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It doesn’t take long before tires screech to a halt on the street outside. A door slams shut and seconds later there’s a thunderous banging noise.
“Hold on,” Gage grumbles and trots over to fling the front door open. “Damn, Micah. No need to break the thing down.”
Micah pays no attention and storms inside with Conner following at a far more leisurely pace. Micah sprints right to me.
“Hi.” I look up at him and hiccup again. “I’m not having a great afternoon.”
He drops down in front of me and holds my face, taking a close look at my tearful eyes.
“That motherfucker.” He kisses my lips and collects me close.
I wrap my arms around him and an internal dam breaks. I try not to sob in his arms but he feels my body shake as he moves to the couch and pulls me into his lap.
“Fuck him.” He kisses my lips, my cheeks, my forehead. “You don’t need him. I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere, Tessie.”
It’s nice to rest my head on his shoulder and let him hold me.
It’s so nice that my sobs cease and I’m able to breathe again.
Chapter25
Micah
They wouldn’t let me come alone.
Conner and Gage know I’ve been simmering all week. They warned me to calm down before grabbing Ballerini for an inevitable chat.
The sight of Tess in pain has carved a deep hole in my chest. And the only reason I haven’t yet crashed through a window of the Green Mansion and dragged the mayor’s chubby ass out for a reckoning is because I don’t want to cause her more grief.
But now I’ve waited long enough.
It wasn’t difficult to discover where the mayor would be since he’s always making a public spectacle of himself somehow.
Once we’re in front of the Palace Hotel, I give my two cousins one final out. “You don’t have to get in the middle of this.”
Gage responds with an eye roll.
Conner crosses his arms. “Quit trying to shake us off. We’re with you.”
“Hey.” Gage grabs my shirt. “Remember who he is. Don’t give him any ammunition.”
That’s my cousin’s way of warning me not to snap and take a swing. I know better than to do that. The sound of my girl crying in my arms is still raw and I won’t give her anything else to cry about.
“I’ll keep my temper.”
Gage nods and releases my shirt.
Conner hands over the access badges that he was able to get because football players can call up favors like that on a whim. A very handy skill.
The last time I was here at the Palace Hotel was the night of the election. Not my favorite memory. I still kick myself when I think about the argument I started with Tess.
Not as much as I’dliketo kick the shit out of Stuart Ballerini for what he did to her.
I won’t be drawing blood because I promised. But I’m not letting that fucker skate through life thinking no one notices what he really is.
The security guard posted at the door to the ballroom eyeballs the three of us when we flash our badges.
I keep my face neutral, trying to look like the opposite of an extremely pissed off boyfriend. I guess it works because after a double take at Conner, the guy nods and lets us through.
