Lena’s honesty was fucking brutal.
“I made mistakes. They’re mine, not Julia’s.”
“Shit, Van. I told you to introduce us. Instead, you—”
Instead, I left Julia alone at the mercy of the consequence of my sins.
My voice lowered to a growl. “Now isn’t the time for a lecture recounting my many faults.”
“You’re right about that.” Lena paused. “You said a marriage license. What else do you know?”
“I know at least Logan Butler is helping. I know they’re at Julia’s parents’ home and her parents think I want us to be married there today.”
“This is insane. If he signs your name, aren’t you the one married to Julia?”
My teeth clenched at the thought. “I don’t fucking want him near her. He’ll hurt her.” My mind was barraged with possible tactics—mental and emotional, as well as physical. If he touches her and she thinks it’s me… “He will use this to screw with her and fuck me at the same time.”
“Mr. Sherman,” Albert turned toward the back seat.
“Hold on,” I told Lena as I laid my hand over the microphone of the phone. “Did you find something?”
“Sir, the license plate is registered to a rental company.”
I wasn’t surprised.
“The name isn’t Phillip’s. It’s a company. MMT.”
MMT?
I spoke into the phone. “He’s being financed. I think that’s Logan or more of the Butlers.”
“I can try to call Olivia,” Lena offered. “She might know what’s going on.”
“What is his endgame? He can’t be legally married to two people.” I asked what I’d never thought I’d ask, “Could he have divorced Madison without your knowledge?”
I hadn’t seen Madison in over ten years. She’d come to me for help, and I’d taken advantage of the situation. I’d done what I’d done my entire life, using my power and fortune to either get what I wanted or to destroy those who stood in my way. What I wanted was her, and with the knowledge that she was unobtainable, I’d gone to plan B.
Destroy.
“Could he divorce her?” Lena asked. “Yes. Would he? I don’t think so. He has Madison’s power of attorney. I only find out what he wants me to know or what Olivia tells me.”
“Fuck, Lena. Call Madison.”
There was a pause on the other end of the call. “I promised not to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“I haven’t told you because this went beyond you, Van. If you ask me, I blame Phillip equally if not more. He could have gotten her better care. God knows I offered to pay for it.”
“What are you saying?”
“Madison has lost touch with reality. She hasn’t been herself for a long time.”
I tried to make sense of this news flash. “What do you mean? Everyone told me that she was in rehab and off-limits. I knew things went too far. I haven’t tried to contact her.”
“It wouldn’t matter, Van. She doesn’t remember anything concrete.”
My heart sank. “She knows you?”