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"What the hell is this, Marie? What ishedoing here?" Jakobe grabs his cigar and slams it in the ashtray. Then he stands, squaring his shoulders just like he did yesterday before he punched me.
"How about we see why he's here," Marie replies, cutting her husband a hard glance as she walks over to the sofa opposite him.
I step forward with the envelope in my hand. When I reach Jakobe I hold it out for him to take. "This is yours."
"What the hell is this?"
"Evidence against Evan. He's been trying to throw the games all season. He signed a contract with bookies who offered him five million."
Jakobe’s skin loses several shades.
"There's also evidence of him on drugs and dealing them too,” I continue. “Along with rape accusations. He gave people hush money to push it all aside.”
“What?” His voice comes out on the edge of a breath.
“It was me who beat up Evan, but that was because of what he did to Autumn."
Jakobe’s jaw tenses. "Where did you get all of this?"
"It doesn't matter where I got it. What matters is I have it. And now you do. You can see for yourself what kind of asshole Evan is."
He continues to stare at me so I decide to keep going because I have no shortage of things to say to him. "You were right when you said I disrespected you. I did so when I went against your warning to stay away from your daughter. I didn't mean to do that and I am sorry you felt that way. I'm more sorry about yesterday but the truth is I'd do it again."
Saying those words feels freeing and the cowardice I've experienced sheds from my soul like a snake losing its skin.
"I'm not going anywhere, Shawn." I use his first name so he knows I’m serious. "And I'm not going to stay away from your daughter. You can beat me to a pulp. You can take me to court if you want to. You can kick me off the team and you can kill me, but none of that will change my feelings for Autumn. As long as I live and, heck, even in fucking death, I'll keep fighting for her. That means I will fight you too if you hurt her, and you won't win." I make sure I keep my gaze locked on his as I speak, but I'm not finished yet.
"You and I both know she's fully capable of making her own decisions and she doesn't need you to exert power of attorney over her, neither do you have any right to delay her inheritance. But if you keep insisting you'll have me to deal with. I won't stand back and let anything happen to her, not even from you."
I expect him to breathe fire in my face or hit me again. In fact I expect him to maybe pull out a gun and shoot me. But shockingly what I see in his eyes is a newfound respect.
He stares at me for a moment, his face loosening as the tension dissipates. Then his gaze shifts from mine to over my shoulder where it lingers with a faraway look sneaking into his eyes.
I turn around to see what he's looking at and there I find my girl standing by the door.
Autumn is staring back at me with awe in her eyes, looking more beautiful than I’ve ever seen her. The gratitude on her face tells me she heard everything I said.
Since I've said enough to her father for him to get the message, I think it's time to initiate the next part of my plan.Her.
I walk up to her then put out my hand for her to take and choose me again.
"Come with me," I say, holding her gaze.
A smile comes into her eyes, then works its way down to her lips. When her dainty hand floats into my palm I feel like I have everything I ever wanted.
Nothing else matters.
Only her.
Chapter 33
Autumn
Ichoose Luc.
I used to hear people talk about feeling like they'd met the other half of their soul when they fell in love.
As I stare at Luc's large hand covering mine I feel that he is the other piece of me I’ve been searching for my entire life.
