Chapter 89

I had to stifle a gasp as Ethan said Andrew’s name on the phone. What sort of gall did that man have to call Ethan at his place of work? Was he calling to brag? To let us know he was sending another group of rogue wolves our way?

I got as close as I could to the receiver to listen, my head was touching Ethan’s as I did my best to make sense of what Andrew was saying on the other end of the phone.

Ethan shot me a semi-amused look and pressed a button on the phone to put it on speaker. I smiled at him appreciatively and listened to what Andrew was furiously saying.

“And you think you can just behave this way because you are nothing more than a petulant child in the business world. I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been alive, Ethan, do not mess with me.” Andrew spat out. His words were crisp over the speaker, metallic and angry.

I nervously looked at Ethan, but he looked completely unbothered by the call.

“What is the purpose of your call again, Andrew?” Ethan asked, leaning back in his desk chair and crossing his arms over his chest.

“You know what I’m talking about, don’t play dumb. It’s beneath both of us,” Andrew replied. “Stop interfering with my business affairs or you will regret it. I will make sure of that.”

My eyes were wide at the vague threats. Ethan, on the other hand, was nodding along with pursed lips.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ethan shrugged, inspecting the wedding band on his finger. “As far as I know, I am doing what is in the best interest of my own company. If it interferes with your business then I apologize, but there’s not much I can do to change that.”

Andrew’s breathing got heavier, angrier.

“Cut the crap Ethan. Butt out of my business or I will make your life hell.” Andrew seethed.

That’s when Ethan perked up, anger dancing across his face, “And what will you do? Will you send rogue wolves to kidnap my wife on a beach? Will you try to kill her in a hit and run? Will you go after me exclusively for once instead of behaving like a coward?”

Andrew’s voice faltered on the line. He suddenly got very quiet, eerily quiet.

“What are you accusing me of?” His voice was calmer then, more diplomatic.

“You know what I’m referencing,” Ethan growled. “If you think you are such a big and bad man, come to a meeting here tomorrow. Just the two of us. I’m sure we could settle a few things.”

Andrew paused, there was no sound as he contemplated the offer. Ultimately, he declined.

“No, I am busy tomorrow.” He said.

Ethan pursed his lips and nodded, mockingly, “Yes of course, I see how it is.”

Ethan hung up the phone and shook his head. His anger had dissipated, but there was still a worried crease in his forehead as he put his head in his hands.

I came up behind him, rubbing his shoulders to offer some release. The tension he was holding made his shoulders feel hard as rocks. I did my best to soothe what I could. Ethan groaned in satisfaction, rolling his head to the side to pop his neck.

“Are you ready to go home?” I asked, pressing a kiss to his temple.

Ethan opened his eyes, looking up at me as I stood behind him.

“I have more work I need to do.” He replied, sounding more tired and exhausted than I’d ever heard him before.

For the last week, our work days had lasted from seven in the morning until nearly ten at night. Luckily for me, there was a couch in Ethan’s office where I could rest during the times I had nothing to do. Ethan, though, never rested. He was working for the entirety of those fifteen hours.

He had no relief, and his workers had no relief from him. He’d been working everyone nonstop, trying to get as much done as possible.

He was, as my mother would say, burning the candle at both ends. Eventually, he would completely burn himself out. I realized, if he wouldn’t leave for his own health, maybe he’d leave for mine.

“I’m tired, Ethan,” I sighed, drooping my head forward to rest on his shoulder. “I need to sleep or I will wither away into insanity.”

Ethan shook his head, a small laugh erupting from his lips.

“Is that how it works?” He teased, stroking my hair and getting ready to stand up.

“It is, and I don’t want to put you through something so terrible,” I lifted my head up to look back at him.

“Oh well if that’s the case,” Ethan pushed himself out of the chair and enveloped me in a hug, “Let’s get you home.”

I grinned into his chest, looking forward to sharing a bed instead of napping on an office couch.

Ethan and I drove home. He played the radio loudly to keep himself awake, and I soaked in the view of the passing streetlamps and the rock music that blasted from the car speakers.

It was nice. It all felt normal, for once.

Ethan and I never had a normal relationship, but spending every day together for the last little while revealed a lot of silly habits to me that Ethan had.

He liked to chew on the straw of his drinks when he was deep in thought. He sighed when he had to explain something that he thought was simple to another worker, but he never made them feel bad for not knowing. He never wore his suit jacket unless it was absolutely necessary in the office.

It was nice to know things about him.

When we pulled into the driveway, a sharp gasp fell from my lips as I looked up at the porch.

The lights to our bedrooms were on - I could see the lights shining through the upstairs windows, and the front door was slightly ajar. The foyer lights, however, were not lit.

“Ethan?” I turned to look at him, my body involuntarily shaking as I thought about what Andrew had said on the phone.

Ethan did not end things with him cordially. Maybe he was angrier than we both thought. Obviously, he was willing to do crazy things.

Ethan’s face was stone and calm.

“I need to go check who is in there,” He looked me in the eyes, grim and serious.

“What if-” I didn’t even want to finish the thought. What if something happened to him? What if there were still people in the house?

“I want you to stay behind me, okay?” He asked as we got out of the car. I didn’t want to leave the safety of the vehicle, but Ethan was worried something would happen if I remained in there.

“Okay.” I agreed, holding on to the back of his shirt to keep myself connected to him. The physical touch was a small comfort in the terrifying situation.

“Should we call the bodyguards?” I asked. Ethan sent them home by nine at night usually. For some reason, that seemed foolish now.

“No,” Ethan whispered as he pushed the front door open slightly. “We need to confront this now.”

As we entered the house, I choked back a terrified scream as we saw two figures coming down the hallway towards us.