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The woman instantly froze, and then went limp with relief.
When Silas let her go, she slowly walked over to the tables where I’d seen her at some point in the night, and sat.
However, my mind was quickly recaptured by my mother who came in looking supremely pissed.
When I tried to go to her, Luke pushed back, effectively pinning me in place.
“Give her some time, honey. Something is going on, and she needs to worry about whatever happened, not her kid,” Luke soothed me.
I let my head drop against his back.
His arm dropped down and he patted the outside of my thigh, like he would a spooked horse.
But it did reassure me, and I closed my eyes, trying to straighten out my thoughts.
Twenty grueling minutes later, after seeing that my sister was fine, I wanted nothing more than go home and forget everything that had happened in the last half hour.
The psycho cop that had been obsessed with her had tried to kill her. In front of everybody, not giving a shit that the entire bar she’d come out of had been filled with cops.
Luckily, her best friend had come to help, and had distracted him long enough for Grayson to get out there and help her.
Thank freakin’ God I’d sent my daughter home with my father.
That would’ve been a nightmare.
In reality, it was one of my biggest fears, not being able to protect my daughter.
Which should be any parent’s first concern.
“This isn’t really how I saw my first night off in months going,” Luke rumbled.
I snorted. “Wasn’t how I expected mine to go, either. At least I don’t have to work in the morning. I can see this as being a really long night.”
He turned, crowding me close and winked. “I can spend it with you.”
I blushed, feeling the hard line of his body now that I was more aware.
And my thoughts went right back to where they were earlier. Hot and needy.
Then, while my inhibitions were clouded, he kissed me.
And I’d never felt anything more exciting in my life.
“Um, no. I don’t think so. But thanks anyway.”Chapter 8There’s bitchy, and then there’s a bitch. They’re two different things. Trust me.
-Truth
Reese
Men fucking sucked.
I hit the punching bag with a closed fist, swinging it eight inches forward.
When it swung back, I hit it again, and again.
“Stupid.” Punch. “Fucking.” Punch. “Men.” Punch.
I kept at it until my arms resembled the consistency of a limp noodle, and my arms wouldn’t raise up at my command anymore.
That’s when I started on the knee strikes, and kicks. Repeating the process on both legs, over and over again, until the oxygen was heaving in and out of my lungs like a steam engine.
Sweat was pouring down my face, and into my eyes, burning them.
Swiping my arm up over my eye, I wiped off the sweat and decided I wasn’t tired enough.
There was no way I’d be able to sleep tonight if I was still able to walk.
Not after the day I’d had.
My stupid ex.
He sure knew how to ruin my life.
He’d done it quite a few times already.
Today’s conversation was no different.***Three hours earlier
He showed up unannounced, of course on his designated weekend, and knocked on my front door.
I hadn’t told him where we were moving to. He’d changed his number, and I’d had no way to contact him to tell him where we were going.
So he either had to have contacted my family for the new address, or he had to have greased some palms to get the information.
My bet was on the latter.
Weston Bryant was a Casanova of epic proportions. Otherwise he’d have never gotten into my pants.
“Can we talk?” He asked, not even bothering to ask where Rowen was.
I nodded and stepped outside, slipping out the door so he couldn’t see in.
I never allowed Weston inside our house.
It was a happy place, and I didn’t want his stench inside of it. Even if it was only mental.
“Sure.” I said warily. “What’s up?”
“I’m filing for joint custody of Rowen,” he said without preamble.
I blinked at him stupidly for a few seconds before I could get my mouth to work.
“What do you mean you’re filing for custody?” I asked quietly.
He scowled at me. “It means that I’m tired of having to tell your lawyers how much money I make. They’re actually going to make me pay this time. And all the back pay I owe. They’re holding my checks. I can’t live on no money. And my wife wants to get to know her step kid.”
My mouth dropped open.
“You’re married?” I gasped.
He glared at me, offended that I had such a reaction to the thought of him finding anybody.
“Yes.” He snapped. “For four months. We even have a baby due.”
That made my heart hurt. Not only for Rowen, but for that innocent child who had to have this asshole as a father.
Hopefully the mother was more reliable than Weston was; it was more than obvious that she wasn’t smart. Otherwise she wouldn’t have married Weston.
“But Weston, I didn’t file anything with the lawyers. I never said a word. This is the first time I’ve heard anything about holding your pay,” I said nervously.
If he filed for custody, he could win.
He was married and had a family. I didn’t.
And he was charming, where I was anything but.
“Well you sure did something, ‘cause they’re taking my checks. It’s ruining my life,” he yelled.
I backed away from him, surprised at the outburst. Out of all the times I’d been around my ex, I’d never heard him raise his voice. He didn’t need to. He was a sweet talker. His silver tongue got him everything he wanted.
And Weston yelling was an intimidating sight.
Weston was tall. Nearly six foot three. Although he wasn’t bulky with muscle like Luke was, he wasn’t a slouch, either.
So for him to crowd me and yell in my face like he was doing now, I started to get nervous, like any smart woman would do.
“I’m sorry, Weston. I don’t know what to do. I didn’t file those charges. But you know you wouldn’t like Rowen staying with you. That’s why you only ever keep her for the day instead of overnight, remember? If you file for custody, you’ll have her half the time,” I tried.
