Page 55 of Morally Corrupt

"Do you know what time it is, Theo?" Marcel's voice comes through.

"We have a problem." Theo's voice is so severe but composed. I don't think I've ever seen him like this.

"I guessed," Marcel replies drily.

"You were right. We were attacked." There was a pause.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes. Three men. Latino," Theo says, and I add in my best attempt at seeming scared, "They… were… speaking… Spanish."

"Fuck. I didn't think they'd retaliate that quickly."

"Me neither."

"Are they dead?"

Theo gives me an odd look before answering in the affirmative.

"I'll take care of it." I quickly give Marcel the address of the lake house, and we hang up.

Theo doesn't talk to me for what seems like an eternity, driving into the night, until he suddenly pulls over on an abandoned road.

I will my tears to continue to spill, to continue to keep up my pretense.

Theo bangs his head on the steering wheel.

"Theo…?" I ask tentatively, but his voice when he replies scares me.

"Stop!"

We spend a few more minutes in silence. The only noises in the car are my sobs and Theo's harsh breathing.

"How?" he finally asks, lifting his head to look at me as if he's never seen me before. His eyes are steely and unyielding. It's a side of Theo I've never seen, and suddenly, I don't know what to do.

"You killed them," he states.

"They were going to kill you!" I yell at him, thinking that an emotional response is the expected one in this scenario. I've seen movies. I've seen how people react after such frights, and I hope that my impression convinces him.

"I heard them," I continue, my voice taking on a bleak note. "They were there to kill you." I grab his arm. "Oh, what have you done, Theo?" He's still looking at me as if weighing my words.

"How did you kill them?"

"My… pistol… you know the one Drew gave me."

"Tell me from the beginning," he demands, and I realize this is my chance to make him believe me.

"I got out of bed…" I start between silent sobs. "I thought I heard steps downstairs. But it couldn't be, right? Who could have been there? I suddenly got super afraid it was a thief or something. I didn't even think; I just went for the pocket pistol I always carry in my purse. You know the one… There were three of them. Oh Theo, when I heard what they were saying, how they were going to kill you… I just reacted. I aimed and prayed to God; I got them. But then one got away and… Oh, Theo, he almost shot you! I don't… I can't…" I start crying in earnest, and Theo takes me in his arms.

"Shush. It's okay. We're both okay and alive."

"Who were they, Theo? Who wants to kill you?"

"Just some bad people who don't approve of my policies," he says as if it's the most normal thing to just kill someone for disparate opinions. At that moment, I realize I don't know Theo at all.

"We're going to a hotel," he says, and I just nod. A while later, still on the road, he adds, "Never do that again. Don't you dare try to put yourself in front of a bullet for me? Am I clear?"

"Theo…"