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want that son of bitch locked up with the key thrown away. It’ll take her testimony to do that.”
    “You’ve never told me about it.”
    And I don’t plan to. “I can’t. L doesn’t want anyone to know what he did to her.” She drops the soup bowl in the sink, shattering it, before she turns to me, looking sickened. “He didn’t, Mum. I stopped him in time. But another minute and I don’t think the outcome would’ve been the same.”
    She reaches for the dish towel and dries her hands before walking to me. “I had no idea.”
    “Don’t say anything to Laurelyn.”
    “I wouldn’t, son.” She holds my face with her hands. “You’ve done a lot of things to make me proud but never more so than when you took Laurelyn as your wife. As her husband, it’s your job to love her.” She’s unmoving as her eyes stare into mine. “She’s one of us now and we protect our own … at any cost.”
    I nod in agreement with my mum. “With every heartbeat I have left, I will keep her safe.”
    I hear the echo of Laurelyn’s phone and I recognize her mum’s ringtone. “Jolie’s calling, I’m sure to wish Laurelyn a merry Christmas.”
    “Good. Laurelyn needs her mother to be a presence in her life, even if from a distance.”

It’s taken several days for me to feel as though I’ve returned to the land of the living but I’m back. I hope I’m ready for the party scene because Daniel is driving us to Evan and Emma’s house for their New Year’s shindig. It’s not a family party, meaning I’ll be meeting Jack Henry’s friends, so my stomach is fluttering a mile a minute.
    “You’re quiet, love.”
    I consider saying nothing but can’t think of a good reason to keep it from him. “I’m your wife and I’ve yet to meet your friends, so I can’t help but feel nervous about meeting your inner circle.”
    Jack Henry had no intention of introducing me to the people in his life when we began our companionship. Meeting his parents and siblings wasn’t supposed to happen but even after we abandoned our original agreement, he didn’t take me around his friends. He still hasn’t, and I admit I’m troubled by this.
    Our wedding was small with only family in attendance. I’d like to think that was because he didn’t want me to feel bad about a huge crowd on his side when I had only four family members and a single friend, but the insecure person trapped inside me wonders if there’s more to it than that.
    “The people attending this party aren’t my mates. They’re Evan and Emma’s, so we’re acquaintances at best.”
    “Oh.” So I still won’t meet those he considers his buddies. “Why haven’t I met your friends?”
    He’s grinning as he leans over to kiss my cheek. “I have none worthy of your company.”
    He’s avoiding the question. “That’s not an answer.”
    “I’m not hiding you from them, if that’s what’s on your mind.” His arm is around me and I lean into him. He squeezes me closer and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “Or maybe I am. The whole bunch of them are self-proclaimed manwhores so I’d do well to keep you from them forever.”
    A manwhore, huh? Sort of sounds like someone I used to know.
    “I assure you you’re not missing anything, but I can have Mum invite a few to my birthday dinner next Saturday night if it’s what you want.”
    That’s right. My man has a birthday coming in thirteen days. Thirty-one. He sees age as a countdown but I don’t. That’s no way to think of life and I have to change his mindset. I also have to come up with a gift for him—a perfect one.
    We arrive at my brother and sister-in-law’s and the driveway is full of expensive cars. “Looks like they invited a lot of people.” And it looks like some rich ones, which surprises me. I guess I didn’t realize Evan and Emma rubbed elbows with a wealthy crowd.
    “Perfect.” The sarcasm is thick in his voice. “You should probably be prepared to be passed around. If you tire of