Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
ALICE
M y nerves are on edge today. I have mediation with Declan regarding our divorce. Although Michael, my lawyer, told me this should be a quick process since I’m not asking for anything, I just know Declan will try to drag this out.
I haven’t seen him since he popped up on Red and me in the parking lot. That rattles me even more. I can't help but feel like he’s planning something. Whatever he’s up to I won't make it easy on him. I’ll make sure anytime I leave these gates, I’m not alone.
Speaking of exes, we haven’t heard a peep from Chloe since she threatened to take Red to court for custody a few days ago. Red moods have been up and down. He hasn’t treated me negatively for it, but he’s been super quiet and reserved.
I know he’s scared of some judge ripping his kids away. I just can’t see that happening. He’s a great father, and at the end of the day, that’s the only thing that matters.
The front doorbell rings, so I grab my purse and answer the door. Red has his hand stretched out for me. “You ready?”
Taking a deep breath, I nod before grabbing his hand. Facing Declan is the last thing I want to do. He’s never hit me in front of someone other than his family, but then again, he’s never lost me, either. He could be completely unhinged today. The only thing that brings me solace is the fact that Red will be there.
He won't be allowed in the room, but he let me know he would be in the hallway if I needed him. I know that if Declan does try something, he’ll end up with more than just a broken arm.
“Everything is going to be okay.” Red palms my face, pecking my lips a few times. That little cocoon of safety wraps around me, making me melt against him.
“With you by my side, I know it will be.”
He smiles against my lips before leading me to his truck. Red holds my hand the entire drive. When we pulled up to the courthouse, I waited until Red got out and opened my door for me. I tried letting myself out a few times, and each time, he scolded me. I must say I love being treated like a queen. The only other man who ever treated me with this amount of love and care was my father. I know if he had ever had the chance to meet Red, he would have loved him for me.
As we approach the courthouse's front doors, I see Micheal waiting for me.
“Good afternoon, Alice. How are you?” Michael extends his hand.
Shaking his hand, I say, “Alright. I just want to get this over with.”
“And it will be. You aren’t asking for anything. No spousal support, alimony, nada. You haven’t given him any reason to drag this along. All we’re going to do is go in here and sign on the dotted line.”
That sounds too easy. But since the club highly recommended Michael, I’ve decided to trust him.
Michael leads us through the hall before approaching a door. When he grabs the nob, he turns to Red with a nod. He releases my hand and places a kiss on my forehead. “You got this, kitten. I’ll be right here.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, holding him tight, as does he. I just needed to feel his safety net one more time before entering this room. Red holds me until I relax. I give him one final smile before turning around and following Michael into the room.
Declan is already seated next to his lawyer, a scowl already in place. When his gaze connects with mine, he grits his teeth, balling up his fists on the table. His lawyer places a hand on his arm, leans over, and whispers something in his ear.
Before we take our seats, Micheal reaches a hand out to Declan’s lawyer and introduces himself. He looks down at Michael's hand as if it's covered in shit. Michael doesn’t let it bother him as he chuckles before pulling my chair out for me.
Once we’re seated, he opens his briefcase and slides over a stack of paper. “Mr. Rosenberg, I sent you this agreement over a week ago. As you know, my client isn’t asking for anything from Mr. Langley. The only thing she wants is to be done with this marriage. So, if we could just sign and get?—”
“With all due respect, Counselor, you’re getting a little ahead of yourself,” Mr. Rosenberg interrupts with a smug smile.
See! I knew what Michael had planned was too damn good to be true.
“Mediation is about what both parties want. Now, my client would like?—”
“Perhaps you’re hard of hearing, so let me repeat myself. My client only wants a divorce from Mr. Langley, and she’ll get it one way or another. If your client decides to take this further, I’ll be forced to go to a judge and show the abuse my client suffered at the hands of yours. I’m sure there isn’t a judge in the state of Florida who would deny her the divorce. But, if I were Mr. Langley, I wouldn’t want to take such a risk. You know, with him being an officer of the law and all.”
