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“Woah woah, a divorce? When did you even get married? And now what, you came crawling back because she realized you’re a piece of shit, and I’m just a safety net? You just have to come offering platitudes, and I’ll take you back?” I ask, and Mike stiffens as I let out a scornful laugh. I can barely believe my ears. How was I so stupid as to believe anything coming from his mouth? “If you listened to me, I’d still be stuck with you. And honestly, leaving you was the best thing that happened to me. I’m not gonna let myself get dragged back into a passionless, dead bedroom, weighty relationship with you so you can what? Cheat on me again? Lie some more? You aren’t appealing to me in the least, Mike.”
“You can’t stand there and act like your life is better without me in it,” Mike snaps, throwing his arm out, and goosebumps blanket my body. My heart throbs in my throat, and my gaze narrows on him. “Even Carrie says you’ve been acting differently! Secretive! You bailed on her, and—”
“My lifeisbetter without you in it. I’ve met someone who excites me!” I shout, my cheeks burning with conviction as Mike’s face grows long and surprised. “I have a man who cares about me, wants me to be my best self and wants to make me happy! Which is more than you could say in four years of being together!”
Mike falls silent as a result of my outburst, and I take advantage of the opportunity to walk past him and throw open the door. I pull on his wrist, but he spins around to grab my biceps. Mike tries to kiss me while pushing me against the door, and I turn away as disgust rises in my stomach. I kick out my leg as I struggle against him, and he jerks away to protect his family jewels.
"Get out!" I'm still surprised when he falls to the floor with a horrifying thud after I shove him hard. Mike glares at me, his remorseful face gone, as I point a trembling, accusing finger at him. “Get the hell out of my house! We're not together, and we never will be; get out before I call the cops!"
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Jack
"You can't deny you still have feelings for me!" Mike snarls, and it takes everything I have not to round the corner of the entryway. A murderous rage boils in my veins, and blood drums loudly in my ears. "Admit it!"
"I haven't thought about you in ages, and I'm disgusted that I ever believed you weren't the lowest of the low," Heather snaps back, her shrill voice reaching me around the front door frame. "You're a lying, cheating loser bastard who has no right to look in my general direction! Go be miserable by yourself, Mike! I'm not going to let you drag me down again! Ahh!”
Heather's shocked and pained squawk breaks my resolve, and I turn the corner as she fights off Mike. They don’t notice me as he grabs her forearms and raises them above her head, but she quickly knees him in the balls. As he crumples to his knees, I wince, and Heather moves towards the door before pausing. She's so pumped up with adrenaline and emotion that she doesn't notice me as she postures herself, chin out in defiance.
“You’re not gonna chase me out of my own house!” She declares, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Pride courses through my veins, calming my fire; seeing her take care of herself lightens the load on my shoulders. Suddenly, her gaze is drawn to me, and Mike leaps to his feet, wrapping his arms around her in a bear hug. When he tries to kiss her, an involuntary, animalistic growl erupts from deep within my chest.
I grab Mike by the back of his neck, and he squeaks in shock as I shove Heather out of the way. Red drapes my vision, and he stumbles back against the wall, hiding the kitchen staircase. Wrapping my hand around his thin neck, I squeeze, barely feeling my other hand moving as I pull my gun from the small of my back. Mike freezes, eyes wide and following the glint of my gun as I prop it under his chin.
“Did you just try to assaultmywoman?” I growl, leaning close to Mike’s face to feel the cold fear seeping from his pores. He’s terrified, shaking, and gulps against my palm. Arching a brow, my lip twitches in agitation. “I asked you a question. Did you try to assault my woman?”
“Jack— Jack, he can’t— you’re choking him!” Heather’s words break through the dense anger fogging my mind, and I flex my fingers around Mike’s throat. He wheezes, and I release his throat but keep my gun up under his chin.
“Answer the question,” I demand, and Mike’s eyes boggle before swinging from Heather to me and back again. Looking over at her, I lick my teeth at the trepidation drenching her expression. Gradually lowering my gun, I keep it pointed at Mike and step back before he coughs and sumps down the wall. Hastily positioning herself between us, Heather glares at me, but I wrap my arm around her securely.
“W— what’re you doing here, Jack?” Heather frowns at me as I look down my nose at Mike, pushing my arm away from her. I grab her bicep and pull her towards me. Call me a caveman, but I don't want Mike anywhere near her. It also helps that Heather doesn't either. “Jack!”
“I came to,” Trailing off, I frown under tightly knit brows. Why did I come here, anyway? Catching Heather’s gaze, I purse my lips thinly. “I wanted to see you.”
“Oh,” Blinking furiously, Heather falters, and I turn my gaze back to the man catching his breath on the floor. She inches away from me to kick Mike’s foot, and he jumps, rubbing his throat when he has to crane his neck to see her. “Get out, Mike... don’t come back. Ever. I never wanna see you again.”
“Fucking crazy bitch—I was doing you a favor, but fuck you,” Mike grumbles, scrambling to his feet, and Heather’s expression closes like an iron-clad book. Concern worms through my veins as he runs out the front door, leaving it open. The silence drums in my ears before Heather sighs heavily, rubbing her face with her hands.
“Why’re the men in my life, assholes?” Heather laments gutturally, and I tense when I feel her weighty eyes on me. Kicking the door shut sharply, I grimace and rub my palms together, trying to get rid of this nasty feeling. “What’re you doing here, Jack?”
“I wanted to,” I pause when I meet her eyes, and Heather hugs herself tightly, like she’s trying to keep something in. My mouth dries as she leans against the wall, trouble knitting her brows. Closing the distance between us, I take her arm gently where a redness buds on her skin. The fire in my chest flares before Heather hastily pulls down her quarter-length sleeve. “Are you okay, Heather?”
“I’m... okay,” she answers, her eyes darkening as she glances up from under her eyelashes. My heart hammers against my ribs, and I reach to caress her cheek. Her soft skin twitches in a grimace, nostrils flaring when she takes a breath in preparation. “How much did you hear?”
“Just the part about not being chased out of your own house,” I lie, and Heather sighs in relief, closing her eyes briefly. Gripping my wrist, she nuzzles my palm. A slight pang of guilt rips through me as I tilt my head back curiously. “Hey?”
“You don’t own me,” Heather murmurs, and surprise widens my eyes; is that what she’s worried about? Her eyes are sultry, staring deep into me as her nails bite into the sensitive part of my wrist. “I’m not a thing.”
“You are...mything,” I lean to rest my forehead against hers, the angry fire in my chest morphing and traveling to burrow deep in my gut. Heather holds her breath, her cheek heating under my palm. Shuffling foot to foot to lean her back flush against the wall, she doesn’t look away.
“You’re my favorite thing. If I can’t have you, no one can. I really couldn’t care less if you think that’s bad because I own you. I own you and take good care of my possessions.”
“You don’t own me,” Heather whispers, her voice sultry and defiant. She grips my wrist firmly, nuzzling my palm. A surge of conflicting emotions wash over me, but I can’t deny the desire that still burned within me.
"I know, Heather," I say, gently tilting her head back to meet her eyes. "You're not a possession. But I can't stand the thought of losing you to anyone else. I want to take care of you."
A faint smile plays on her lips, and her eyes remain locked with mine. "But you're my favorite thing, and if I can’t have you, then no one else can."
Heather's expression softens, but her defiance remains. I am so drawn to her, unable to resist the attraction between us. I lean in to kiss her, and she responds eagerly, her fingers toying with the buttons on my shirt.
