“I don’t want you going in to work today,” he said calmly.
“What?” She whirled towards him. “What do you mean you don’t want me going to work? I have to.”
He shook his head. “It’s not safe.”
“Not safe? But I’ll be surrounded by people all day. Besides, we don’t know that I’m in any danger.”
“Abby, your brother is missing. Your house was torn up. You’ve been threatened. You’re also no longer paying off your brother’s debt to one of the most dangerous men in the state. I don’t care if you’re going to be surrounded by people all day or not. The only way I could assure myself of your safety was if I was to spend all day watching you and I can’t do that.”
“But I...I can’t just take the day off.”
“Sure you can, just call Gloria and tell her what’s going on. Wait, what do you mean I’m no longer paying it?”
“I mean, you’re not paying your brother’s debts to Markovich anymore.”
“But I have to.”
“Why?” He grabbed up their plates and took them to the dishwasher.
“I can do that.” She came up behind him. “You cooked. I should clean.”
“I got this, sweetheart. Why don’t you go call Gloria and tell her you won’t be in?”
“I can’t, Kent. I need the money. I can’t just stop paying the debt. Mr. Markovich will get angry.”
“Let him. I’m furious with him. It was never your debt to pay in the first place. He had no business taking money from you. I get that he doesn’t have any morals or scruples but his days of taking you for a ride are over. And so are the threats being made against you because of Max’s fuck ups. From now on, his shit doesn’t touch you.”
“That sounds great in theory, but—”
He turned to her and grabbed her lightly by the upper arms. “It’s not a theory, it’s reality. I promise you that. Now call Gloria, tell her you won’t be in.”
“Kent, she won’t like it.”
“I don’t care.”
“Kent! This is my job.”
Okay, he could see they n
eeded to have a chat about this. “Did you agree to be mine just a few hours ago?”
“Well, yes, about that...”
“Oh no, you’re not taking it back.”
She frowned at him. “I wasn’t going to take it back. I was just going to say that if you change your mind—”
“I’m not changing my mind, Abby.”
By now she had his shirt clutched in her hands. “But if you do—”
“Abby,” he growled.
“Because I know I’m not good enough for you, so if you do—”
“What did you just say to me?”
“That if you change your mind—”