“It’s risky.”
“That’s why you’re going to do it for me.” I grin at him and he just shakes his head.
“What?”
“Make some shit up. Whatever…”
“Zane.”
“Dan.” We match stares towards one another. “Please…” I hate that my voice breaks halfway through the word, but I immediately watch his face fall as he looks back at me.
“Goddamnit.”
“You know as well as I do, he’s going to end up killing her. And you fucking believe me if he does. I will go to prison for the rest of my fucking life.”
He exhales deeply and drops his head into his hands.
“You remind me so much of your dad right now.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I snap at him.
He smirks as he looks up at me. “It has everything to do with me agreeing with this.” I lean back now, letting him finish. “Because he never caved when it came to your mom.” He shakes his head again and then looks back over at me. “What do you want me to tell her?”
I feel a bit more hopeful as I walk down the hall, leaving the hospital.
“Z?” I hear and already know who it is before I turn around.
“Darren.” I groan before looking over at him. As soon as I see the smirk on his face, I want to hit him. If he doesn’t know why I’m here, he’s trying to antagonize me, thinking that he’s won.
Fuck, that’s why he sought after Tatum. Once he found out about her and me, it became a competition for him he had to win. Even if I was completely unaware of it.
It’s the first time that we’ve ever had a conversation after he and Tatum got together.
“What are you doing here?” He tilts his head because he knows.
“Oh.” I laugh. “You know, just visiting with some friends.”
“Yeah. Okay. I really believe that you have friends here.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, you don’t know. See, my mom worked here my entire life. Everyone loved her. Tons of family friends in there. Lots of people who adore me. Would do anything for my family.” I move past him.
“Z.” I let him stop me when he grabs ahold of my arm, but don’t even bother to look at him. I can hear him step closer. “You ever come near my wife again. I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Turning around, I look at him. He’s standing close enough so no one else could hear what he just said. So I don’t have to speak loud, at all. Dropping my voice even more, I step in closer that way, just in case he is trying to record anything. And you know, using my height against him. “Do you wanna know what I told the last man I saw putting his hand on her in a way that she didn’t want?”
He doesn’t answer, just looks up, almost curious.
“I made a promise that I would make him watch me cut his hands off. And the only reason I haven’t done that to you is because—”
“You’ll go to prison for the rest of your life.”
I laugh again, shaking my head. “She asked me not to. See for her, I’d commit crimes they’d kill me for.” His eyes widen. I smirk as I step into him again. “And I promise you, give it time and I’ll do more thancomearound Tatum again.” I can’t keep the smirk from my face. “And I would never have to trap and manipulate her. Oh, and speaking of that, I’m curious. Was your plan from the beginning to trap her but to kill the baby before it was born, or was that an accident?”
“I’ll fucking kill you.”
I can’t help but laugh in response to his overreaction. I step into him. “Oh, come on, Darren, jealousy looks real bad on you.” And I condescendingly pat his face with my hand before turning around and walking away.
Should I have antagonized him?
