Stone Cold Fox (77)

If only Collin knew how much I was fascinated by the darkness in people, but I didn’t think I could reveal such a thing to him. I was already pushing the boundaries of the picture he held of me in his mind with this fervent outburst against Gale. I had to be methodical.

“And I’m happy to be that person for Collin.” Gale smiled.

“I bet you are,” I snarled at her. “This is really unethical, Gale. To gamble with Collin’s health just to—”

“This is why we didn’t want to tell you, Bea,” Gale said, maintaining composure in her voice, that put-upon voice, that sickening voice. “But it isn’t about you. It’s about Collin. Can you understand that?”

How could Collin let this woman speak to me like that in our own home right in front of him? It was infuriating. I had had enough. Yes, it would have been fun to toy with Gale Wallace-Leicester even further, using Collin to dismiss her because of something I plotted and planned and devised and executed. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I’d have to take the easy route. The window was right there. But if I opened it, would it go my way? It had to. At least then I would know for sure where I stood with Collin.

“Collin, I am your wife, and I cannot even explain to you how betrayed I feel,” I said to him, completely ignoring Gale, tears filling my eyes. Guilt trips could work wonders in a man like Collin. I learned that from our last row post-honeymoon. “If this marriage is going to work, we need to be able to trust each other. Tell each other the truth.”

“Oh, Bea, please don’t cry.” He came closer to me. It was working. “You’re right.”

“This thing between you and Gale cannot continue. I won’t stand for it. It’s not good for you. It’s not good for us.”

Gale scoffed, asking the question I knew Collin would not, falling right into my trap. “Are you giving him an ultimatum? Collin, I—”

“Gale, please,” he said. The dark circles under his eyes. The extra pounds around his midsection. The pathetic look on his face. He’d do anything to keep me. I needed to finish her.

“Yes,” I said. “You need to see a real doctor and you need to stop seeing Gale for whatever these quack sessions are. It all needs to stop.”

“Okay,” he agreed, and very fast. Gale’s heart had been pierced, her eyes frantic, blinking fast.

“Fine,” she said. “I can make a good recommendation and—”

“Collin,” I said to my husband, not even looking at Gale. “I don’t mean just the sessions. I mean all of it. All contact with her.”

Gale gasped dramatically. “We’ve been friends for our entire lives, Bea, and you come waltzing in—”

“Gale!” Collin shouted. She shut her mouth.

“I’m serious, Collin. It’s her or me and you have to decide right now.”

“Collin!” Gale was beside herself. She couldn’t move. She was frozen.

Because she knew what was coming.

“It’s you,” Collin said to me, no hesitation, forlorn but accepting his fate. It was the right thing to do. I was the one he wanted. I had the power.

“Collin, you can’t be serious! You’re giving everything up for a girl like—”

“A girl like what?” he asked, challenging her to say it to his face.

“You’ll see,” she growled. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Good-bye, Gale,” I said to her, opening our door, wishing I could kick her square in the ass on her way out.

“I’m sorry, Gale,” Collin said, meaning it, with that sweet familial tone he reserved just for her. But Gale could no longer speak. She couldn’t move.

I cleared my throat aggressively. “We’re both asking you to leave now.”

Gale looked to Collin once more, desperately trying to connect with him, meet his eye, willing him to say something, but he wouldn’t look at her, much less speak to her. His focus was entirely on me. As it should be.

When Gale crossed the threshold, my hand on the door, she stared at me before leaving. A full five seconds. Enormous evil in her eye, possessing a callousness I had yet to see from her. She was no longer having fun. Neither was I. Gale smirked upon leaving, a small snort in my direction. A feeling of disquiet fell over me. Those eyes. Her eyes.

They reminded me of Mother.





CHAPTER


    17



I RECEIVED A phone call from Syl first thing in the morning at the office. Odd timing. Perhaps Collin wasn’t handling the previous night’s events very well. Even though he had done exactly as I asked, effectively banishing Gale from our home, I worried about the potential repercussions that could manifest in my marriage. My husband and I hadn’t said very much to each other for the remainder of that evening after Gale left. Sharing dinner and tears and promises that he would seek help using the appropriate channels. Further, I wondered how she would retaliate. I knew she would. I just didn’t know how. What other moves did she have to make? She could be desperate. And a desperate woman knows no bounds.

“Do you have lunch free today?” Syl asked me, a waver in her voice. Couldn’t that have been a text?

“Is everything all right? You sound upset. Is Collin okay?”