42. Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Lili
When our movie ends, Grace helps me pack a small suitcase with the clothing she picked out for me just a few days ago. It occurs to me that this is all I really own right now. Everything at Finn’s house—because it’s never really been ours—is part of a life I don’t really want anymore. There are a few things I’ll want to retrieve if possible, but otherwise, I’m ready to walk away from it all.
When I’m packed, we meet Victor downstairs and pile into an SUV. Victor surprises me by having me get into the front seat while he climbs into the driver’s seat.
“Are you sure Grace wouldn’t be more comfortable next to you?”
But Grace is already climbing into the middle of the back seat, so she’s between us. Victor reaches back to squeeze her thigh.
“You and I still have a few things to discuss. It’s easier if you’re up here,” he says as he starts the engine.
Another SUV with two of his security team is behind us as we pull away from Victor’s home and head back to Las Vegas.
The drive is quiet despite Victor saying we have things to talk about, and I get the sense that he is just as apprehensive about this plan as I am.
An hour later, we park in an employee lot at Elysium, and Owen meets us.
“Mr. Novak wants me to escort Liliana to her suite and has asked that Victor and Grace stay out of the building.”
Victor grips the steering wheel but doesn’t object.
Grace scrambles out of the SUV and opens my door. I step out and into her arms. “It’s going to be OK, Grace. We’ll be together again in a few days at most.”
She holds me tighter and nods against my chest. “This will be over soon.”
Victor is out of the car now and he pulls my suitcase from the back. “You have my number. Call if you need anything.”
“I don’t have a phone,” I say, lamely.
Owen chuckles. “I’ll take care of that for you.”
I stare at Victor, unsure of what to do next.
“Kiss your girl goodbye, mate,” Owen prods after an awkward minute or two passes.
Victor growls but steps forward and cups the back of my head in his palm pulling me to him for a rough kiss. “Listen to your security. I’ll be here in the morning to see you to the courthouse.”
I follow Owen into the resort and try to shove down the thought that I may not see Victor and Grace again. It’s too painful to think about. But if there is any sense that I’m putting them in danger, I can’t go back. I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to either of them.
My night is restless, but I resist calling Victor on the hotel phone. Owen offered to bring me a phone, but I told him it could wait until tomorrow. When sleep comes, Finn is there, telling me I’ll never escape. At five, I give up and force myself through a yoga routine before making a cup of coffee in the fancy penthouse kitchen. At eight-thirty, security arrives to escort me to Hunter Novak.
I’ve met Hunter and his wife at fundraisers before, but it’s always been a quick hello or polite small talk. I’ve never been this up close and personal with them. We meet in Hunter’s office after they sneak me into the Pink Sapphire, one of his other high-end resorts, through an underground tunnel I had no idea existed.
His wife is with him, and up close she’s just as intimidating as he is.
Victor is there just as promised, and he squeezes my hand as we walk into the office. But Hunter insists on speaking to me alone, so Victor is forced to wait outside despite his objections. I hope they don’t butt heads too much today.
“Mrs. Draven, you’ve caused quite a stir over the last few days, and I have to say I don’t like being dragged into drama that has little to do with me,” Hunter says when the door is closed.
“I apologize, Mr. Novak. It has to be a great inconvenience, and I’m grateful to you for your help. If there is ever anything I can do to repay you, please let me know.”
Hunter nods. “I’ve asked my wife to join us so that people don’t try to spread rumors about you and me more than they already will.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Novak,” I say politely.
She gives me a tense smile, and I wonder if she’s uncomfortable with this situation. I know I would be if our roles were reversed.
“What can you tell me about why you’re leaving your husband?”
It’s a personal question, and I figured Victor or the others would have filled him in already. Then again, the reason he asked me in here alone is likely so he can get my side of the story with as little influence as possible.
“Finn has always been abusive. He hides it well, and while I’ve got the scars to prove it, he never leaves marks that would be visible in public. But I put up with it for so long because that’s what I believed I had to do for my family. Then I found out he was sleeping with the woman who is supposed to be my best friend, and that was just the last straw for me. There are other more painful stories I don’t feel comfortable sharing with a stranger, but either of those things is reason enough for divorce, wouldn’t you agree?”
“And where does Victor fit into your future?” He asks, ignoring my question.
I let out a long breath. “That’s complicated, and I don’t have a good answer for you. The truth is, I’m in love with him and his girlfriend, and the three of us have been lucky to find each other. But we’re also smart enough to realize that with the dark cloud that is Phineas Draven and his mother hanging over them, I can’t stay. So as much as I want a future with both of them, I just don’t see how it’s possible.” Admitting that I love them isn’t hard, but it isn’t something I meant to say out loud. Not when I know I can’t have them.