By the time Micheal is finished, he manages to wipe that smile right off Mr. Rosenberg's face. Declan looks ready to blow. His entire face is red, and I notice his hands shaking. I know he would love to reach across this table and take his frustrations out on me, but the fact he can’t kills him.
“Are you threatening my client?”
Michael rolls his eyes like he’s getting bored with this conversation. “It wasn’t a threat. I am merely letting you know what I will do if you and your client force my hand.”
He grabs a pen and places it on top of the papers. He doesn’t say another word as he meets Mr. Rosenberg's stare. After a few moments, he leans over and whispers in Declan's ear. Whatever he says pisses Declan off, and he starts to shake his head angrily. They bicker back and forth until Declan snatches the pen off the table and begins signing and initialing where his lawyer instructs him to.
My eyes fill with tears from the overwhelming feeling of happiness flowing through me. I turn to Michael with a huge smile just as one drops. Quickly, I wipe it away. When the papers are slid back across the table, I turn and see Declan's menacing glare trained on me.
My smile falters a little, but my heart still beats joyfully. I knew he would be angry, so this isn’t the least bit surprising.
Once all the papers are signed, Michael puts them in his briefcase. I don’t want to spend another second in this room with Declan, so I hurriedly get up and walk out. As soon as I step out, I’m swooped into Red's arms. He spins me around in the hallway and kisses my lips.
“It’s over,” I whisper, breaking the kiss.
“I told you everything would work out. Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Grabbing my hand, he leads me outside with Michael right behind us. Before we can head to the truck, Michael lets me know he will file the papers, and my divorce will be final in no less than a couple of months.
I don’t like the fact that I will technically still be married to Declan for another two months, but it doesn’t matter.
I am finally free!
I am snatched from his grasp as Red and I walked to his truck. Declan has my arm in a bruising grip.
“This isn’t over! You hear me?!” he roars, spit flying from his mouth. “If you think?—”
Declan suddenly flies backward as Red decks him right in the face. He hits the ground hard, falling on his injured arm. He cries out, rocking back and forth.
Red isn’t finished, though. He squats beside Declan before wrapping his hand around Declan's neck.
“I warned you. Cleary, you ain’t wrapped too tight. Or maybe your mammy dropped you on your head one too many times as an infant. I don’t really care. That was the last time you ever will lay your hands on her. Make sure your affairs are in order. I’m coming for you.”
Each word is spoken calmly and clearly. Red means every single one.
Letting Declan’s neck go, he grabs my hand, leading me away. As we near the truck, Declan’s last words make me freeze.
“Enjoy that bitch while you can! If I can't have her, nobody will!” he screams before racing off to his car.
My heart feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest. That was a threat if I’ve ever heard one. Declan told me for years how he would kill me and anyone who tried to take me from him. I never doubted those words, but somehow they seem more sincere.
Declan is going to try to kill me, even if it means getting himself killed in the process.
Red parks the truck in front of my house and turns to me. He tried comforting me the entire drive, but I couldn’t escape the fear Declan put in me. It seems like no matter how good things are going for me, he has the power to come in and destroy it.
I hate it.
I hate how much he affects me. I’ve done everything possible to get this monkey off my back, but he just keeps returning. It’s so frustrating!
Red grips my chin, and I jump out of instinct. The hurt flashing in his eyes makes me drop my head in shame. I know Red would never lay a hand on me, but for years, a hand coming near my face was never good. It’s a hard habit to break.
“Kitten, I want you to go in there and change into some athletic wear. Tennis shoes, tights, a shirt. Whatever you have is fine. I'll be back in ten minutes to get you.”
Huh? That is not what I expected him to say.
“Why do I?—”
Shaking his head, he cuts me off. “Ten minutes, baby. I’ll be back.” He gets out and opens my door for me. I’m so confused, I just go inside and do as instructed. When he returns, he leads me to the clubhouse in silence.
