Sing

CHAPTER 38.

MONICA

I had to see him once again before I did this thing and they dragged me away. Just put my fingers on his lips before I faced what I had to face. I wasn’t going to tell him what I was doing, because he’d be an accessory if he didn’t stop me, and suicidal if he did. I was going to stand with him clean, as his mate, if even for an hour.

I got out of the elevator on Jonathan’s floor, and made a right instead of a left, to check the placement of the stairwell closest to Patalano’s room. I stopped at the turn as if a brick wall was in my way.

Margie and Will Santon stood in a corner, too close for friendship, too far for intimacy, hands up, Margie pointing and accusing, Will’s in supplication. Their words were inaudible, but their faces shouted rage, hurt, and frustration. I’d have to check the placement of the stairs on the little map by the elevator, because I wasn’t just strolling past them. I turned and walked away.

I got two steps before I felt a hand on my arm. Margie slowed me down. She looked drawn and upset, and though I didn’t know her that well, I was sure she didn’t want me to ask her what was going on with Will.

“I was just—“ I started to explain exactly nothing, and was grateful for her interruption.

“Forget it.”

“Where have you been?”

“This family’s a full-time fucking job. Congratulations, by the way. Well done. One less pre-nup to argue over.”

“It didn’t even occur to me.”

“Him either, I’m sure. But I want to tell you, if he doesn’t make it through tonight, I have your back. I’ll do what my brother wanted.”

“He’s not dead yet.”

She grabbed me by the shoulders and put her eyes square with mine, as if she wanted to tell me something; something critical and painful, but instead she threw her arms around me and held me so tightly I thought my ribs would break.

“I envy you,” she said. “You know that?”

“If something goes bad,” I said into her ear, “like if I do something wrong, would you represent me? No matter what?”

She pushed me away, holding me by the shoulders. “What are you talking about?”

“Stuff. Life. Say yes.”

“Fine.” I caught Will out of the corner of my eye, and her gaze flicked to him, then back to me. “Go see him. I’ll be there in a minute.”