CHAPTER ONE #3
She looks around the room that has all her attention. This isn’t how I pictured my plan working. This isn’t what was supposed to happen. She turns her attention back to me and my lungs refuse to let air in.
“Just remember when the time comes, and you want our life back, I won’t be here. You remember this day and think about how badly you fucked up. You once said that you don’t give second chances, well neither do I.”
Oh, FUCK! I was referring to a legal case where I fired a new intern over making a slight mistake.
She reaches for her purse and shrugs it onto her shoulder.
I pray that she leaves quickly and the stabbing in my chest will ease.
My hand automatically touches my chest to check to see if I actually have been stabbed, because the pain is brutal.
I need to stop this, to tell her that this was some stupid plan and it blew up in my face. I need to right this wrong. It was never supposed to turn out like this.
“I hope you continue to live a miserable life, Levi. That is exactly the way that you want to live, wallowing in your self-misery and ‘woe is me’ mentality. But just remember that the universe has a way of righting the wrong. What you put out is what you get back. One day, maybe not tomorrow or next week but one day, this conversation will bite you in the ass. Just remember, what goes around comes around, Mr. Thorne.”
She turns to leave on her heels and I reach out to stop her. I can’t let her leave. She is my whole world and even if this is an elaborate plan to keep her safe, the thought of her walking out of here without me is soul crushing.
Tightening my grip on her and pulling her back towards me has her off balance, so I stand to catch her. A gob of brown hair whips around and a hand crashes against my face, making me release her. Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever been hit like this before.
“Don’t you ever put your hands on me again! You just lost the privilege to ever touch me,” she seethes and corrects her shoulder strap.
Say something, you dipshit, before there’s no going back.
Something catches her eye on her hand and she forcefully yanks off her engagement and wedding rings off her finger.
Oh god baby, please don’t!
“Here, I’m sure the next dumb brunette will love to have this.
” She sinks them into my tumbler of bourbon with a splash.
My voice is still mute, like it was when I first met her.
“I’m sure your little side piece, Josie, will be happy to meet your needs once she’s out of the nut house with Looney Linley.
But let me tell you this one little thing, Levi.
I am enough, maybe it’s you that’s not enough for me. ”
Saylor marches out and I’m left looking at her rings at the bottom of the glass.
What the fuck just happened? It was supposed to be a light argument letting people see us, and questioning whether we’re together, to give us a little more time to find the prick who’s targeting us. Not this marriage ending fight.
The noise of people whispering brings me out of my thoughts and I see a mixture of judging eyes, along with some sympathetic ones.
I don’t need them. I need my Saylor, the love of my life.
A hand touches my upper arm and I feel a burning sensation.
Looking at the culprit, I see it’s the little hostess.
Shoving her hand away, I grab the tumbler of bourbon and pour the rest of the liquid on the table, then snatch the rings out.
Placing the wet items in my pocket, I make my way to the front door where Mitch is waiting. The restaurant can bill me.
“Get the car Mitch!” I growl as we walk out onto the sidewalk. He leaves to retrieve the Mercedes and I try several times to call my wife. After six times I give up and climb in the back of the car when Mitch pulls up.
“Where is she?” I demand.
“Not sure, sir. Ryan was with her, but she took off in the car and left him at the curb.”
“FUCK! How in the hell did my four-and-a-half-month pregnant wife overpower a six-four man? Tell him to find her or find a job mopping floors!”
I ring her again and the line picks up. Thank god!
“Hello?” I hear on the other line.
“Who the fuck is this?” I yell, not recognizing the voice.
“Oh, I just picked this up after a woman threw it out her window…” I hang up not listening to the rest of her annoying voice.
After tossing the phone in the seat next to me, I rest my hands on my face and try to gather my thoughts and catch my breath.
She left. She left and thinks that she’s not enough for me.
I thought that telling her those things would send her running out and not explode into this earth-shattering public scene.
What have I done?
“Take me to work,” I tell Mitch.
She needs some time to cool off and I’ll give her a few hours, then go home and tell her everything. She’ll understand once she learns about the threat, and then we can put this behind us.
“Yes sir,” Mitch says begrudgingly. I know he wants to beat the shit out of me right now and I don’t blame him. He and Dr. Jordan both warned me about putting her into this position, and I didn’t listen.