NATALIE

At the knock on the door, Mary, Max, and I stand up as Alan walks over to ask, “Who is it?”

“Jason and Justin Cocker.”

He opens it immediately, letting in the identical twin brothers. Justin, the one we all know well, is dressed in a suit like every photograph or broadcast I’ve ever seen him in. That’s how I can tell which is Max’s father. Jason dresses more hip like the successful music producer he is.

Meeting his son halfway he locks onto me. “Are you Natalie?”

“Yes.”

He scans the faces of my friend and her husband. “And you are?”

They introduce themselves. Nobody shakes hands.

Max explains my situation. “You see why I couldn’t say it over the phone.”

His father and uncle nod at the same time, blonde and silver-haired reflections as they face one another. The retired Senator grumbles, “This is that situation I told you about. With my son.”

Max’s dad nods. “When you stepped in and helped Paige.”

“It was her brother, but yes, she was there.”

“Because he was her brother.”

“You don’t have to emphasize that, Jason. I know how important family is.”

“Yeah but you always had a problem with her brother.”

“Have. I have a problem with him. I tolerate him.” Justin turns to his nephew. “Max, ‘the gambler’ as you call him, is a seedy bottom feeder. Name is Franklin. But he’s old South, walks with a Tennessee Williams cane and wants nothing more than to keep going about his business behind closed doors. I gave him a pass in exchange for a favor. He’s not doing the world any real harm because the people who sidle up to his tables are there by choice, and usually have huge cash. But they’re dark people. So let me think about what to do with this particular situation.”

The famous face walks away, head low.

Max reaches for me and I walk to slide my hand in his as we stare at each other. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop.” He frowns but then those green eyes I’ve missed so much light up. “Uncle Justin, what if you offered him an exchange again?”

“What are you thinking?”

“Look, he wants to stay underground, right? But this guy Paul, he’s the one threatening Natalie. He’s got a real power trip going on, but the real power is this Franklin guy, right? What about giving Paul up in exchange for Natalie’s freedom and silence?”

I hurry to object, “Max!”

“I’m not saying offer up Paul to get slaughtered. I mean, have Paul take the legal hit. Put him in jail, fully exonerating the gambler. I mean…Franklin.”

Jason Cocker says, “It doesn’t work like that, son. If Paul goes to jail, he won’t last long.”

Justin agrees, “Franklin will have a hit on him in no time.”

“Then what do we do?” Max demands, losing patience. “I don’t want to set someone up to be murdered, but we have to make sure Natalie’s safe!”

The twins nod, chewing their lips like I’ve seen Max do so many times.

“What about,” I begin, “We just tell Paul I won’t ever say anything?”

They shake their heads like that would never work, and go back to thinking. Justin finally raises his eyes with an idea glinting. “Maybe I make that part of the deal. That he can’t kill this asshole.”

Jason asks him, “You think he’ll go for it, Justin? You met the guy.”

“I’ll make sure he knows he’s next in jail if that happens. Paul stays alive for as long as his jail sentence, and Franklin and the people who work for him will remain free. For now.”

Everyone exchanges glances, because it sounds good. I hold Mary’s eyes, silently thanking her. She gives me an I’m-here-for-you-look and asks Max, “What now?”

Justin answers her, “Leave this to us.”

Max cups my chin and kisses my forehead out of respect to me, our company, and the severity of the circumstances. “I’ll come back here for you.” He glances to Mary and Alan. “You’ll watch over her while we take care of this?”

“Yes.” “Of course.”

Max follows his father and uncle to the door. Before they disappear, the three of them nod to the three of us. Alan locks it and exhales, “Must be hard to be superhuman.”

Rolling her eyes, Mary heads for the liquor cabinet. “I need some wine. That was too intense for me.”