“Sure. No problem.” She stood, holding out her hand. “I’ll go do that right now.”
I handed her my credit card and driver’s license. While she was gone, Gabe let me use his phone to search for an attorney. I figured there was a slim chance I could get a same day consultation, but I wanted to have one booked before I was served with papers from Rich.
Growing up, I never thought I’d get a divorce. I’m sure no one does. My parents had a loving marriage and after thirty years of marriage, they’re still going strong. You go into every marriage with thoughts of staying together forever—except Rich apparently. Who knows, maybe he did want to stay married to me forever and have hispussyon the side. The night Rich proposed I envisioned growing old with him, having children with him and being together until our last breaths.
It seemed as if everything changed in a blink of an eye.
Now a part of me feared I’d never trust a man again. Gabe was right, he had never done anything to put doubt into my head, but I barely knew him. I was already in a relationship with Gabe and it had only been two days since I’d officially left Rich.
“You okay?” Gabe asked.
I turned my head toward him. “Yeah, I’m just reading about divorces in Nevada. Apparently Nevada’s a no-fault state and it doesn’t matter that Rich cheated on me the entire time or that I basically cheated on him with you—”
“You didn’t cheat on him. You left him and he knew you left him.”
“I guess we can look at it that way. Doesn’t matter though.” I shrugged.
Gabe nodded and I continued searching on his phone. I found a few websites that said it would only take two to three weeks to get divorced if we didn’t contest anything. I hoped that was the case because Rich owed me. My luck though—he wouldn’t want to give me a dime other than what he was obligated to in spousal support. I’d be okay though. I didn’t need hisfilthymoney.
Gabe and I left the bank after Brandi opened a new checking account for me and gave me a temporary debit card. Afterward, Gabe drove me to get a new cell phone and then I called a few attorneys and made a consultation for Wednesday. I’d wanted something sooner but apparently, not only were a lot of people getting married in Vegas, but they were also getting divorced.
I programmed Brandi’s number and my parents’ number into my phone—my parents’ numbers were the only ones I knew by heart. While we drove back to Gabe’s house, I called the Luxor to check on them. They were fine and ready to go home.
“Parents are good. They’re going home tomorrow. I think it’ll be safe.”
“Yeah,” Gabe murmured. I looked over to him as he drove, silently questioning his response. “So … Paul just sent me a weird text.”
“About what?”
“He said the cops are at our house and he has to go to the station for questioning.”
My eyes became the size of silver dollars. “Questioning for what?”
“He didn’t say, but he did say he thinks they are waiting for us too.”
I swallowed hard. “You think Rich called the cops on us?”
“And said what? That we kicked his ass?”
“No.” I shook my head. “That we held him at gunpoint.”
He huffed. “Let him. It was self-defense, angel.”
“Oh my God, this is turning into a nightmare.” I leaned my head back against the headrest, taking a deep breath while I closed my eyes wanting to scream or cry. “I should have just left town.”
“You’re not running from him. You’re not hiding from him either. I’m here to protect you.”
“He probably talked his cop buddies into arresting us.”
“Even if that’s the case, he needs proof.”
“He has the camera feed.”
Gabe huffed again. “Feed that shows we were there getting your things, then he came in and started a fight—”
I snapped my head toward him again. “You threw the first punch.”
He was silent for a few minutes as if he was trying to recall what had actually happened. “Yeah, I did.”
“What if his plan is to get you and Paul locked up and then come after me?”
I was on the verge of tears, a lump forming in my throat. Rich couldn’t win this war. This wasn’t fair. This wasn’t right. He was an atrocious man—a criminal—an abuser and I didn’t deserve to live in fear.
