Page 90 of Deserving Maisy
“It wasn’t your money,” Jack said, speaking up for the first time. “It was Maisy’s.”
“It was mine!” Jason shouted, making Maisy jump.
Jack steadied her, and she felt Tiny come up closer behind them.
“Mymoney! Who took care of you when Mom and Dad died? Me! Instead of taking the job I was offered, I came home to babysit my little sister. You were a fuckingmess! Couldn’t function without me. You would’ve killed yourself if I hadn’t gotten you to a doctor. You were out of it for years.Years, Maise! And this house isn’t cheap! There was the mortgage, the housekeepers, the cook, the electricity. I took care of it all while you wallowed like a pathetic worm!”
Maisy clenched her teeth. She hated when Jason reminded her of that time. It was true, she hadn’t coped well with the death of their parents, but he hadn’t done much to help, simply encouraged her to take the drugs to make her forget everything.
“And what thanks do I get? Letters in the mail informing me that you’ve canceled policies, stolen my money, taken my name off the accounts—you’re a fuckingbitch!”
“I canceled the life insurance policies you took out on me and Jack without our permission,” Maisy said evenly. “And you were stealing my monthly stipend because you’d spent your inheritanceandall the life insurance you got from Mom and Dad.”
She felt calm. Her heart was beating fast and she was a little shaky, but it felt good to be able to stand up to Jason for once.
He took a step toward her, but Brick was there, stepping between him and Maisy.
Jason scowled. “Who’s this? You fucking him too? You liked taking your husband’s cock well enough, we all heard you moaning and gagging for it. You’re a fuckingwhore. Sleeping with a man you only knew a few days. If I’d known how much you loved cock, I would’ve sold your body for some extra cash long ago. Made a little money off all my friends. And make no mistake, Iboughtyourhusband. No one else would have you because you’re fucking pathetic and hideous!”
Maisy blanched. She wasn’t ashamed of what she and Jack had done. Their lovemaking was beautiful, and Jason’s crude comments couldn’t change that. But she didn’t like him talking about Jack that way.
“You kidnapped him,” Maisy said between clenched teeth.
“Because you weren’t gonna find a man on your own!” Jason yelled. “I did it foryou! You’re so naïve. Did you really think you could just continue living here, no job, no way of making money, for the rest of your life? I did you a favor. Besides, it looks like you don’t have any complaints now.”
“You’re done,” Jack said, pushing Maisy behind him.
“Fuck you!” Jason said with a sneer. “You think I give a shit what you think? You’re even more pathetic than my sister. A real man would’ve fought. Wouldn’t have lost his mind—literally—after being stuck in a trunk for what, twenty minutes? You bought my story hook, line, and sinker. Without even blinking. You were just happy to stick your dick in my sister’s holes. If you weren’t so weak, so laughable, you would’ve known you hadn’t met my sister until the moment you woke up.”
Maisy could feel Jack vibrating in front of her. She felt sick at hearing Jason’s words. Couldn’t imagine what Jack was feeling.
“The only reason you took her with you when you left was because you realized you could get your hands on her money. She’s loaded. Fucking rich as hell. And if you think you’ll get that money because you’re her husband, you’re wrong!” Jason laughed then, a high-pitched, hysterical laugh that made the hair on Maisy’s arms stand up.
“Your marriage wasn’t legal. How could you be stupid enough to think it was? Your real name isn’t on the stupid certificate. It was good enough to fool the government and that asshole at the bank, but it wasn’t real. Everything was forged. Even the guy who married you didn’t have the credentials. So if you think you’ll get one damn cent, you’re stupider than I thought you were.”
“We’re done here,” Brick said in a low, furious tone.
Maisy wanted to roll her eyes. She’d always known her marriage to Jack wasn’t legal. But Jason was right—ithadbeen good enough to fool the bank. And once that money hit her account, she could give it to anyone she wanted…married or not. Now that she was out from under her brother’s thumb, she certainly wouldn’t be givinghimany of it.
“Go ahead and leave, sister dear. But this isn’t over. You owe me!”
“Owe you?” Maisy said incredulously. “I don’t owe you a damn thing. You’ve stolen my money for years. You hurt me, Jason. Over and over. You’re an abusive bully, and I’m done taking your shit. And thisisover. I’m going to do what I should’ve done the day Martha disappeared.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s that?”
“Youknowwhat. I know, Jase. I know what you did. To Martha and probably to our parents.”
“You don’t know shit,” Jason said, not correcting her on his nickname for the first time Maisy could ever remember.
“I know you kidnapped an innocent man. And I know you won’t come after me, because you’ll be too busy tryingto come up with more lies to cover the ones you’ve already told. Do you remember all the details about what you told the cops all those years ago when Martha disappeared, seemingly out of thin air? I’ve heard it’s really hard to remember lies and tell them the same way every time. Karma, Jason. It’s coming for you.”
Maisy felt proud of herself. She’d finally stood up to her brother and it felt really good.
But then he moved, coming at her so fast, Maisy stumbled backward over her feet.
She ran into Tiny, who immediately steadied her, then swung her around so she was behind all three men, who’d formed a kind of wall between her and her obviously unhinged brother.
Brick pushed Jason back so hard, he fell on his ass. He leaped back to his feet, and the hate in his eyes made Maisy flinch.
