct is to ignore it. I could just block the number. It’s not difficult to get another phone and set it up on anothernetwork. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. I could keep doing it forever if I have to. But I know better than that. Patrick is out now, so a little thing like me not answering the phone isn’t going to deter him. If I leave it too long, he’ll inevitably figure out where I am and just show up at my house.

The best thing I can possibly do is agree to talk to him, to find out what he wants.

Long time. I’m out of town. What’s up?

I throw the phone onto my couch and begin pacing again, anxiety winding through my shoulders and curling firmly in my stomach. I count to ten a few times, try to take some calming breaths. I hear my phone chime.

I pick it up hesitantly, reading and re-reading his text.

Not a problem. I’ll be in your neck of the woods. I could use some fresh mountain air. I could come by your place?

Fuck no,I want to scream. My fight or flight reaction kicks in, sending adrenaline coursing through my veins. I could just pack up everything and find another small town to hide in. He’d probably just find me there too. The fucker.

Besides, I couldn’t leave Jade. Even though I haven’t seen her in nearly a month, I really think this could be something. I’d never let her be put in harm’s way, though. I don’t want her and Patrick in the same state, let alone the same city. After what happened to Cassidy, I can’t bear the idea of Jade being hurt.

I try to think of a safe, neutral ground, far enough away from here to keep her safe, but close enough that I can get the hell out of there and run home if need be. I look up some places in the surrounding counties and find the perfect compromise. I typeout the address and tell him he can meet me there in a few days.

Mario’s is a small, rundown place. It’s cash only, with booths that stick to your pants and a menu that hasn’t changed in twenty years. It’s exactly the kind of place Patrick would hate, which makes it perfect. It’s neutral ground. A public space. Somewhere I can keep my guard up and not feel exposed.

I hitsendbefore I can second-guess myself, then set the phone down on the counter. The cabin is quiet, the only sound the low hum of the generators outside. They’d held up fine during the storm, keeping the electricity running even when the grid went down. One of the perks of living out here, isolated from everything and everyone: I control my environment. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to bring Jade here for our date. My cabin is my comfort zone, my safe space. It’s the one place in the world where I feel like I have some measure of control.

And yet, tonight, it doesn’t feel as safe as it should. Not with the thought of facing Patrick’s impending visit hanging over me. It’s already putting a damper on my date with Jade, and I hate that. I hate that he’s ruined something that I was really looking forward to.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the unease. I decide to channel my nervous energy into something productive: spending the next couple of hours getting my place ready for my date.

It’s almost midnight when I finally collapse onto the couch, my leg stretched out in front of me, the fire crackling softly in the background. I grab my laptop from the coffee table, booting it up with a few quick keystrokes. Work has always been my go-to distraction, and tonight is no different. I spend another hour or so working on a project for a new client. It’s a hell of a lotbetter than losing my mind in wondering what my brother could possibly want.

Eventually, though, the rhythmic keystrokes and pages of code start to lull me into a deep sleep.

Jade is sitting next to me on the couch, looking worried. I try to tell her that it’s nothing to worry about, but she keeps screaming out in silent anguish, telling me that we’re both in danger.

Her face transforms, and I’m no longer sitting on my couch, but instead I’m back in Chicago. Cassidy grabs my keys off the kitchen table, teasing me because I never want her to drive my car. She tells me she’s more than capable, and I actually let her do it. I follow her out the door, teasing her as we go, but she turns to me and asks if I remembered my wallet. Fuck, of course I didn’t.

She laughs, telling me that I would lose my head if it weren’t screwed on. She’s right, of course. She’s turned the chaos of my life into order.

I turn back to the small house, running inside to grab my wallet. I find it on the entryway table and see myself in the mirror. But something is wrong. My reflection is looking back at me, but it’s me now, not me a few years ago. I’m screaming at myself.

“Stop her, save her,” my reflection screams over and over.

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