63. THIRTY-FOUR #2
He can call the cops, get me arrested for assault and battery, accuse Eden of contempt of court order, and we’d never see Macon again. So, as much as it kills me to hear him talk about Eden that way, to even hear him have the audacity to speak her name, I can’t allow myself to be played by him.
“I mean, I can’t blame her for turning to sex work. She’s always had the figure for fucking, but what kind of mother moves her child into the home of the man she’s selling her body to?” His eyes flare in triumph. “You can’t blame me for wanting to keep my son safe.”
“Yeah, no, that makes sense.” I nod slowly then flip the scales. “Is that why you leaked Eden’s old address to the media? To keep your son safe?”
He freezes. “Excuse me?”
“The day the paparazzi showed up at their apartment, that was you who orchestrated it, no?”
“Careful now.” His glare turns ice cold. “You don’t want to go sticking your nose into places it doesn’t belong.”
His threat has the same effect on me as a kitten scratch.
“But I do.” Because when I think about how Macon must be feeling right now, sitting in class after having his life upended for the second time in mere weeks, not knowing when he’ll get to see his mom again, I know with unwavering certainty that there isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t do to make it better for him.
I would put my life on the line for that boy, stick my nose into every dark place, every fucker’s business, to bring him back home, regardless of the consequences for me.
“I notice that you didn’t deny it. But that’s okay, we can circle back. ”
His mouth sets into a thin line. “I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
“Funny how you no longer have time to chat when you were fine to shit-talk your ex-wife just a moment ago. Is the game not fun for you now that the rules have changed?”
Hook.
His lip curls into a snarl that’s more amusing than it is intimidating.
“Or is it because, in fact, you’re the one who has been sticking his nose into places it doesn’t belong? For instance, a motion for emergency custody that was never fucking approved?”
Line.
Color bleeds from his face.
“Or is it because you’ve got more legal documents to forge?”
Sinker.
That last part was only a theory until the thunder on his face confirmed it. Aspen found the court’s decision to decline the motion in his desk drawer—citing lack of evidence—meaning no judge had signed off on Sebastian removing Macon from Eden’s care. And if a judge hadn’t signed it, then…
He swings for me, but I’m ready for it. I sidestep him at the last second, and his fist sails into the lamppost behind me, splitting skin and shattering bone.
I wince. “Shit, that’s gotta hurt.”
I must admit, the blatant pain on his face is a shot of dopamine straight to my veins.
He cradles his mangled hand to his chest, staggering in place. “You have no evidence.”
“We do, actually.” Aspen appears beside me with a smile so bone-chilling I have to look away. “And now your board has it too.”
“Wh—” His lips open, then close, then repeat the process like some kind of demented fish. “How?”
“Not important.” She dismisses him with a short flick of her hand.
She’s still wearing Macon’s black fedora, and her bag bulging with spy supplies is thrown over her shoulder.
“Did you really think you’d get away with this?
”I snort, leaning against the lamppost with my arms crossed.
“I mean, the man was stupid enough to lose Eden, so…”
His gaze sharpens to daggers. “Go to hell.”
“No, but you can.” I give him a grin manic enough to rival Aspen’s.
“Before you do, though, I need to thank you. If you hadn’t fucked up your life by going after her, then she’d never have needed me, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn how extraordinary she is.
I’d never have gotten to witness how incredible of a mother she is to Macon.
Would never have known her kindness, her fierceness, her resilience.
And I’d never have had the pleasure of hearing those sweet little moans she makes when she comes.
” I pause and wink. “But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? ”
Sebastian shifts like he wants to hit me again. I won’t stop him this time if he does. I’d gladly add an assault charge to the long list of criminal offenses he’ll be facing once we’re done here.
“I’d rather you hadn’t added that last part.
” Aspen grimaces then shakes it off, directing her scorn to her ex-brother-in-law.
“You should know that, along with sending everything I have to your board, I’ve also filed a police report.
So, not only are you possibly facing jail time for parental abduction, you’ll be disemboweled as well. ”
I lean into her and whisper, “Disbarred.”
“Yep.” She nods. “That too.”
Sebastian is still gaping at us and vibrating with rage, his bleeding hand staining his white shirt red, when we leave him behind on the street.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to him now.
To be honest, I don’t give a shit. So long as he’s far away from Eden and Macon, where he can never hurt them again, he can rot in hell for all I care.
I can’t believe there was ever a time that he had the privilege of loving Eden and chose to try and ruin her instead. But his loss is my gain. Because I plan to spend the rest of my days loving her enough for the both of us.