Page 2 of Trust No One

I smiled across the table at my husband, Gabe. He grinned back, winking as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. He didn’t. He never did. But that was his default—flash a grin, toss a wink, pretend the world still adored him like it had in high school.

And despite years of disappointments and struggle, the old spark still tugged at me.

Gabe was a beautiful man. Tall, tanned, an electric smile, the lines carved around his eyes adding to his appeal. Maybe he carried a few extra pounds, but he looked just as good in a pressed suit as in jeans and a sweaty T-shirt.

I hated him. But I loved him, too. Two sides of the same coin.

He’d ruined us. Over and over. He’d made terrible choices. Always swearing he’d do better. “I didn’t mean to. It’ll be okay this time.”

But he was always screwing up.

Most days life kept me too busy to notice. An active five-year-old daughter, fifty hours a week at the hospital, bills stacked high, and Gabe’s struggling landscaping business.

But when it was quiet, like tonight, anger burned. Hot and bitter.

We’d first met in middle school. His mother had taken a job with my aunt and uncle to manage Hale House, one of the oldest houses in Virginia. As a child I’d spent many hours in Hale House playing with my cousin Raine. It was just the two of us until suddenly there was Gabe.

Raine and I would watch Gabe cut the estate’s massive lawns. Once he was finished, his sweat-drenched shirt would cling to his chest. We’d offer him lemonade. Silly girls charming a good-looking boy. I’d thought he’d choose Raine because everyone else did. But he’d picked me.

In those days, Gabe and I could talk for hours. I’d seen only his strengths. No weaknesses. And the sex. Amazing.

But as they say, first comes familiarity . . .

And then contempt.

I sipped my wine, savoring the oaky flavors. “How did it go at work today?”

“Great. We might have two new contracts.”

“Really, who?” I caught his gaze.

“An office park and a clinic. If they come through, it’ll solve a lot of the money problems.”

Money. Always money. His ideas never matched his execution.

“Explains why you were out late last night,” I said.

I’d once accepted his faults. Part of the package, you know? Take the good with the bad. But the late nights had stacked up. And then Molly had mentioned Daddy’s friend. After that, I’d checked his phone while he was in the shower. He’d changed his passcode. And I’d realized he was lying.

“Work, baby.” He grinned. “The new clients wanted to meet after hours. You’d think it was a billion-dollar contract versus twenty grand.”

“Drink your wine.” My voice was soft. “You bought it special for us.”

“You’re my girl.”

“We have a lot to celebrate. You’re working. Molly is healthy. The world is turning in our favor.”

He sipped his wine. He didn’t love it. But he wanted to keep the peace tonight.

I watched him. Remembered the AirTag I’d planted in his car. Remembered sitting in the dark parking lot, waiting. Remembered the blond in the silk slip, kissing him in the doorway of her town house. His hands on her body.

I knew her. She knew me.

Oddly, I wasn’t angry or disappointed. I’d expected too much of Gabe.

He’d always been a player. What irritated me was that I’d stood by him. Eighteen months in prison for an assault conviction. Through debt. Through business failures. But the blond?

I took one last sip of wine. Slowly, I rose and carried my glass and plate to the sink. I wasn’t sure if the house was too hot, or if I was furious. My hand trembled as I set the goblet down on the counter.