“Good. I have you by the balls, Hunt. Don’t make me cut them off.”
“You have my balls and my bills. Have my baby, and let’s make it a trifecta.”
“That will never happen.”
“Why not? You know I want kids.”
“I do know.” I put my hand on his cheek, stroking it softly before I lower my voice. “And that’s why it will never happen.” I pat his chest as dismissively as possible. “This sick, twisted little fantasy you have in your head where we live happily ever after will never be a reality.”
“Really?” He steps closer to me. “Because I remember you saying that we couldn’t be a couple, and now, we’re married.”
“You blackmailed your way into that.”
“Bribed,” he corrects.
“Whatever word you want to use.” I shrug. “But you can’t bribe or blackmail my feelings, sweetheart.”
The arrival of Selene, Eden, and Ripley saves me from whatever bullshit my new husband was about to spew. I wave Selene over, and she pulls out the crumbled piece of paper from her purse.
“I wrote this for you, husband, but it’s best to have a limited audience.” I make a show of unwrapping the wrinkled piece of paper. “Just a little poem I wrote to commemorate our big day.” Once I have the sheet of paper open, I clear my throat.
“I’ll drive you insane, that’s just the start, And you’ll regret ever playing with my heart. I’ll take all your money, spend it without care, And when I have had enough, I’ll leave you there.
Don’t think I’m kidding, I mean every word. Once I’m done, you’ll find me gone, unheard. You’ll wake up lonely, your pride in shreds,
So brace yourself, this isn’t just for fun—Once I’ve taken all I need, I will be gone. You want forever? Well, prepare—Because I’ll leave you standing, totally unaware.”
Selene claps, Ripley snorts, and Eden crosses her arms. My husband appears stunned, but only for a moment.
“What do you want, sweetheart? My soul?”
“Not even the devil wants that.” I inch closer so only he can hear. “I want something much more valuable. I want your sanity, and when you lose it, I will lock you up where you belong and walk away.”
“Good luck, baby. If I’m going crazy, you’re going to go along for the ride with me. Right in the front passenger seat.” He gets closer and bends down. “Where my wife belongs.”
I shove at his chest and take a step back.
“You smug, arrogant—”
“I’m neither of those things. I’m a boss, baby.”
“You’re a manipulator. And your little speech? Talk is cheap. Sign over all of your property to me. And I don’t mean add my name. Give them to me. Legally. I’ll give you the honor of paying all the property taxes and bills.”
“Have my baby, and you can have them.”
“You’re fucking delusional.”
“Only I’m not. Look at what I’ve accomplished.”
“What? A wife who can’t stand you? Congrats.” I walk away in disgust.
Chapter 32
Dax
“Ripley, can you take your damn hands off my daughter?” Sheriff Rose asks. Ripley, who is seated at a table with his wife on his lap, looks around as if he’s confused. I notice his hand slides up the slit of his wife’s dress while she feeds him cake.
“You mean my wife? Why would I take my hands off her?” Ripley gestures for his father-in-law to go, but the sheriff gets closer. So, Ripley plants a kiss on his wife’s lips. “She loves it when I touch her.”