Walking through the common room, a few of the brothers are in here. They’re all smirking and nodding with what looks like approval.
“It’s about time. You should have brought her sooner,” Viper says from the couch.
“I didn’t think she was ready, but she needs this.”
Red continues down the hall with me and a few brothers on his heel. “Bring me where?” I questioned.
We stop in front of a door where I can clearly hear grunts and growls on the other side.
“I never want to see that look of fear on your face again. That shit almost killed me to see how scared you were. As much as you try to move on, Declan is still at the forefront of your mind. Today, you’re going to get the strength back that he took because I don’t want you fearing not one damn soul walking this earth.”
Not bothering to let me respond, he opens the door, and I walk inside. What I see stops me dead in my tracks.
Cindy is in the middle of a blue mat with Capone, trading blows. Capone’s shots are soft compared to Cindy's, who puts all her strength into her punches and kicks.
Cara circles them, barking out orders to Cindy and coaching her on dodging and attacking her opponent.
Some of the brothers walk in to watch the show along with us. They’re watching Cindy with proud smiles. I notice Hannah sitting off on the sidelines, dripping in sweat, cheering Cindy on.
“Cindy and Hannah have been training in self-defense for two years. They’re not nearly as dangerous as Cara and Sara, but one day, they will be.”
I stare up at Red, speechless. I’ve always wanted to take self-defense classes, but I was too afraid of Declan finding out. Somehow, this man always knows what I need.
Suddenly, Capone wraps his arms around Cindy and begins wrestling her around, overpowering her. I can tell she’s getting frustrated as she tries to gain the upper hand.
“Don’t get in your feelings, Cindy! Think! If this was a real attacker, you would be on the floor! Knock him on his ass!” Cara barks.
Whoa.
I feel like that was a little intense, but clearly, it is exactly what she needs to hear. Placing a foot between his legs, she sweeps her foot out while giving Capone a hard push. Capone loses his balance before falling on his ass.
Cindy rushes forward, sits on top of him, and raises a closed fist in the air before freezing. She looks up to Cara, who is now wearing a huge smile.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Cara high-fives Cindy and helps her up.
She is breathing heavily when she spots me and her father. She and Hannah make a fist pound before she walks over to us.
“Hey, Dad. Hey, Alice. What are you two doing here?” she asks as she wipes sweat from her forehead with a towel.
Red is standing there with a slack jaw. “Baby girl, I knew you were getting good, but I didn’t know you had gotten that good. Capone is over two hundred pounds,” he says, astonished.
Cindy giggles before saying, “I’m alright. I still have some learning to do.” She shrugs with a smile as Capone walks up, smacking his teeth.
“Oh, now you want to be modest.” He shakes his head at her before looking up at Red and me. “Last week, she put Dice in an armbar that had his ass damn near in tears.”
The brothers break out in laughter as Dice gets up and storms over to Capone. “That’s a lie!” he denies.
“Uncle Dice, your exact words were Cara, Sara, come get this hellhound off of meeee! ” Hannah mocks him with a whine.
That causes the brothers to fall laughing even more, including me.
“That was for show, Hannah, duh. I had to make it seem real.” Dice rolls his eyes childishly.
“Really?” Hannah tilts her head to the side with a sinister smirk. I do a double take because I swear it’s as if she’s silently threatening him. Dice swallows before turning to Bear, who is doubled over and clutching his stomach.
“You have corrupted that child! She’s devious, I tell you!” he shouts before storming out. Some of the brothers follow Dice out, teasing him about getting his ass handed to him by a nine-year-old.
“It’s about time, Alice. We’ve been waiting for you,” Cara says.
“I would have been here from day one if I had known this was on the table.”
She raises her brow with a smirk. “I want you to remember that when you wake up tomorrow.”
I frown, looking around the room and noticing the snorts and sneaky smiles. “What does that mean?” I ask hastily.
“You’ll see.” She wiggles her eyebrows before walking away.
Lord, what have I gotten myself into?