Chapter 31
Brooke
“Ican’t believe that limp dicked snot showed up at Tobias’s parents’ house.” Maren comes into my office, slamming down a stack of files before plopping into the chair across from me. "He's got to be the dumbest man alive."
After the police and ambulance left Deidre's house last night, I was too wound up to fall asleep easily, so I called my night owl friend, unloading the events of the evening in great detail. Not just because I was still sort of in shock it happened, but also because I know my friend would want me to recount every dirty detail. And it’s the least I could do since I was keeping her up.
"I just don't get how he saw that whole thing unfolding." Maren scoffs. "It's not hard to Google the Bradshaw brothers. He had to know he was walking into a house filled with big, buff men who could lay him out in a heartbeat." She tips her head. "Plus Trevor."
I sigh, knowing what I’m about to tell my friend is not going to go over well.
"I'm not saying this to piss you off. Just as more of a warning." I lean forward, hoping she listens. "You are coming dangerously close to ‘the lady doth protest too much.’"
Honestly, I think she blew past that point when she smashed cake in his face at Mariah and Titus’s wedding. But I don't want Maren to be any more wound up than she already is.
Only Maren doesn't seem bothered by my warning. "The lady doth protest so much, because there is so much to protest about."
She's not wrong, but that's because the gentleman protests an equal amount.
"I was just giving you a heads up." I pull out my phone, checking the time because we’re set to go into a meeting in ten minutes. "But you do really love gossip, so maybe being part of it will be your ultimate fantasy."
"There’s nothing to gossip about." Maren goes to work organizing the files we need to bring with us. "I hate Trevor and Trevor hates me. That's it. End of story."
End of story besides all the parts where she and Trevor go out of their way to annoy the crap out of each other.
But that’s another thing I’m not pointing out.
I’ve had more than my fair share of drama lately, and I’m not interested in helping create any more.
I’ve done my friendly duty and given her a warning.
Whatever happens after this, is all her.
Working together, Maren and I manage to get everything organized and ready just in time to head out.
With Titus on paternity leave, my new assistant and I have really had to step up our game, putting in extra hours to get everything done.
That's why when Tobias suggested I take today off to recover from last night's events, I had to shoot him down.
I wouldn't have taken the day off anyway—I love working, and Matt isn't taking that away from me again— but right now I couldn't even if I wanted to.
Not without suffering for it immensely.
Because it's the first meeting without Titus at my side, everything moves a little slower and takes a little longer. I'm able to answer everyone's questions, but not with the efficiency Titus can. I have to dig through information to be sure I'm giving correct answers.
By the time Maren and I are headed back to my office, Tobias and Walker have already left.
They have some sort of a meeting at the county. I was hoping to get to say goodbye to him before he ducked out.
Maybe lower the blinds in his office for a bit…
But, I got a sweet text from him letting me know he’d be back as soon as he could, so I guess I can survive until tonight.
Going back into my office, I groan when the light is blinking on my phone, indicating I've got a message.
Or ten.
"I don't even want to know what this is about." Dropping into my seat, I press the receiver to my ear, and punch in the code to retrieve the voicemails.
The first is from Titus, wishing me luck and offering a vote of confidence for the meeting that's already happened. The next voicemail is from the jeweler I've been communicating with, letting me know the item I ordered is finished and ready to be picked up.
Maren is walking in with our lunch as I move to the third message, pen ready to take down notes. But the voice in my ear has my stomach turning as the pen falls to my desk.
“You just won’t listen, will you? I tried to make you see how dumb you’re being.
Your parents tried to fix the mess you made.
And you still refuse to admit you were wrong.
” Matt’s words seem clearer today than they were last night.
I guess alcohol packs more of a punch than a concussion.
“You’re going to regret leaving me, Brooke.
You’re going to wish you followed through on all the promises you made me. ”
Now that I’m not caught in his web, the way he twists the truth is so obvious. And while hearing his voice disgusts me, his words don’t sting. I never promised him anything. I was coerced into giving up my choices. Very big difference.
I’m about to hang up—finished listening to anything Matt has to say—but his next claim stops me in my tracks.
“I’m going to make you pay.” His voice is eerily calm, but carries a level of danger that threatens to drag me into the panic response I’ve been working hard to leave behind. “I’m going to take away everything you care about, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
His final words turn that blooming panic on a dime, mutating it into a level of rage I’ve never experienced. Threatening me is one thing.
Threatening the people I care about is another.
I won’t tolerate it. I won’t cower. I won’t shrink, hoping he’ll forget. I won’t avoid, trying to buy time for him to calm down.
I’m going to tackle this threat head-on and he’s going to be the one with regrets.
I slam down the phone, shooting up from my chair. Moving fast, I stride past Maren, barking out an order she’s not going to be happy about.
“Put your big girl panties on. We’re going to talk to Trevor.”