Fifty-Four | Jo
Fifty-Four
Jo
My entire body froze as I stared at him, a tremble running through me as I struggled to process what was happening. How could I go from having the time of my life to looking death in the eye in a matter of seconds?
Commotion broke out around me as Dom, Axel, and Keith got up and headed toward Tray.
Within seconds, they all stopped as my heart hammered so loudly in my ears that I couldn’t hear what anyone was saying.
All I could see was the guns pointed at three people I loved and the one Tray had aimed at my head.
I felt something poking my leg and glanced down to find Ashley’s hand against it. I kept my attention on Tray and his men as they came inside, allowing the door to slam shut behind them. From my periphery, I could tell that Ashley’s attention was fixated on them as well.
I reached down and brushed my fingers against hers, letting her know I acknowledged her. The feeling of cold metal brushed against my palm as she pressed the butt of a knife into it and pulled her hand away as I closed my fingers around it.
There was something unnerving about being here tonight because I didn’t have my gun on me.
It was a rookie mistake, but I had been in a rush when I left earlier and hadn’t thought to grab it before I went to the clinic.
Or maybe I had just gotten too comfortable, knowing that Dom had his on him and that Dr. Foster had several to choose from at the clinic.
“You need to get the fuck out of here,” Dom growled as my attention snapped into focus at the sound of his voice. “Now.”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready to,” Tray said as he pulled a chair out from one of the tables across from me and sat down. “I wouldn’t want to miss my wife’s birthday party.”
My skin crawled from hearing his voice, but I pulled my shoulders back and looked him in the eye as I tucked the knife into my jeans.
“Ex-wife,” I corrected, my attitude immediately shifting to the pissed-off woman who left him all those years ago. “And you’re not fucking wanted here, so get the fuck out.”
“I see your attitude hasn’t changed any since the last time I saw you,” Tray spat out, leaning back in his chair and crossing his ankles. He motioned for his men to lower their weapons, and surprisingly, they listened.
“That’s because I hate you as much now as I did back then,” I drawled. “Oh wait—no, I’m wrong. Somehow, I hate you more than I hated you back then. Which I guess benefits you or you wouldn’t be here, because if I had my way, you’d be ten feet closer to hell where you belong.”
Tray shook his head and tsked, but I could see the venom in his eyes as he stared at me.
“As much fun as this is, I have no intention of staying. We came to collect what’s mine, and then we’ll be on our way.”
I leaned back, my posture matching his as I raised an eyebrow in response.
I hated that everyone I loved was sitting in this room. There was no way this was going to end peacefully, and knowing that I was putting everyone in danger made my stomach twist.
Molly started fussing, and I glanced at Charlie, making sure she was okay. Axel immediately rushed over to where Charlie was sitting and shielded them as he kept his back to Tray and his men.
“If you even think about it, I will make sure that this entire bar is coated with your blood. I will paint the walls and floor with every single ounce of blood in your body, and if I run out, I will cut open your organs until I’ve smeared your pathetic body as far as I can,” I warned, locking eyes with him when I noticed his interest in the baby.
He pulled his head back, his jaw tightening as Dom stood off to the side with Keith.
“She is going to take that baby and leave the room, and you’re going to sit there and allow her to.
If you or any of your men so much as move a muscle—I will put a bullet in your brain before you can reconsider.
” Just because I didn’t have a gun on me didn’t mean I wouldn’t relieve someone of theirs to make good on my promise.
Tray stared at me as I stared at him, unwavering. I wasn’t sure where the strength and confidence came from, but I drew on them to make sure my friends were as safe as possible.
“Go. Take her out of here now,” I said to Charlie without looking at her and making sure not to say her name.
As far as I was concerned, they didn’t deserve to know that information.
I had no intention of letting any of them walk out of that bar, and on the slight chance they did, they would leave without knowing who my friends were.
I heard the chair scrape across the floor as Charlie pushed back from the table and stood.
I let out a sigh of relief as I heard her footsteps as she made her way upstairs to the apartment they used to live in.
It wasn’t necessarily the safest place for her to go, but at the moment, it was the only option.
