Page 132 of Without a Hitch
Blake shrugs him off and opens the door. “Tomorrow,” he mutters on his way out.
I’m left staring in awe at this amazing group of people, and I wonder if Lochlan has any idea how much he’s loved.
CHAPTER43
TILLY
My hands shake uncontrollably as we enter a nondescript building in northern California that’s owned by Christine and Paul. Nova and Kitty flank me on either side as Colton, Preston, and Blake lead the way. They’re a sight to be seen, and I watch with morbid fascination as Christine does a double take in the doorway.
“She looks like she wants to run,” Nova singsongs beside me.
“She wouldn’t make it far.” Kitty has my arm in a death grip, and I wince. When I shrug, she eases up but doesn’t let go.
“Paul,” Christine hisses. “Get. Out. Here.”
That’s when I notice her baby belly is nowhere to be seen, and I lose my shit.That motherfucking-piece-of-shit-phony.I’ve never had a violent inclination in my life, but I charge her, ready to rip her apart. Blake snags me around the waist and hauls me up like a barbell onto his shoulder.
“You psychotic piece of shit,” I yell. “What the bloody fucket is wrong with you? Who pretends to be pregnant?”
With brass balls the size of Texas, Christine steps forward, completely disregarding the wall of human muscle that surrounds me on either side. “Aren’t you cute,” she hisses. “Like a mouse. I suppose after me, that’s how Lochluster prefers them. I bet you blend in, don’t you? Never cause trouble. Always the fixer. Yeah, I know about your little side hustle. It’s cute that you’re so naïve. I’m sure it suits Lochlan to have someone so…hmm, how should I put this? Plain by his side?”
Preston and Colton step forward, but I stop them. “Put me down, Blake. I won’t touch her.”
“You promise? Loch told me you were fiery, but I wasn’t expecting this.”
“He told you about me?”
“Not the time, Till,” Colton mutters with amusement at my side.
“Ugh. I promise.”
Christine rolls her eyes but retreats to the other side of the room to stand with Paul. It’s a silent face-off, one I’m all too happy to break.
“Do you even care about the people you hurt?”
“If you’re here to throw a Care Bear at me or some shit, you can just leave. I’m not interested in a therapy session.”
“And yet you need one more than anyone I’ve ever known,” Kitty remarks dryly.
“Oh, boo-hoo. Is the old lady sad that her husband didn’t love her? That none of her husbands have ever loved her?”
Jesus, this woman is the worst kind of evil. “You’re a wicked, disgusting excuse for a human being, you pathetic, giant turd. I’m done with this. Lochlan had a plan, but I’m not as nice as he is. I want to watch you rot, in a cell, for all the crimes you’ve committed while yielding love like a weapon.”
She flinches but recovers quickly. I probably would have missed it if I’d blinked, but the rage shooting from my eyeholes won’t allow a blink. Instead, I turn to Kitty for approval. When she nods, I go in for the kill.
“Douglas Candor. Elizabeth Riggles.” Paul takes a step back, and Christine’s face goes ashen as I list their aliases. “Mike Ridgeport. Should I continue?”
“What do you want?” Paul trips over himself, backing into a corner.
“Shut up, Paul.”
“At first, I wanted to make a deal. But now, I just want to watch you go down. I’ll find a way to make sure all those people you’re screwing over still have the wedding of their dreams, but watching you get an orange jumpsuit will be so much more gratifying than anything I’ve ever done in my life.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I, though?” I turn to Kitty. “Is there anything you’d like to add before the ball drops?”
“Not to them. But to you, I’d like to say I’ve never been prouder to have a daughter-in-law in my life. You, my dear girl, are spectacular. Carry on.”
