Shifting to try to ease the ache in her ribs, she snapped, “If I had ever once seriously entertained that possibility, I would have left him a long time ago. At worst, I expected unpleasantness. An inappropriate confrontation. Maybe a slap, or he might have grabbed me again and left more bruises.”

“You’ve known him a long time. You also have good instincts, possibly even a touch of precognition. Now that he’s attacked you, what do you think? Is this a part of his personality that he’s been hiding, or is this outside his norm?”

The way he asked the questions made her consider things in a way she hadn’t before. “While you wouldn’t know it from what happened at the party, Austin’s a charmer. He likes things to go his way as easily as possible. It’s only when you cross him that his uglier side comes out, but even so, this is something far outside what I would have predicted he might do.” She shook her head. “I’ve been feeling so stupid this evening, like I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t.”

“So it’s outside his norm.”

“Yeah. I’m surprised he was capable of it.” Her mouth tilted in an ironic slant. “But you’re giving me too much credit. I lived with him for a long time, and I never really knew him. We were both playing the roles that were expected of us.”

“How long were you married?”

She blew out a breath. “Twenty damn years.”

His eyes narrowed. “He liked playing the married role.”

“I think we both did. He likes the trappings of a successful life and the reputation that comes with it. He likes being a partner in a successful law firm…” Her voice trailed away as she remembered the night of the party.

And Russell as he turned away, telling Austin, Get her under control.

Then Austin, moving to obey. Austin always moved to obey Russell. Holding parties when Russell told him to, going to the right dinners, taking on the right clients.

Austin was smart and cunning, but he didn’t have the power of personality that Russell did, nor did he have the same kind of power politically or financially. Russell was the undisputed alpha at Sherman & Associates. Where he led, Austin would follow.

And Russell Sherman wasn’t just the firm’s managing partner. He was the founder, and he had built his firm from the ground up. Now Sherman & Associates was the largest, most powerful corporate law firm in the state.

Josiah watched her with the patience of a predator. He looked like he could wait all night if he had to.

She said softly, “Austin takes orders. He’s not a maverick. He’s a team player.”

“That would have been my assessment,” Josiah replied. “But I don’t know him like you do.”