Until Cobi (Until Him 3)

“Where are you?” Cobi barks into my ear before I even get a chance to say hello.

“At the office. Why? What’s going on?” Worry that something happened to someone in his family makes me feel nauseous.

“Fuck,” he clips, and I feel his anger like a physical touch even through the phone.

“What happened? Is everyone okay?”

“Are you alone?”

My heart rate spikes at his question, and I look out into the main office through the glass windows, seeing it’s still empty. Or at least I think it is. Marian’s door is closed and her blinds are pulled, and I can’t see into the kitchen.

“I think so, but I can’t see into the kitchen or Marian’s office,” I say, and he repeats what I just told him. Why is he repeating what I just told him?

“Where in the office are you exactly?”

“I’m in my office.” My voice shakes.

“Do you have a closet or a bathroom in there?”

“Cobi, you’re freaking me out. What’s going on?” I whisper, my hands starting to tremble right along with my voice.

“I’ll explain in a second. Right now, I need you to answer my question.”

“No, no closet or bathroom.” I listen to him repeat what I just said again. What is going on?

“I want you to get under your desk and pull your chair in behind you once you’re under it.”

“Cobi—”

“Do it now, baby. It’s going to be okay, but I need you to listen to me.”

I squat down under my desk and pull in my chair. As soon as I’m fully sitting on the floor, I try to take a breath but realize I can’t.

“Breathe, just breathe. It’s going to be okay.” His soft words ease some of the tension in my lungs.

“Wh—s happ-ing,” I wheeze. I can hear sirens through the phone.

“My lieutenant got a call from the owner of Giving Hearts not long ago, along with paperwork proving that your boss Marian has been going into clients’ accounts and changing their deposit information to her own.” Well, that answers how she’s been getting the money. My eyes close. “We’re on our way now to arrest her.” Oh my God. “Just stay put. We have no reason to believe she’s armed, but I’m not taking any chances.”

Relief makes it easier to breathe and I take a few much-needed breaths.

“I don’t think she’s here,” I state quietly. “Her car wasn’t in the lot when I got back from my clients house, and the building was locked. I used my key to get in.”

“That’s good, baby, but don’t move from where you are,” he says, just as I hear a familiar voice in the outer office.

“Brie’s here.” I push the chair away without a thought and scramble out from under the desk. I can hear Cobi shout at me to stay put from my cell, but I ignore him and my phone when it falls from my hand as I run to where I see Brie disappearing into the kitchen.

“Hey.” She smiles at me, and I see she has her cell phone to her ear.

“Come on.” I grab her hand and catch her frown before I turn and start pulling her toward my office.

“Ken, I’m going to call you back. Something is going on with Hadley. Yeah, love you too.” She must hang up, because she forces me to stop. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Right now, I just need you to come get under my desk with me.”

“Hadley.” Her voice is filled with worry.

“Now, Brie.” I look up at her then spin when I hear the main office door open.

“You called Scott,” Marian states as the door shuts behind her.

“Marian.” I place myself in front of Brie and start pushing her back. “The police are on their way.”

“What?” Brie gasps from behind me.

“They aren’t on their way. They’re outside,” Marian turns the lock on the door. I look past her to the glass door, but I can’t see anything outside.

“If you know that, then what are you doing?” I question, watching her dig in her bag.

“I’m not sure yet. I do know I’m not going to jail though.” When her hand comes out, she’s holding a leather case shaped like a gun. I see it is a gun when she unhooks a clasp, releasing the pink revolver from its holder.

“So you’re going to shoot us?” My voice is filled with disbelief and fear.

Brie comes to my side and closes her hand around mine, saying quietly. “Marian, you need to put that away before you do something you’ll regret.”

“She should have just kept her nose where it belonged,” she snaps at Brie, and then glares at me.

“Marian, please.”

“Shut up, just shut up! I need to think.” She waves the gun at us, and Brie and I tighten our hold on each other.

“It cannot be that bad. Whatever you did can’t be worth hurting anyone,” Brie says calmly.