Page 6 of Jace
“You don’t understand.” She shakes her head. “Our marriage has been over for years.”
Confused, I glance down at the gold band on her finger. “Then why are you still married? God, Viv, you seem so fucking miserable with him.”
“I am.” She swipes tears away. “It’s why I divorced him last year.”
Hope shocks my heart. “You’re divorced?”
“Yes.” Her lips tremble. “And he’s been bribing me ever since.”
There’s a switch inside me that flips.
Rarely and ruthlessly.
To my mother and brothers—all the kings and queens in my family—I’m the sweet one until I’m not. Until someone I love gets hurt, then I become a sadistic savage. I pathologically plan pain. You’ll pray to piss off the devil instead of me.
“Bribingyou?” I fight to cage my beast. “With what?”
“I’m…” She looks away. “I’m too ashamed to tell you.” Her eyes slam shut. “Oh, god; it’ll ruin me. You don’t understand; you don’t know who he really is. He has me trapped.”
Fuck it.
All the boundaries that’ve been holding me back. All the evil in my DNA. All the feelings I have for her. All the ways in which, when a man is friends with a woman, he doesn’t do this…
Gently, I reach out, cupping her tear-stained cheek and turning her beautiful face to meet mine.
Confessing.
“No, Vivian. You don’t know whoIreally am.” I nuzzle my forehead to hers. “Because I’ll fuckingkillhim for you.”
CHAPTER TWO
VIVIAN
If someone had toldme years ago that I’d want my ex-husband dead, I would’ve guessed I’d mistakenly taken some old pain meds for a broken arm, not my daily probiotic pill.
It would’ve been a hellish hallucination.
David was the popular running back for our high school football team, and I was the quiet yearbook photographer. He loved posing for my camera, and I fell madly in love with him. I felt like the luckiest girl when I married him.
But that’s the problem with falling madly in love.
After the love is ripped away, it only leaves you mad. Enraged about a bitter betrayal. Furious that you ever trusted someone. So broken, you’re left picking up the pieces of your former happy self.
And you know what makes me laugh-cry at night?
I’m not an angry person.
Anger fits me like an itchy wool sweater when I’m soft cotton. I’m gentle and warm. I look for the positive, for hope, for joy. I love making people smile, then capturing the moment so they can remember it forever.
But god, I’m tempted to kill my ex now.
I want to pop him like a zit on the ass of humanity and let the healing begin. I’m so over the glaring blemish he’s made of my life.
What’s even more tempting in this moment?
My big, sweet friend who wants to help me.
Dear god, his huge, inked hand cradles my entire cheek. His touch is warm and sends shivers down my spine. Sweet shivers.Pussy quivers,my friend calls them.