Once I felt Charlie and Molly made it to safety, I returned my focus to Tray. The last thing I wanted was to draw this out longer than needed. My only goal was to keep those I loved safe, which meant getting him and his men out of there as quickly as possible.
“What exactly do you want?” I asked Tray, feeling the weight of Dom’s eyes as he studied me. We all knew what Tray was there for, but I was going to make him say it out loud.
I didn’t look at anyone other than Tray because I couldn’t risk breaking my attention. The last thing I needed was to look at Dom and get distracted because Tray would use that to his advantage.
“I already told you. I’ve come to collect what’s mine.” He dipped his head slightly as he nodded at me.
“Well, then, it looks like you’ve made a trip out here for nothing. I’m not yours—never was and never will be.”
Tray leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
He hung his head and shook it before looking up at me.
There was something in his eyes that sent a jolt through me, transporting me back to when I first met him.
When I had been so mesmerized by him that I had ignored every red flag I saw and proceeded to fall in love with him anyway.
“You are mine, Jo. Always have been, always will be. I know you thought you were slick with having your uncle force me to sign those divorce papers, but there’s one little detail he never mentioned to you.”
My heart dropped as I stared at him, knowing that look on his face. It was the look that said he had someone exactly where he wanted them. I had seen it plenty of times when he would manipulate someone to get his way.
“Your uncle might have forced me to sign the papers,” Tray continued, looking up to lock eyes with me. “But he never did anything to make sure they were filed.”
I rubbed my hands down the front of my jeans as my palms started sweating.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. There was no way my uncle would have allowed that to happen. He needed me to be divorced for his arranged marriage to one of his guys to work.
“You’re lying,” I bit out, my nostrils flaring as anger filled me. “My uncle wouldn’t have done that.”
“Are you sure about that?” He cocked his head to the side and studied me. “Because it seems he had a change of heart after you killed one of his guys. What was his name?”
He looked up at the ceiling and tapped his fingers against his knee as he pretended to take his time recalling it.
“Oh, that’s right. It was Victor Agaves. You were supposed to marry him, but instead, you killed him and took off. Your uncle couldn’t find you after that.”
I swallowed hard, forcing the bile down as I felt Ashley shift beside me. The room was silent as Tray and I stared at each other.
“Your uncle made me a deal,” Tray said, a grin playing on his lips. “He wouldn’t have his men file the divorce paperwork if I found you and delivered you to him. He wanted to make you pay for all of the little stunts you did.”
I slowly inhaled and then released it, forcing myself to remain as calm and unbothered as possible, even though I felt like screaming on the inside.
“Well, I guess none of that matters now that he’s dead.”
Tray shrugged and then stood up.
“Except that I still have a score to settle with you.” He walked over to the bar and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, filling a shot glass before tossing it back. “Either you live with me, or you don’t live at all. Simple as that.”
Before I could say anything, the front door opened, bringing a gust of wind with it. My eyes widened in horror as I watched everything play out in front of me.
“Happy birthday, Mom!” Kaitlyn exclaimed, a huge grin on her face as she started to walk toward me, before Dr. Easton reached for her arm and stopped her.
Kaitlyn quickly looked around the room, noticing the tension before she spotted Tray.
He was hard to miss, given his designer suit and the look on his face, which said he was pleased to hear this.
“Mom?” Tray asked, setting the shot glass down, and started laughing and shaking his head.
He took one step toward Kaitlyn before I was up and standing in front of her.
“I don’t fucking think so,” I growled, holding my hands out to the side to protect her.
“It’s funny, you never told me you had a daughter,” he mused, his eyes sliding past me to study her.
“Because it was none of your fucking business.”
I took a few steps back, Kaitlyn and Dr. Easton moving with me as Tray advanced.
“We haven’t met,” Tray said, tilting his head to see Kaitlyn. “I’m Tray. What’s your name?”
“Over my dead body,” I growled, not allowing her time to speak.
“We can arrange that,” he said with a shrug as he reached behind his back and pulled out his gun, aiming it at my head.