Page 48 of Violent Little Thing

Hell, if Benedict could stick with Seraphina after what she’d done, then the least that Court’s family could’ve done was stick with him.

A knock sounded at the door, and I sighed, once again staring at my disgusting kitchen.

“I’ll get it,” he said.

He came back in a few moments later with…

“Nicole?” I blinked.

She flushed. “I’m so sorry for showing up like this unannounced.”

I waved it away. “That’s okay. What’s going on?”

“I thought I’d stop by and warn you.” She scrunched up her nose. “Chris has been…nuts. I think that’s the only word that I can say for it. He’s beside himself. He talks about you constantly. And last week, while he was in his office…doing…you know…he called out your name. She left fuming mad seconds later.”

We both knew who “she” was. We both also knew what he was doing in his office.

Nothing was sacred at Great Dane when it came to Chris Gates.

“Are you trying to tell me he was having sex in his office with Seraphina, and then he calls out her name when he climaxed?” Court asked in a deadly sounding voice.

Nicole nodded.

“They haven’t talked since,” Nicole continued. “And Chris is just…worse. Even the factory workers are feeling it. He fumes and rages. Talks about you to anyone and everyone that will listen. It’s like you had this relationship when we both knew that you didn’t. That you were someone really important to him. And now that you’re gone, he doesn’t know what to do.”

I shuddered. “Can’t say that I’m upset that I’m gone.”

“I know.” She shifted from foot to foot. “I put in my two weeks’ notice. I’m going to work at the power company in town. It’s a little less pay, but at least I won’t have to deal with Chris.”

That was the truth.

“Thanks for letting me know,” I said. “Good luck with the rest of your two weeks.”

She grimaced. “I’ll let you know if anything else happens. I just…I think you need to be careful. He’s not stable.”

When she left, Court looked at me with curious eyes. “Bad shit usually happens in threes. I think you got your quota.”

I snorted. “I sure hope so.”

He walked into my kitchen and started cleaning up, and I used his distraction to go into my bedroom and get myself ready for the day.

Since he was so dressed up, I went the dressed-up route, too.

I came out thirty minutes later dressed in black pants that were just a bit too tight—though that was due to the pair of leggings I had on under the pants. A long-sleeved black t-shirt with a thick, warm sweater over it. My hair was up in a high ponytail, my long blonde hair spilling halfway down my back. I had on black boots that were water-resistant, and big hoop earrings that I’d gotten in high school from Sonja.

When I got into the kitchen, it was to find it spotless, and eggs and toast on the table waiting for me.

“How did you know that I eat eggs and toast every morning?” I asked.

“Usually you show up with it in your thermos and eat it in the office as you’re listening to whatever bullshit there is to deal with that day,” he said. “We have a bit of time. I came over to ask you if you’d go to a meeting with me.”

“The one with the new coach?”

“That one, and the one with the Cottonwoods.”

I felt touched that he wanted me there. But I also had a feeling he was using me as a buffer against his in-laws. Ex-in-laws. What did one call the parents of the woman that you used to be married to?

I had no clue but…