Trinity gives me a sad look. “I’m very sorry for everything you’ve gone through, Liliana.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to moving on.”
“If you want Victor in your life, we can make that happen. I wasn’t aware Victor had a girlfriend. I’ll have to meet her sometime,” she says.
“She is lovely.”
Hunter clears his throat, clearly eager to get down to business. “Do you have any questions about how today is going to work?”
“What precautions are we taking in case Finn or one of his men shows up and tries to take me? I wouldn’t put it past him. He has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“That’s one of the reasons I’m going with you instead of Victor or his friends. I have enough influence in this city that he’s unlikely to try anything stupid. But if he does, you will be surrounded by a full security detail, and they will not leave your side until you are safely back here. Unfortunately, you may have to stay in this hotel for a few days after we are done, because he will be following you, and we don’t want to lead him to Victor’s house.”
I nod. “That would be a good thing to avoid.”
“If you’re ready, I’ll call security, and we’ll get going.”
I stand and offer a hand to him to shake. “As ready as I’ll ever be. I can’t believe I’m finally doing this. Should have done it years ago.”
Hunter squeezes my shoulder and pulls his cellphone from his pocket to alert security that he is ready for the cars to be brought to his private entrance.
I never thought I would get divorced, and I certainly never dreamed I would need multiple cars to make the trip.
When we exit the office, Victor is standing in the corridor, and Hunter asks everyone but one bodyguard to head for the elevator to give us a moment.
“Are you going to be OK?” Victor asks when we are alone.
I put a hand on his lapel. Today’s suit is a black jacket and slacks with a lavender shirt underneath that I’m almost certain Grace picked out because he came out of the bedroom grumbling about light colors and his ‘Mariposa’ being lucky she was cute, but he didn’t see me.
“I’m fine, Victor. This is a good thing. Maybe not exactly the way I envisioned it happening, but it’s a good thing.”
“I’m glad. I really want to kiss you right now.”
We have been cautioned not to be too intimate even in private corridors of the casino, so I know we can’t. I curl my fingers against his chest and smile. “I’ll save one for when this is over.”
“Good girl. Now go file for divorce.”
My stomach lurches as I realize just how close I am to doing exactly that. We’re heading to an attorney’s office where Hunter and Trinity will sit with me while I file the paperwork, and then we will all walk it over to the courthouse together. Somewhere along the way, someone is going to see me and snap a picture. More accurately, they are going to see Hunter and Trinity and snap a picture, and I will just happen to be there.
When we climb into the second SUV in a row of three, my hands are trembling, and I can’t make them stop.
Trinity wraps an arm tightly around me. “You can do this, Liliana. It’s going to be hard and scary, but you can do it. And we’re going to be here to support you every step of the way.”
“You barely know me. Why would you help?”
Trinity smiles. “Because no one should live in fear of abuse or betrayal. No one should be as terrified as you are right now.”
“I wish I could talk to Grace. Getting to talk to Victor was calming, but it would be even better if I could see and hear Grace for a minute.”
Trinity looks at her husband who is already pulling out her phone. “We’ll get her on the phone, honey.”
First, I hear Victor’s gruff voice on the other end of the call Hunter makes, and then it ends abruptly, and he types a number into his phone. At first, Grace doesn’t answer. Then she calls Hunter back. “Victor told me to answer a call from this number. Is everything OK?”
“Ms. Marsh, I’ve got someone here who wants to talk to you,” Hunter says, passing me the phone. Grace’s face appears on the screen, and I smile when her eyes light up.
“Hey, Grace. I hate that you had to stay home. I could really use you here.”
“Believe me, I would give anything to be there.”
I chuckle.
“Are you scared?” Grace asks.
I nod. “More than I thought I would be. But I trust Victor and Mr. Novak, and the others to keep me safe. I just hate that all of this is necessary.”
A tear drips down Grace’s cheek, and my heart constricts.
“What is it, Grace?”
“I’m a little scared too.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you,” she whispers.
“Oh sweetheart. You’re not losing me. Not any time soon. I’m around for as long as you’ll have me.”
“Victor is worried it won’t be safe to have you at the house after this.”
I close my eyes. It’s a fear I have as well. “There are other options, Grace. We’re going to figure things out, and I’ll see you tonight, one way or another.”
“OK. I’m glad you’re leaving him.”
“Me too, lover. Call Victor as soon as we say goodbye. Don’t sit at home crying by yourself.”
“I don’t want to bother him.”
“Grace. Call him. Understood? I’m going to ask if he got a call from you and the answer better be yes.”
Her breath catches, and she sucks in a shaky breath as the tears subside.
“Yes, Goddess,” she whispers.
“Good girl. I’ll talk to you soon.”
