Page 75 of The Question of Us
“Did I say you could talk?” Marty followed the strike with an almost tender ruffle of Lee’s hair and a slimy grin that made me wanna gouge his fucking eyes out. “Or do I need to remind you how we do things here?”
Anger tinged with fear flashed in Lee’s eyes and he shut his mouth.
“Aw, look, youdoremember.” Marty patted Lee’s cheek, then took a seat at the far end of the couch and casually laid his hand on Gazza’s thigh like he had any right to. If steam wasn’t coming out my ears, I’d have been amazed.
Marty must’ve seen something in my face because his frown turned into a smirk, and I wanted to slap it off his stupid face. The smile broadened like he’d read my mind and he called out to the man in the hallway. “Hey, Jack.”
The door creaked open. “Yes, Boss.”
“Send someone to check where our birthday boy took young Aaron. Apologise and explain that an intermission is necessary while we sort this mess out.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The door closed and Marty turned his cool eyes on Lee. “Don’t say I never do anything for you.”
Freddie returned through the study and closed the door. “They’ll let me know what they find.”
Marty nodded and Freddie crossed to the far side of the billiard table where he watched as he talked quietly on his phone.
Marty strolled casually to the bar like he didn’t have a care in the world and poured himself a glass of whisky. That disconcerting calmness and surety he projected was fucking with my head. Like I was missing something. Like I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. With his gaze fixed on me, Marty took a long swallow of whisky.
Refusing to be intimidated, I tipped my head toward the couch. “What’s wrong with him?”
Marty said nothing for a minute, those cool eyes scrutinising me like we were playing some dangerous game of chicken. “A guest who can’t hold his liquor,” he eventually answered, almost fondly. “For some reason, it occurred to me that you two might know each other.”
I carefully schooled my expression and shook my head. “Why on earth would I know him? I don’t even live in this country.”
Marty’s eyes narrowed sceptically and his gaze swept the three of us. “Funny how no one appears to know anybody else, and yet it’s been a surprisingly eventful night. A suspicious person might be excused for thinking it’s beentooeventful to dismiss as simple coincidence. All of which leaves me in a bit of a conundrum.”
Lee glanced my way and I caught the warning in those cool blue eyes. Not that I needed it. I knew all too well the shitload of trouble we were in. If I needed any reminder, the fact that my face ached like a motherfucker would do.
Marty’s fingers drummed on the back of Gazza’s thigh, the sound drawing my attention as it was meant to. It was possessive and dismissive at the same time, a challenge I had to ignore. “So, Mister Fisher, now that you’re here, what are we going to do with you? Your little team was involved in that regrettable Auckland business, and you’re currently cosy with Madigan Church, I understand.” He turned a steely eye on Lee. “The same man who saw you on that boat, my heart.”
Lee’s expression remained neutral. “He might’ve seen me, but I never saw him and I never spoke to him. I told you that. And I’ve never seenthisman in my life either.”
“Mmm.” Marty looked unconvinced. “That’s a lot of nevers.” He eyed me up and down. “So why exactly are you here, Mister Fisher? Did my sweet boy get in contact with you?”
A number of responses circled my brain, but I figured he knew the truth already and a lie would simply give him an excuse to have another go at me. Not a smart play when I really needed to stay on my game. With Gazza out of action, it was up to me to get us out of there. And for that, I needed to be able to walk at the very least.
“No, he didn’t make contact,” I said firmly. That part was true, at least. “But I wanted to see if he was all right. That he came back voluntarily. You can’t blame me for that. The police might’ve bought your story and his, but like you said, Mads saw Lee on that boat, and he wasn’t there of his own free will. So, I came over to talk to him and find out the truth.”
Lee closed his eyes for a long minute like he couldn’t believe this was happening. I had no doubt he blamed us for the mess, and he had every right to. If we hadn’t pushed things, he and his brother would still be safe. But wait a minute. That wasn’t true. Aaron had been in danger before I’d even been caught. Staying away wouldn’t have stopped that. In fact, we might even have saved his brother, for now, at least.
“Gray,” Marty corrected my use of Lee’s new name. “Not Lee.”
I shrugged. “Fine. Gray. Anyway, when I heard there was a party planned for tonight, I decided to crash it and see if I could talk toGrayon his own.”
Marty’s eyes snapped to Lee who sat statue-like in his chair, his steely gaze glued to my face. “Anddidyou? Talk to Gray?”
“No,” I answered quickly. “I was discovered before I could get to him.”
Marty faced me again. “So you came to rescue my love. How very... gallant of you. And what about your boyfriend? Where is he? You two seemed glued to each other’s sides.”
Fear fisted in my chest and I knew I needed to be very, very careful how I answered. “Madigan is still in New Zealand.”
Marty cocked an eyebrow. “Forgive me for not taking your word about that.”
“It’s the truth,” I insisted. “He’s still recovering from the kidnapping, thanks to your men. PTSD and all that. But he was worried about Lee, so I said I’d come over and check.”
