Carter

I’m catching up on my emails when my cellphone pings. It’s a textual content from Gabby, one she’s despatched to each Dominic and me.

‘Heard from Sammy. There’s a poker recreation tonight. I’m in! Simply realized I’ve no clue what Ed appears like. Do you will have an image?’

My coronary heart leaps. She’s in. She’ll be enjoying poker with Ed Wagner tonight. She’ll be capable of inform if he’s consuming. If he appears excessive. She would possibly even be capable of speak to him and produce the subject round to Noah, and the way Ed’s managing to handle his son after so a few years of indifference.

I ought to be ecstatic.

As an alternative, there’s a hole pit in my abdomen.

I pull up Ed’s reserving picture, the one taken when he’d been arrested, and ship that to Gabby. Then I stare at my display, making an attempt to work by way of my feelings.

On Tuesday—simply two days in the past—I’d been the one to broach the concept of Gabby spying on Ed Wagner. I’d been ready to ship her into the underground poker site that Denton Mitchell runs. Though Mitchell loathes Dominic and me.

I’d assured myself that Gabby could be in no hazard. No person knew that Gabby was related to Dominic and me, and even when Mitchell by some means occurred to search out out, he wasn’t a complete idiot. Hurting Gabby would convey a world of hassle on his head.

I’d informed myself that the chance was value it. I needed to do one thing to tip the custody battle in my favor. This was my finest likelihood of catching Ed Wagner fucking up. Certain, Choose Bass appeared favorably disposed towards Ed for the time being, however would she take the identical view if he had been consuming once more?

That was Tuesday. In the present day, my nerves prickle with unease, and all my justifications appear hole. And I do know what’s totally different. It’s Gabriella.

The previous couple of months have been robust. Actually robust. Custody hearings, household courtroom, the fixed ever-present dread of shedding Noah. For years after Chloe’s loss of life, I’d have nightmares about strolling into her home and discovering her physique. I believed I’d handled them, however when Ed had reentered my life, he’d introduced these horrific desires again with him. I’ve woken up far too many occasions, drenched with sweat, the picture of Noah’s lifeless physique overlaid on Chloe’s, each victims of Ed’s neglect. The desires have been far too vivid, far too actual.

And so, whereas I’ve considered Gabby typically this 12 months, I believed I used to be utilizing the reminiscences of our one-night stand as a bulwark. A nice fantasy, and little else. I assume, on some degree, I’d thought that my reminiscences of her couldn’t be actual. Nobody could possibly be that unforgettable.

However then, final night time occurred.

It was sizzling. So ridiculously, impossibly sizzling. Nevertheless it had additionally felt like extra than simply intercourse. I’d needed to be with Gabriella. I hadn’t favored sneaking round, and I actually hadn’t favored the concept of pretending to not know her. When Dominic had instructed introducing her to his fellow casino-owners, I’d inwardly cheered. The logical a part of my mind is aware of she’s solely right here for a couple of weeks, however that hadn’t modified the best way I felt.

You possibly can’t let your resolve waver. You possibly can’t afford to get hooked up. You recognize that.

The sport is on. Gabriella wants cash. I ship her one other textual content, telling her I’ll meet her simply earlier than she heads out. Dominic calls me an immediate later. “I don’t like this,” he says with out preamble.

Neither do I. Not that I can inform him that. My finest buddy has made his emotions clear; he desires me to put aside this feud with Ed and hammer out a joint custody association.

“Do you suppose Gabriella is in peril?”

He hesitates for an immediate. “No,” he admits reluctantly. “If Mitchell finds out Gabriella is with us, he’ll kick her out.” He takes in a deep breath. “It nonetheless doesn’t sit properly with me. Not after final night time…” His voice trails off.

Yeah. I do know. It appears like I’m utilizing Gabriella to advance my very own agenda, and regardless that I’ve been upfront along with her, I nonetheless don’t prefer it. All the things felt clear on Tuesday, and now, I really feel waist-deep in a swamp of doubt, struggling to know the suitable factor to do.

There’s a protracted pause, and neither of us says something. Lastly, he clears his throat. “Did you will have an opportunity to speak to the mediator Megan really useful?”

I’d crumpled up her enterprise card and thrown it within the trash. “To what finish?” I demand. “Ed’s profitable, Dominic. He’s bought sole custody of Noah. I’m allowed one cellphone name with my nephew day-after-day, and that’s it. Why the fuck would Ed wish to pursue joint custody?”

“For a similar purpose you must,” he replies evenly. “As a result of it’s in Noah’s finest pursuits for his surviving household to get alongside.”

Disgrace envelops me. Would Ed be curious about negotiating? I don’t know. If I had been in his sneakers, after the roadblocks I’ve thrown his method, I don’t suppose I’d be capable of. “If Gabriella finds one thing for me to make use of, possibly it’ll give me leverage in a custody battle.”

“Perhaps you must cease seeing it as a battle,” he snaps, after which he hangs up on me.

I’ve made Dominic, who usually has the endurance of a saint, lose his mood.

Fucking good.

Gabriella opensthe envelope I hand her within the elevator. Inside, there’s a thick wad of hundred-dollar payments. “How a lot cash is right here?”

“Ten grand,” I reply. “Needs to be sufficient to maintain you within the recreation for a couple of hours. The winnings are yours, after all.”

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