Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
L orna tried to keep the fear and the tremble out of her voice. “What are you doing here, Lyle?”
He narrowed his eyes as he took a step toward her, and she automatically took a step back. “It seems we have a few things to talk about, sweetie. Like why you called the cops on me. That was pretty embarrassing to have them show up at my front door.”
She’d heard he’d been staying out at Misty’s trailer on her family’s property, so technically they’d shown up at Misty’s front door.
“You know we have a rule about talking to the police,” he continued, advancing toward her.
“I’m sorry,” she said, the words reflexively coming out of her mouth. “It won’t happen again.”
“Oh, I know it won’t.” He kicked Max’s checkerboard across the floor, breaking the cardboard and sending pieces flying. “Because I’m getting the hell out of this shitty town. Just as soon as you give me what I want.” His gaze was greedy as it raked over her body.
Her stomach pitched.
Max came running into the room, the little dog cradled in his arms but pulled up short when he saw Lyle. “Mommy?”
“It’s okay, honey. Your daddy just stopped by for a visit. Why don’t you take Mocha into the kitchen and get a snack.” She prayed he would go. She couldn’t bear it if her son was in the room while her husband tried to rape her.
“He doesn’t need to leave,” Lyle said. “In fact, maybe he should stay. Yeah, I’ve missed this kid. I’ve been thinking we should spend some more time together. Maybe all our time together.”
Panic gripped her chest as if her heart were being squeezed in a vise. “What are you talking about? I thought you said you were leaving town.”
“I am. I hate this place. But I need money. And a lot of it to be able to leave and set up a new life somewhere else. I’m thinking maybe a little place on the beach in Florida.”
She didn’t understand what he was getting at. “That sounds great. You’ve always liked the ocean.”
“Yeah, I have. But like I said, I need money if I’m going to leave. And you’re going to give it to me.”
“Me? I don’t have any money. I’m barely scraping by with what I make at the shop.” That queasy feeling in her stomach came back again, and she gulped air to keep from vomiting.
She finally got it.
She knew what he wanted.
That evil grin was back, and he waggled his eyebrows at her. “Now you’re getting it. You do have something. Something worth a hell of a lot of money. And I’ve been telling you that what’s yours is mine. So, now I’m here to collect.”
“I…I can’t just give you my coffee shop. My grandmother left it to me. It was my only inheritance. And besides, you don’t even know how to make coffee.”
His eyes narrowed again. “Don’t sass-talk me. I don’t need to make coffee. I’m gonna sell all that coffee shit and every piece of furniture and inventory. With that, and the sale of the building, I should be set.”
“I’m not just going to give you my shop.”
He clamped a hand down on Max’s shoulder. “Yes, you are. Either that, or I’ll take the kids.”
Acid burned her throat, and she pressed her hand to her mouth. “You can’t…”
“Oh, but I can. It’s my right at any time to fight for custody. Especially when you’ve proven to be such a bad mom.”
“Bad mom?”
“Just since I’ve been back, I’ve heard how you were falling down drunk at your sister’s wedding while your baby was with a sitter at the emergency room. And it wasn’t smart to leave all those flammable things right outside the door of the shop. That’s dangerous. And poor Max, you just took him into the doctor for a split lip.”
“He fell at the park. You were there.”
“Yeah, I was. But, it’s still your word against mine. I remember you smacking him for talking back to you.”
The panic was rising, and she clasped her trembling hands together. “No one will believe you.”
He gave her a pitying look. “Unlike you, I’ve got friends in this town. Like Judge Buckner, who I helped with that big insurance claim when his boat got damaged.”
More like when he’d gotten drunk and driven it into the dock. But Lyle had helped him. And the judge might feel like he owed him.
She needed to think. She needed him out of her house and away from her kids.
“Fine. I’ll give you the shop. But in exchange, you have to sign away the rights to the kids.”
He chuckled, but in a villainous tone. “I love how you think you have any negotiating power. I’m not asking or bartering or exchanging anything. I’m taking the shop. And if you wanna keep arguing with me, I’ll take the shop and the kids.”
“No,” she cried, knowing in her heart he would win in the end. He always did. “You can have the shop. It’s yours.” She knew what he liked and when it came to her children, her pride didn’t matter. She fell to her knees before him. “Please Lyle, I’m begging for you not to take the kids.”
“That’s more like it. And we’re going to do it now . Just to make sure you don’t have time to change your mind or try to get your boyfriend involved.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, I Googled how to transfer ownership of a business, and you just have to sign the deed over to me and it’s done.”
Could it really be that easy to lose her business and her entire livelihood?
“I’m sorry. I don’t have the original deed here. I only have a copy. It’s a commercial property so they have it on file at the courthouse.”
“I know that. I’m not an idiot. They keep them at the Clerk and Recorder’s office. Which is where we’re going now. They open at nine.”
Her shoulders sagged. He was an idiot.
But he also had her trapped. And her kids meant more to her than anything else in the world. She would do anything for them. Including giving up the property her grandmother had left her.
She could always get another job. But she couldn’t live without her kids. And she would die before she let Lyle take them away from her.
“Okay, I’ll go with you. My sitter should be here any minute.” She glanced at the clock. It was almost nine. Gertie should have been here by now. She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I just need to call her to make sure she’s on her way.”
Lyle slapped the phone from her hand, and it went flying across the floor and landed under the corner of the sofa. “You don’t need to call anyone. They’ll be fine.” He shoved Max toward the sofa and pointed at Izzy, who was sound asleep in the swing. “The baby’s asleep, and Max is old enough to be able to stay by himself for five minutes.” He glared down at her as Max clambered away, hiding himself and the dog behind the arm of the couch. “You can’t trick me. I know you’re up to something trying to make a phone call.”
“No. I swear I’m not. I just don’t want to leave my kids all by themselves.”
She wasn’t expecting the slap as he backhanded her across the face. Pain exploded in her cheek, and tears stung her eyes. She raised her hands in defense, cowering back.
He grabbed her by the ponytail and yanked at her hair. “They’re my kids, too. And I say they’re fine. So, get your fucking purse. We’re leaving. Now.”
She bit back a sob, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry as he dragged her across the floor by the ponytail. He picked up her crossbody and threw it at her, the clasp of it catching her lip before falling into her lap.
She heard Max crying from behind the sofa and tried to make her tone light. “It’s okay, Maxxie. Mommy’s just gonna take a little ride with daddy. Gertie will be here any minute. You watch your sister. I love you.”
Lyle yanked her to her feet and wrapped his arm around her, gripping her by the forearm as he guided her toward his car.
Gotta keep up appearances. In case any of the neighbors looked out the window. Make it look like they were just a sweet couple walking across the lawn.
Her gaze cast up and down the street, searching for signs of Gertie’s car or the woman walking down the sidewalk, but she was nowhere in sight.
Lorna prayed for her children’s safety as Lyle opened the car door and shoved her inside.