Page 73 of Micah
Declan’s a fucking magician.
For the first time, Brent looks panicked. He drags the paperwork closer, shaking his head in denial. “This…that’s not possible. You don’t own a fucking thing. I made sure of it.”
Holly’s chuckle sends blood rushing to my groin. “Oh, Brent, of course I own everything. We’re married after all. What loving husband wouldn’t want his wife to be able to handle things if he were…incapacitated?” He’s staring at her, wide eyed, mouth open dumbly.
She straightens, lengthening her spine until she looks at least five-foot-two. “Are you ready to hear your options now?”
He doesn’t say a word, still staring at her in stupefied silence.
“Alright then, option one. You sign the divorce papers I’m holding. Then I liquidate everything; the house, the car, the investments. I put half of that money into a basic savings account for you. The rest is mine. A simple fifty-fifty split. Then, when you get out of here, in twenty-some years, you’ll have a bit of money to start over with.” She pauses as she studies Brent’s face. “You don’t like that option, huh? That’s ok. Maybe you’ll like option two instead. In this option, I sell everything, same as option one. But I keep all the money. Then I file for judgment and divorce you, anyway. You have five minutes to think it over.”
As a red faced Brent erupts again, she comes to me, softness over a core of steel, leaning into my body, raising her face to rest her chin on my chest. “Maybe tonight, after snuggles, we invite the guys for takeout?”
Brushing my fingers through her soft waves, we make plans for the rest of the weekend. Plans to eat, plans to spend time with the people we love.
We make plans to live.
Our lives are just starting, and they’re so, so good. Looking at Brent over Holly’s head, I see realization dawning. He doesn’t factor in her world at all anymore. He has zero influence on who she is now, and when she walks out of here today, he’ll never see her again. He won’t get anything from her. He has no control. No say.
She pushes off my chest with a soft kiss, then moves back to Brent. “Decision time. Are you signing the divorce papers? Or not?”
“I’ll sign,” he grits out, fists balled on the table.
She nods, unconcerned with his choice, and slaps the divorce papers on the table, followed by a cheap pen. I don’t like the way he’s looking at her, or the way he’s gripping the pen.
“Careful,” I warn him. His eyes flash to mine, and he swallows, loosening his grip on the pen. He scrawls his name on all the tabs sticking out of the paper, then drops the pen and papers. I push off the wall, stalking over to pick up all the paperwork, staring at him the whole time. Little pissant can’t even look at me. Laughing darkly, I back up to Holly. “Anything else…to say?” I ask her.
“You know what? No,” she says, surprise coloring her voice. “I had a whole thing prepared, but…I’m done. With him. With all of it.”
I wrap my arm around her. “Home then.” As we buzz to alert the guards we’re done, I turn my head. “Tell Joker I said…hi.” I say with a twisted smile and a wink. I get the satisfaction of watching his face pale as we walk out.
I avoid Holly’s questioning eyes until we get into the car, then turn to her. “Ask.” I mutter.
“Who is Joker?”
I shift my neck, cracking with tension, then blow out a breath. “He’s someone we trust. He makes sure that Brent doesn’t get too…comfortable in there.”
“Comfortable?” she asks with an arched brow.
“Yep,” I say shortly, hoping she doesn’t push this. I don’t really want to tell her that he makes sure Brent lives in fear inside. And pain. The kind of pain he made her suffer through. But I won’t keep any secrets from her.
She laughs quietly, reaching up to pull my head down to hers. “I’m not going to ask. I don’t want to talk about my ex anymore.” Thank fuck.
Her hand stays on my arm the whole drive home. As we pull into the garage, she gasps, looking at her cell.
“What?”
“Evie’s coming. She asked when she could come for a visit.” Her voice is laced with excitement. I know how badly she’s wanted her friend to come. I know someone else who’s pretty fucking anxious about it.
“Tell Colt. He…arrange.” Knowing him, he’ll have the Jet in the air in an hour.
She’s texting madly and dancing on her toes as we step into the elevator. “There. He says he’ll take care of it.” She squeals. “This is so amazing.”
I chuckle, loving how expressive she’s become. The quiet, timid woman I met on her first day of work has been shed, leaving this vibrant, amazing creature, all mine to love.
Looping an arm around her back, I lift her up and into me. “Glad. She’ll be…ok. We…take…care.”
Wrapping her arms around me, she smiles contentedly. “I know, love. I never doubted it. Not for a second. Now, how about we have a little…nap?” She says, wrapping her legs around me as I lift her up.
“Hell, yes.” I mutter, taking her mouth. I think we’ll both need a long satisfying…rest.
