Page 2 of Dear John

And Cash was getting awfully fucking close to that line.

I was just about to walk out when an explosion tore through the house, ripping out an entire wall and sending us all diving for cover. The fire burned out in just a minute, barely leaving anything in its path. The tiniest scrap of paper floated down in front of me, a small sizzle of fire going out as soon as it hit the tile. I stood and brushed the ash from my clothes, glancing around to see if anyone was injured.

Then IRIS stepped out from behind a wall that appeared to have another room behind it. He held his arms wide and grinned. “I found the hidden room. Not bad, huh?”

Cash glared at him. “I fucking said no fireworks.”

IRIS frowned at him, attempting to look properly chastised. “Oops-a-daisy.”

Lights flickeredin the distance as the firetrucks pulled away. The op hadn’t gone exactly as planned, but nothing ever did when IRIS was involved. I finished packing our equipment, then tossed it in the trunk of our minivan and hit the button to close the door. When I turned, Cash was waiting for me.

“Something you need?” I asked, shoving past him.

He grabbed my arm, halting me in my tracks. “Are we going to discuss this?”

“You mean, how you manipulated me to get what you wanted?”

His jaw clenched, but that was the only sign my words had any effect on him. Then he shrugged like Rafe would, completely dismissing his part in the whole debacle. “You only did it because you wanted to. I couldn’t make you take the job with your father.”

“The senator,” I corrected.

“You said you wanted to do it to help me. We’re family. That’s what you said.”

I stared at him, trying to find the man he once was. A member of myfamilywho would do anything for me. The man who went to great lengths to save the woman he loved. But instead, all I found was a replica of his brother.

Cold.

Unfeeling.

Calculating.

He wasn’t the man I knew, but I couldn’t blame him for that either. He was struggling to survive, struggling to live. I wasn’t sure how I would have reacted if I were in his position—if I’d had to kill my twin brother.

But that still didn’t excuse the way he used me. “Let’s get one thing straight, Cash. If you need me to do something, you fucking ask me. Be upfront with me. I can respect that. What I can’t fucking respect is you knowing what you’re sending me into and not fucking warning me.”

“You survived just fine,” he retorted.

I gritted my teeth, promising myself I wouldn’t fucking punch him in the face. “We all have our demons, Cash. The difference is, I would never use yours against you.”

I thought I saw just a flicker of regret in his eyes, but it was quickly washed away as he stepped toward me. “I will do whatever I have to do to bring down these fuckers. I won’t let anything get in my way.”

I gripped his shoulder tightly, leaning in close. “It’s good to know that I’m expendable. At least now I’ll be able to see the blade coming as you stab me in the back.”

I walked away from him, joining Red and Eli. They watched me cautiously, their eyes flicking to Cash. But when I didn’t explain, they took it for exactly what this was.

A gigantic fucking fissure splitting the company in two. We were either on Cash’s side, or we were his enemy. I hadn’t quite thought how this was going to play out yet, but I knew whatever fucking happened, it wouldn’t be pretty.

2

ISABELLE

The smellof lavender dragged me out of my staring contest with the wall. Honestly, I wasn’t sure who won at this point, and sadly, this wasn’t the first time in my life I’d used an inanimate object as entertainment. Over the last thirteen years, I relied heavily on “things” to bring me comfort. Having no friends would do that to a woman.

I ran my fingers over the comforter, smiling as it brought back memories from the island. The ocean breeze whispering over my skin first thing in the morning was something I would never forget. Now…I was surrounded by luxury, but it was nothing like the island. I missed my home. I missed my husband. Handsome, with an amazing body, it was like a giant hole gaped in my chest where he used to be.

They told me he was dead. Ebarardo Zavala ceased to exist for anyone but me. I still remembered the way he held me in his arms, the warmth and strength that surrounded me at all times. And no one around here understood why I missed him so much. They said I had Stockholm Syndrome, but they had no idea what they were talking about. They didn’t understand the comfort and security my husband gave me.

I didn’t remember much from the hospital, but my mother tried telling me I was afraid of Ebarardo. The idea was laughable. Yes, there were strict guidelines I had to follow around him, but that wasn’t the same as fear. I knew what I had to do to keep him happy. There was nothing wrong with that.