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I’m uncomfortable sitting in my rental car, watching the door to the law firm that Juniper disappeared into over an hour ago. Through Brienne’s connections, I got her an appointment with the best divorce attorney in this area so she can get some basic advice and protection from Joshua. The lawyer agreed to meet Juniper on a Sunday. This wasn’t as easy a task as one would think since the Willards do a lot of business in this town and are well respected. But this particular lawyer—a lady by the name of Julia Bend—had no conflict nor any love in particular for the family.
Juniper refused to let me go in with her. I assume she wanted to talk about private stuff that occurred between her and Joshua, things she doesn’t want me to know. That makes my stomach twist in knots because that means there’s probably something worse than him knocking her down the stairs and causing a miscarriage.
She wouldn’t even let me sit in the waiting room, insisting I leave and come back when she’s done. But there’s no way I’m going anywhere, not when Joshua is on the warpath. He kept calling and texting her last night as we made plans to leave for Pittsburgh after my mom gets out of the hospital.
I finally took Juni’s phone from the table where it was sitting and sent him a text. Stop contacting me. I’m blocking you.
Then I blocked the fucker.
Juniper did not react whatsoever. After her three Jacks, she was pretty mellow and nodding along with whatever I suggested.
Of course, Joshua then started calling me. I did not avoid the call.
“Hello,” I answered cordially after starting a recording app that I often use for long business meetings so I can refer back to things that slip my mind.
“Where is she?” he demanded.
“Safe and not coming back to you. So leave her alone.”
“She belongs with me,” Joshua snarled. “You lost your chance and you can’t just come here and decide you want her back.”
“That’s not what’s happening.” I keep my tone non-confrontational. “You’ve been abusing her for years and she’s not returning to that.”
“You can’t prove anything.”
“Don’t need to. I saw the bruises.”
“Juni’s a clumsy woman,” he replied smoothly.
I can’t stand him fucking calling her by the nickname I gave her when she was just fifteen and I was seventeen. “Did she choke herself yesterday? Because she has a clear handprint on the front of her throat.”
Joshua didn’t take the bait and admit to his crimes but he said something just as damning. “If she doesn’t come home to me, she’s going to regret it. And so will you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It is,” he replied confidently. “Watch your back, Callum.”
Joshua hung up and Juniper lifted her eyebrows in a silent request for me to relay the full conversation. I did and nothing about it shocked her.
He did not call or text again, but by no means do I think he’s going to let her go that easily.
The door to the law firm opens and I see Juniper exit. She hitches her purse over her shoulder and looks up and down the street. I start the rental car, prepared to pull out of the spot to pick her up when I see Joshua stepping out from between two parked cars.
No clue where in the fuck he came from, but he had to have been following us from the time we left the hotel this morning.
I jump out of the car and wait for traffic to break before trotting across, my eyes never leaving Joshua.
He approaches Juniper from her right and she doesn’t see him coming. I pick up the pace just as she turns, catching her husband from the corner of her eye. I hate the look of fear that ripples across her face but then I’m equally impressed when she hardens her expression into steely resolve. She even lifts her chin as he approaches.
Luckily for the bastard, he doesn’t touch her. When I hit the sidewalk, I’m still not close enough to hear what he’s saying but he stops a few feet from her, hands tucked casually in the pockets of his dress pants.
I could stop right where I am and let this conversation play out. Joshua isn’t stupid enough to hurt her in broad daylight on a busy street. I trust Juni to handle herself, but I know he’s going to threaten her, and for that, there needs to be a witness. My goal is a restraining order to keep him away.
Just as I approach, I hear Juniper say, “There’s nothing to talk about.”
Joshua’s head turns my way and he grimaces as I get closer. Keeping his eyes pinned on me, his words are directed to Juniper. “You’re fucking him, aren’t you?”
“No!” she exclaims with indignation. “Callum is only helping me with my dad.”
