“You’re fine,” I tell her. “We’re miles from Whatì, and the only people who know you are here are Margot and Amanda. They aren’t going to tell anyone.”
Iris turns a steely gaze at Margot, and Margot looks from Iris to me with her mouth hanging open.
“As if she won’t tell him!” Iris takes a step toward Margot, and I grab her arm. “You did tell him, didn’t you? Jealous little bitch! He’s mine now, and you’re just going to have to fucking deal with your own shit!”
“Iris!” I pull her back against me. I have no idea what she might do if she gets her hands on Margot. Iris has never struck me as violent, but this is a whole new situation, and Iris is unpredictable. “Calm the fuck down! Margot is trying to help!”
“She told him about us!”
“She did not! Why the hell would she be here now if she told him?”
Margot backs up until she nearly hits the door of the cabin. I look over to her, trying to convey with my eyes some kind of apology. I keep a tight grip on Iris as I spin her around.
“Margot is here to help.” I say the words slowly. “You are safe with me.”
Iris glares up at me for a moment, but soon her expression softens. She takes a deep breath and nods.
“You can let go of me now. I’m not going to bite her!”
“Promise?” I let go of Iris after she nods.
Iris stomps to the kitchen and grabs for the whiskey bottle.
“And…that would be Iris,” I say quietly.
“Yeah,” Margot says, her eyes still wide, “I see that.”
Iris downs half the glass of whiskey and then plops the glass on the counter. She stalks back up to me and wraps her arms around my waist.
“So that asshole is still hanging around, huh?”
“He’s back in town, yes.” Margot’s voice is cautious. “He seems certain you are in the area though I’m not sure why he thinks that.”
“You sure that fucking nurse didn’t tell him about us?” Iris grits her teeth and narrows her eyes.
“Iris, will you relax?” I place my arm around her shoulders. “No one told him you are here, or he’d be here already. The fact that he’s still looking for you in Whatì is a good thing.”
“No, it really isn’t!” Iris tightens her grip around me. “The longer he stays, the more likely he is to find us.”
“At some point, he’s going to give up,” I say. “You haven’t been in Whatì for a couple of months now. Whatever trail he thinks he’s following will go cold, and he’ll move on.”
“You don’t know him like I do,” Iris mutters. “He’s determined. I don’t think he will ever give up.”
I take a deep breath, realizing that Iris is probably right. I’m not sure what I can do with the information other than to stay on guard.
“Thanks for the information, Margot,” I say. “Let me know if he leaves.”
“I will.” She hands me her empty water glass and grabs her parka from the hook.
“You did a nice job with him,” Iris calls out as Margot puts on her parka.
“I what?” Margot looks over her shoulder with a furrowed brow.
“Teaching Bishop how to fuck. You did a nice job. He’s very good at it.”
“Jesus, Iris.” I cover my eyes with my hand. “Do you really have to go there?”