Red Alert/Red Notice (The "Super Jerk" Prequel)

16 - Tell Tale Signs

^^Above, chapter title credit: Song by Bananarama.^^

{Raina}

Sometimes I feel like I'll never understand Geoff. He can be perfectly sweet to me sometimes, especially when he runs his hands and his lips over my skin. Or when he kisses my scars, telling me that no matter what, I'll always be beautiful to him. And then there's times like this morning, when he calls with no warning and tells me he won't be coming home. I've had to sleep in our bed alone before, but this time, it seems more empty than usual.

He gets home late the next night while I'm still awake, an old movie with low volume on the television. Cam's asleep in the crook of one arm, and Ettie's nestled herself under the other, pressed into my side with her head drooped on my shoulder. I'm dozing off myself, until I hear the door open softly and he comes in, his hair mussed and his shirt buttoned unevenly.

I sit up. "Geoff?" I whisper.

He puts a finger to his lips, and then in one movement he scoops up Ettie, looping her arms around his neck. That, I guess, is my cue to follow. I hold Cam close to my chest as I get up, making sure to not jostle him too much.

After we've put them both to bed, Geoff pulls me out into the hall and wraps his arms tightly around me. I don't ask why, because I can tell just by the tension in his muscles there's something wrong. So instead I slide my own around his back, as far as they'll go, and say nothing.

"God, Raina, I think I screwed up," he says after a while.

"What did you do?" I ask, keeping my tone neutral.

"I made a deal with Eckles. He's given me two weeks to think about it." He sighs, and I feel his chest rise and fall under my ear. "You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've found out."

"Wouldn't I?" I reach up, rubbing his shoulder. "Try me and see."

He explains everything: his conversation with Hugo, the accident, Pascal, Eckles, the merger, Ridley. Always Ridley. He has to let me go to do it, pacing up and down the hallway. I wish I hadn't told him he was on his own when it came to Ridley. If he's the one who took my best friend from me, I have as much of a reason to want to get back at him as Geoff does.

"So what will you do?" I ask when he's done, leaning against the wall and propping a foot on it.

"I don't know, that's the thing." Geoff stops pacing long enough to sigh, and rake a hand through his hair. "I don't trust Eckles, but I trust Ridley even less."

"But at least now you know Ridley officially burned another bridge." I sigh too.

"And Eckles was the only one who was willing to fund him." Geoff scuffs his foot on the floor. "So why would he even risk it?"

"You know Ridley. Any publicity is better than no publicity."

"But who could do this? What does Ridley have to gain by trying to kill his benefactor?" Geoff clutches at his head, like it hurts. "He's wrecking my head, Raina. Wrecking it."

"Geoff, come here." I see the tension in his arms, his neck, his shoulders. When he doesn't stop pacing, I have to say it firmer. "Come here, Geoff."

He does, standing directly in front of me. His chest hitches, in and out, and in the dim light of the hall it's hard to read his expression. I reach out and rub his shoulder, and then slide my hand up to cup the side of his neck.

"Look, I know I said I wouldn't help you anymore, but I want to. Please, Geoff. You have to let me in. I love you and whether you like it or not, we're each other's family now." When he tries to look away, I catch his chin and make him look at me. "Don't push me away anymore."