“You think this will bring him down?” Moose said.
“I think it’ll send him scrambling to do damage control and he’ll do the rest. He’s not used to riding bitch. It’ll make him sloppy and paranoid,” Shooter said.
The skeptical looks on their faces made him smirk.
“I know how to play fuck-fuck games. Special ops here,” Shooter said.
“Oooh, pulling out the big guns, eh?” Moose smirked.
“Fuck you guys. Come on, let’s get this shit done.” Pushing away from the table, Shooter stood.
“What are you going to be doing?” Moose asked.
“Hopefully my old lady.” Shooter winked and made his way back out of the club.
Chapter Fifteen
“West Chester Library, Juliette speaking, how may I help you?”
“Honey, have you seen the news yet?” Evonne asked.
Juliette frowned. “No. What’s happened now?”
“Pull up the net and search under Peter’s name.”
Her hands shook. It took a couple of clumsy attempts with the keyboard to get things typed in properly. The headlines that greeted her made her gasp. Hidden harassment charges brought to light. Peter Stant, predator or powerhouse?
“Oh my god.” Pictures of Peter with a hand over his face were splattered across the screen.
“Yeah. Keep reading.”
More than three victims have been identified, and more are anticipated to be unearthed in what is rumored to be a trail on human trafficking.
“His lawyers are scrambling to do damage control now, I’m sure. I doubt he’ll have time for recreational activities anytime soon.”
“I hope you’re right, E. I really do.” She shook her head. Had Shooter made this happen? How?
“If this is your man’s handiwork, all I can say is I do not want to be on his bad side.”
“Yeah, me either,” she whispered.
“I have to leave the house to meet a client. But I wanted to make sure you saw this.”
“Thanks, E.”
“Of course. Love you, girl.”
“Love you too.” Disconnecting, she breathed easier. Peter had his hands full. Between his lawyers and appeasing his parents, she’d at least have a reprieve. Maybe knowing he could be brought down a peg would dissuade him permanently? She couldn’t pretend to know how his warped brain thought. But right then she felt pretty damned good. Smiling for what felt like the first time in years, she resumed her job without fear. Clocking out around two, she headed outside to wait for Shooter. The day was beautiful and she felt like celebrating. The library doors opened and the wind caressed her face, blowing her hair back. Laughing as the strands tickled her neck, she walked toward her favorite bench beneath a tree.
“You fucking bitch.” The sadistic voice from her nightmares sounded too close. I know that voice all too well. She glanced up and froze. Peter’s perfect hair stuck out every which way, and his face was twisted with rage.
“I know this is your fault. You think you’re safe now? That I’m going to back off? We will make your life hell. I can’t believe you have the nerve to try to defy me. Do you remember what happens when you do that?” She backed up, glancing around for a safe place to be. Her back hit a car and he caged her in, placing an arm on either side of her body. He pressed his lean form against hers. His breath caressed her ears. She launched away and he laughed. Grabbing her hands he twisted them behind her back. Tears sprang up in her eyes. To anyone else they looked like a couple roughhousing.
“You’re going to wish you never did this, Juliette.” The whispered words scared her more than the yelling had. The iron band around her wrists tightened. “I was going to let you be my special girl. But now I’ll sell you off to the highest bidder. Once I break you in nice and good you’ll turn a pretty profit. So pretty and innocent with those big brown eyes and lips made for sucking.” He moaned. “You have a mouth like a Hoover. That sort of talent is far too good to waste on the likes of your new man. You really did scrape the bottom of the barrel with him, didn’t you?”
“He’s more man than you’ll ever manage to be.”
“Oh, has my kitten found her claws?” He laughed “How adorable.” He leaned in and she turned her head. His lips pressed against her cheek. “Please do fight. It always makes everything so much sweeter.”