Chapter 26
Cori
“He did what?” Selene and Eden both whisper-shout in the back booth at Seven Heaven.
I raise my hand and show them the ring. I’ll never say it out loud, but it’s a gorgeous, clear diamond. I pull it off my finger and put it in the middle of the table. Selene picks it up and lets out a loud whistle.
“It’s beautiful.” She puts it on her ring finger and holds it to the light. “Are you going through with it?”
I take the next ten minutes and explain the circumstances of my engagement.
“That jerk could just pay for the surgery and not blackmail you,” Selene says, and Eden nods. “He can afford it.”
“That’s kind of twisted,” Eden adds.
“No shit, but I’m going to do it. I want my mom to get better, and then I’m going to leave him. He can’t force me to stay, but in the meantime, I’m going to get as much out of it as I can while making his life a total living hell.”
I look around and gesture for them to come closer. “I’m going to take all the money I can to start my business. I’m also going to put money in a secret account. I’ll probably not be able to drain him, but I’m going to be a fat cat when I get out of this.”
Eden looks at me and presses her lips together.
“I hope it’s as easy as that.” She looks around. “I don’t know anything about Dax. Rip doesn’t talk about it, and I don’t ask, but if he went through all of this, I’m sure there are measures put in place to keep you from leaving him.”
“Oh, trust me. I’m going to put my own measures in place to make sure he wants me as far away from him as possible.
That’s the only thing that keeps me going.
I’m going to drive him straight into the madhouse, and I’m gonna send him to the cheapest one around.
I might even pay an orderly to beat him with a pillowcase stuffed with bars of soap. ”
“Girl, what?” Eden asks.
“I saw it in a movie once. It hurts like hell but won’t leave bruises.”
The door to the diner opens, and the bell chimes. From the sound of the heavy footsteps, I know who it is. Eden shrieks, jumps out of the booth, and hugs her husband as if she didn’t see him just a few hours ago.
“Hey, baby,” she says. “You want to join us? I can get Ms. Hazel to bring your favorite.”
“I’m meeting someone here.” His phone buzzes. “I gotta take this, but I’ll join you after my meeting. Order two of my favorites.” Ripley kisses her again and taps her ass before leaving. I crane my neck and notice Dax walking through the parking lot and toward the service entrance.
“He’s here,” Selene says. She takes off the diamond ring and gives it back to me. “I’m going to give him a piece of my mind because no one fucks with my cousin and gets away with it. Come on, Eden.”
“Guys, don’t—"
My protest goes unanswered, and they both leave the booth. Eager to see what they do, I follow as they burst through Ms. Hazel’s kitchen. The place is quiet, but Ms. Hazel is at the register and too busy to notice us.
“Hey!” Selene yells. Dax ties an apron around his waist and puts on his rubber gloves. “You think you’re going to force my cousin into some crazy, gangster marriage?”
I slap my hand to my forehead. Dax looks at me and narrows his eyes, but I narrow mine back and cross my arms. I guess he knows I didn’t keep my promise not to tell anyone. He should have known, and I don’t care how he feels about it.
“This has nothing to do with you.” Dax dismisses Selene, which only makes her angrier. “Hi, Eden,” he adds.
“Don’t get smart with my cousin, you fucking psycho,” I yell at Dax.
“I got this, cousin.” Selene gets in Dax’s face. “I’m talking to you.” Dax scoffs, turns away, and reaches for a pot.
“Get out of my face,” Dax snaps. “Go bother someone else. I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“Don’t be rude to Selene, jerk,” I say.
“Sweetheart, tell your cousin to mind her own damn business, and we won’t have a problem.”
Selene kicks him in the shin, which shocks Dax. Unfortunately for him, she’s wearing black, steel-toed boots.
“What the fuck?” Dax takes the adjustable faucet and splashes water in Selene’s face.
Some get on Eden, too. My cousin kicks him again and yells, “I just got my hair done, you ass.” She lunges at him, and he steps aside and sprays water directly on her head.
“Melt, witch.” Selene lunges for him again and grabs his collar.
“What the hell is your problem?” Eden asks right before she jumps on his back. Dax loses his balance, and the three of them fall to the floor.
Eden rains punches on his back, while Dax tries to extricate himself. Selene pulls on his shirt with one hand and tries to scratch him with the other. She manages to get enough of a grasp on the shirt to rip it in half.
“Get him in the nuts, Selene!” I shout just as Ms. Hazel walks in.
“What the hell is going on?” No one pays her any attention as Dax continues to fight off my friends. Eden is doing her best to get him in a headlock, but he keeps moving his neck and head. Selene finally stands and kicks him in the knee. He howls like an animal in the wild.
Ms. Hazel opens the kitchen door and shouts, “Ripley, get in here and get your wife. Right now, before she destroys my kitchen, and you can bet your sweet ass, I’m gonna make you pay for it.”
In an instant, Ripley storms in, along with a man named Preacher, who I believe also works for Dax. Ripley lifts Eden off Dax’s back, and Preacher grabs Selene. He wraps his arm around her waist and lifts her off her feet while she continues to throw air punches.
Preacher makes the mistake of putting Selene back on her feet. She manages to get away, runs to Dax, and bites him in the arm.
“What the fuck?” Dax yells. “Get this pit bull the fuck off me.” Preacher pulls Selene away again, but not before she scrapes her fingernails on Dax’s face. “Are you rabid?” he yells. “Ouch.” He puts his hand on his cheek.
“Don’t call my cousin a dog!”
“I would never compare her to a dog. I love dogs too much for that. She’s more like a rabid raccoon.”
“Really?” I run to him and kick him in his other shin. He howls and hops in pain.
Eden tries to go for him, but Ripley holds her in place.
“He hurt my hand.” Eden lifts her right hand in the air and winces.
“He did what?” Ripley puts his wife behind him and steps to Dax, but Ms. Hazel intercepts.
“Your wife’s hand is fine. She’s only saying that to get you to hit him,” Ms. Hazel says.
“It worked,” Ripley practically growls. “You know she’s still recovering.”
“Then maybe she shouldn’t have jumped on me.” Dax dabs his face with his torn shirt. “Look at what they did to my shirt.” He gestures at himself. “You’re going to pay for it.” He points at Selene, who gives him the middle finger.
“Back off,” Ms. Hazel warns Ripley, who takes a threatening step toward Dax. “Dax, every man gets his ass kicked by a woman at least once in his life. You got yours kicked by two, making you twice blessed. Accept the beatdown before you make it three women. Ripley, your wife is fine.”
Ripley takes both of Eden’s hands and kisses them.
“I’m better now.” I almost roll my eyes as Eden smiles into her husband’s face.
“What the hell is going on?” Ripley asks his wife. “Why did you two attack him?”
“Did you know that he’s blackmailing Cori into some sham marriage?” Ripley’s eyes widen as he cranes his neck to look at Dax.
“It’s not blackmail. It’s a bribe.” He pulls on the torn shirt and cusses under his breath. “That’s why I called you two here. Expect my invitation today.”
“You did what?” Ripley asks.
“I’m getting married.”