“I want to go shopping. Can I have some money?”
“Fuck, I’d shoot it already,” Lucas says, shaking his head.
I pull out my card and hand it to her.Good riddance.
“Thanks. Have a good day,” she chirps, then she’s off.
“So when do you plan to tell Keir?” Lucas asks. “Because I can be there.”
“You just want to watch him go off on me.”
“Of course, I do. I am a sadist. Maybe he will even shoot you. It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone get fucked-up.”
“I’d like tofuckyou up,” I tell him, striding out of my bedroom and down the hallway.
I dress as quickly as I can, grab my keys, and head out to the car.
Lucas follows me in his car as I head to Keir’s house.
We both slide out of our cars and head straight to Keir’s door, which is already open with Keir standing in wait.
“Joey just bought his wife back,” Lucas yells as we walk to the living room.
I hit him in the head, and he laughs and sits on the sofa.
Keir glares at me, waiting for me to confirm it.
“Jake bought her at one of those parties.” Of course, we all know ofthose parties. Most men think the gatherings are thrown with evil and perverted intent. And that’s what he wants them to think. But really, Jake is buying the women to offer them a better life.
He is the villain-hero—so not what you would think.
“And?” Keir prompts, growing impatient.
“He was beating her. And let’s not forget, I was the one saying I didn’t want to marry her, yet you insisted on it.”
“And then I let you off. You’d think that would make you happy.”
“I already fucking loved her by then,” I shout at him.
“Fucking hell,” Keir says, scrubbing his hand down the back of his head. “This isn’t good.”
“She’s mine.”
“Do you want her back?”
“No... I don’t know.” I shake my head. I’ve never been this frustrated or confused in my life when it comes to a woman. But she isn’t just any woman now, is she? She was once my wife.
“She will beyourresponsibility. Do you understand?” Keir warns. “If this gets fucked up, youwillhandle it. And you know what that means. Youwillkill her.”
“I know.”
“I don’t think you do,” he says as Sailor walks in.
“Hi, boys. So when should I expect Adora back?”
“Tomorrow,” I tell her.
“Good. We’ll pop over the next day… won’t we, Keir? Say hello to her for me.” She grips his arm, running her hand up to his shoulder, and he nods his head. Sailor knows how to work her husband. Or, perhaps more accurately, Keir only listens to her.