When I end the call, I’m more at peace than I was, but my body is still shaking when we arrive at the attorney’s office on Bridger Avenue near the courthouse.
“It sounds like you have a fun dynamic with Victor and Grace,” Trinity says. I know she’s trying to put me at ease, and I appreciate the effort.
“It’s wild how fast it happened. One minute I was trying to lose all of Finn’s money and the next I’m naked in a BDSM club falling in love with two people at the same time.”
Trinity waves a hand with a grin. “So basically, it was an average Tuesday in Las Vegas.”
It makes me laugh, and when we exit the vehicle, I’m much more relaxed.
As we are walking in, I spy two paparazzi with cameras, and I duck my head, grateful for the large sunglasses Trinity loaned me.
Hunter’s security team immediately surrounds us, so there is little chance either of the men got useful photos, but they still make me uneasy.
In the attorney’s office, we go through all the paperwork necessary to file for a divorce. She asks intrusive questions about the abuse, the cheating, and his affinity for certain types of sex workers. Most of the questions I answer with ease. But then she stands and opens a drawer, pulling out a camera. “We need to document any bruises and scars from the abuse for the court. It will go a long way to getting you what you want out of a settlement and may even lead to criminal charges for your husband.”
My palms are suddenly sweaty and my heart beats loud in my ears. I grip the arms of the chair I’m sitting in and shake my head. “I… I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
My face turns hot and sweat beads at the back of my neck. Knots twist in my stomach and I look around for the nearest restroom. What is happening? I feel like I’m going to vomit and pass out all at the same time. My underarms have soaked my blouse. Blood rushes in my ears and I can’t hear what the attorney is saying, but I see the concern in her eyes. I stand and back away from the desk, looking for an escape. But the room is full of people. Too many. They shouldn’t be hearing all of this.
Unable to help myself, I drop to the floor and hug my knees. “I don’t want to do this. It’s not going to end well. He’ll kill me.”
I rock back and forth and close my eyes. The rest of the world falls away, and I’m lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and labored breathing. A part of me knows people are watching, but I can’t make myself stop or get up. And that’s the last thing I remember until I hear a familiar voice in my ear.
“Come on, Spitfire. Open your eyes and look at me. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
“Victor?” I whisper. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you think I was just going to stay at the casino? I’m not going to leave you alone. I promised you that. There’s a coffee shop across the street. I’ve been camped there since you arrived. Since I didn’t need a caravan of security to get here, I was able to beat you by a few minutes.”
I lean into his chest and smell his soothing cologne. “I’m glad you’re here. This is harder than I thought it would be.”
“I know it is, Liliana. But I’ve got you. Grace called. Thank you for making her. She’s better now.”
Talking about Grace makes me relax, and I finally look around the room. It’s empty. No attorney, no paralegals frantically taking notes. No scary bodyguards looking fierce.
“Do you want to talk about what triggered the panic attack?”
He offers me a bottle of cold water, and I gulp it down. “It’s the fact that she wanted photos of my scars for the files.”
“They’ll help make sure you get everything you want in the divorce.”
“I don’t want a divorce. I want a dead husband.”
“You want to be a widow?”
“It would be so much easier if he would just… die. This way feels like I’m going to get dragged through the mud.”
“What if we get the paperwork done today? Pictures and all. But we don’t file anything until you’re ready. Until we figure out a plan for killing the bastard.”
I put a finger to his lips. “I don’t recommend talking about a murder you intend to commit while you’re in an attorney’s office.”
Victor chuckles. “Maybe you’re right. But we’ve used this attorney before. We trust her and her team. So does Hunter, which means you know she’s one of the best.”
“I trust you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Do you want me to call them back in?”
“Will you stay with me?”
“They won’t be able to pry me away from your side until we’re done here.”
He pulls me close for a tender kiss before he stands and helps me sit up farther. “Be right back,” he promises as he heads for the door.
Another hour later, the photographs are taken; the paperwork is complete, and all I need to do is file it at the courthouse so someone can serve Finn.
We stand and head for the door, the attorney promising to be on standby to file the papers as soon as I say I’m ready.
“Liliana, walk with me so we can have a little chat on the way out, please,” Hunter says.
Trinity sidles up to Victor with a smile. “You and I can visit as well.” I can’t help but laugh at how uncomfortable Victor looks, but he agrees, and the four of us along with an army of bodyguards exit the building.
As we step into the sunlight, all hell breaks loose. Someone shouts “sniper!” and guards immediately descend on us. I find myself face down on the pavement and someone orders me to stay still and quiet until we’re given the all clear.
Radios crackle, guards shout into phones, and someone calls for an ambulance.
“Mrs. Novak has been hit. We need paramedics now!”