l P

air, heavy and sharp

led away, her eyes wide, then turned to me, he

This was Emerson. My wife.

She must be tired, I thought. Or maybe she was just testing me. She'd

mean it.

in, her eyes bright, after a particularly dangerous jump. She loved me. I knew she did. That was the only reason she'd a

soothing the sudden unease that had settled in

ice. "You're clearly upset. Go take a warm b

llow look in her eyes. Then, without

y, going over some reports, when m

"I'm so sorry, but Mrs. Flynn's bi

rrowed. "Ca

everything was revoked la

base jumping event for months. It was her passion project, her bigge

way she'd meticulously planned

n't be a c

rough a magazine. "Alicia," I said, my voice sharper than intended.

. I heard it was quite a dangerous stunt she was planning." She paused, her eyes gl

I merely advised caution." My mind raced. "

thought, with all her wild ideas, it's probably best she stays grounded. She did mention something about

rowed. "She

ggested we combine it with my welcome home party. Si

me home party? That sounded exactly like something Emerson would do,

the words suddenly tasting bitter. "She's an

ross her face. "Axel, how can you say that? After

not a cliff dive!" I retort

nd then she was so mean to me last

n through a lot. Her family's ruin, her difficult marria

, trying to soothe her. "She's just.

'm sure she'll understand. A nice, quiet dinner, a chance to meet

word echoed

clear, cut through the tensi

ow dull and wounded. There were dark circles under them, and

xplanation. "I just thought it was safer. And you looked so

party and a networking event for your business contacts?

ought it would be nice for us to celebrate together. And Axel's busin

yes. Not anger, not even hurt. Just... a pr

e said, her voice steady. "With

an shut down any venue, pull any permit. You know th

d. "You never did." Tears streamed down her face, but she didn't try to wipe them away. She just let them fall. "This

g her cry. It made me feel... uncomfortab

began, reaching out for her. "

ou let me flirt with death. But you cancel my event because it might make Alicia 'fr

" I commanded, my pa

oice suddenly calm, chillingly so.

id, a new venom in her voice. "You're a leech. A parasi

ing her lips. "How can you say that? After eve

her head, a weary resignation settling over her face. "Fine. You

of all warmth. "I'm done, Axel. Do

ords, her tears, her accusation... they echoed in the silence. But it was the coldne