42. Jaxon
JAXON
It’s been weeks since she heard my bullshit words, and every day feels like a fresh hell.
Della packed up and left the long-term rental within days of hearing the conversation.
Apparently, both Hazel and Cayson knew. Hazel because Del told her, and Cayson because he happened to cross paths with her in the lodge on the morning she was leaving.
She called him over to the reception desk so he could witness her handing the keys over and showed him the receipt that she paid in full.
Then she took it a step further and tried to make the receptionist take her money for the luxury cabin she occupied when she first moved in, but the person didn’t know how to retroactively charge her card, so she took out all the cash in her wallet, about two hundred and fifty bucks, and tried to hand it to my brother.
He wouldn’t take it, so after holding it to his chest a few seconds to push the issue, she let it fall to the ground.
In any other situation, that would have made me laugh, but instead, it broke my fucking heart.
I only heard about it through Everest, because Lord knows I’m not talking to Cayson.
I’ve crossed paths with her a few times, but she doesn’t even look my way. And I’ve still stopped by the barn every morning, just in case, but it seems she has written me off.
As I’m sitting on the arm of a chair on the lodge patio, I’m lost in my thoughts. Things feel so despondent that I looped my parents in for their take. As expected, my mother admonished both me and my brother, so now I’m living with that shame too.
I don’t hear the car crunching the gravel as it comes up the drive until it parks right in front of me.
And it isn’t just any car, it’s some fancy Town Car.
Shiny, black, and will have to be scrubbed for days to erase the clay dirt.
The clientele we attract is wealthy, but most people know better than to bring a car like that here.
After it sits parked for an uncomfortable amount of time, the backdoor swings open, and a guy with dark hair and even darker sunglasses gets out.
The air changes with the jerk-off vibes that radiate off this person.
Of course, I have to be nice until I know what he wants; is he looking to drop six figures on a wedding here, or is he going to pitch a pathetic attempt to get us to sell our land? Both are plausible.
Leaning over to say something to the driver, he stands back up, buttons his jacket, and walks towards me with the stride of someone who usually gets what he wants.
“Hi there, I’m looking for someone who works here. Management or owner preferably,” he says with an smug arrogance that rubs me the wrong way.
“That’d be me,” I reply, not giving anything away.
“Great. I’m looking for my wife.”
“Your wife?” I question. Does this guy think he’s important enough for me to know him or his wife?
Regardless, my mind starts racing to think about whether we’ve had any high-profile clientele.
Thanks to Lanie, we’re seeing unprecedented occupation rates, so I can’t even begin to tell this guy if his wife is here.
“I’m not sure who you’re talking about. On any given day, we have a lot of guests here.”
“Her name is Elizabeth,” he snips back.
Ah, yes, I think to myself. That sure helps.
“Sorry, I’m not sure what to tell you. Even if we had an Elizabeth on the premises, you have to know I wouldn’t be able to give her information out.”
“Oh, she’s here,” he says with confidence. “My PI has put her in this location as recently as thirty-six hours ago. I will pay you for any information.”
PI? Pay me for information? Who the fuck is this guy?! More importantly, who the fuck is he looking for?
“I don’t need your money, buddy,” I say.
“Buddy,” he repeats the word mockingly, “I’ll get to my wife with or without your help.
But you’re missing out on a payday if you know something that could expedite things.
I want to get out of here as quickly as possible,” he fiddles with the button at the wrist of his suit jacket again.
Something about the gesture grates against my spine.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Della and Hazel walking up the path, but when she sees the back of this guy, she dives behind a boulder to hide. I’m talking full out, parallel to the ground, scrambling dive. He looks behind him, tracking my eyes, but he only sees my sister, so looks back at me.
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. Holy shit, this is Della’s ex-fiancé. He doesn’t have a wife; he’s talking about her and referring to her by her middle name.
Well, this just got a lot more interesting.
“You talking about Della?” I question him with narrowed eyes.
He scoffs at my use of her preferred name and puts his sunglasses on top of his head. Now I recognize him from the photos on that wedding program I saw that first day she arrived. “She goes by Elizabeth.”
“Not out here,” I shoot back, standing to my full height. I’m taller than him by a couple of inches, and I’d bet stronger too. Even though she hates me, I can’t stomach this piece of shit for what he did to her. I can still defend her honor, right?
“Elizabeth will be coming home with me today. She left me at the altar, and I’ve given her enough time to play and get her shit together. Now, I’m here to bring her back.”
“Did you even make it to the altar? It sounds to me like you got caught with your pants down. And to be clear, that’s not hyperbole; that’s me telling you that your pants were at your ankles while you were dick deep in your best man’s ass.
But maybe I heard it wrong…” I smirk the kind of smirk that usually earns me a punch from my brothers.
“Do you even know what I could do to you?” he chuckles as if I’m beneath him, not taking my bait because I’m sure this piece of shit doesn’t think he’s done a damn thing wrong.
When his eyes meet mine, there’s a bit of fire to that too-orange face and veneers.
“And who the fuck do you think you are?”
“I’m someone who knows your wife tastes better than any whore of a bridesmaid or groomsman your lips were on.”
That is his tipping point. His indifferent facade drops, and he rushes towards me, but years of fighting my brothers gives me the upper hand.
He throws a desperate punch, and I duck because I’m not sure I want to fight this guy. I mean, I do, but I am also keeping my wits here. Maybe there’s still hope it won’t end without him on the ground with a broken nose or me in jail.
“Ha,” he mocks, “all bark and no bite. Typical.”
I laugh at his attempt at an insult, and silently praise my newfound restraint.
He comes at me a few more times, but I push him away, still avoiding the fight.
Even though I have enough rage in me to snap him in half, I have enough sense to know that I don’t want the ranch caught up in another lawsuit.
Then he stops to catch his breath. For someone who looks like he’s in shape, he’s sure winded right now.
“Walk away, man,” I say. “Get back in your shiny car and go back to whatever hell you came from. Without your ex-fiancée, of course.”
“She was promised to me. I don’t give a fuck about what she does. Tell her to come back out here and live this shit life, for all I care. As long as she comes home for ten or so events a year, and we can be seen together, I don’t give a fuck. I need to appease both our fathers.”
“Promised to you?” I repeat his choice of words. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I question. Del has talked about her father pushing her towards Tripp, but never said anything about being forced to.
“Oh, so you’re eating my fiancée’s pussy, but not actually talking to her. Looks like I’m not the only asshole.”
The words land like a punch to my stomach. Because the reality is the words she heard from my mouth are probably worse than anything this fucking guy put her through. And the thought wrecks me.
“You see, her father and mine are friends. Richard was always desperate to be something he wasn’t and took out a hefty business loan from my dad for a business that failed miserably.
Even before Sheila died, good old Dick couldn’t figure his shit out.
When he wasn’t able to pay it back, Sheila’s death afforded our father’s the ability to get…
creative at the negotiating table. Elizabeth was promised to me.
You have eyes, so you know she looks great on my arm.
She’s not the strongest of personalities, and Richard assured me she would just fall into line and not make waves.
I think he used the term guilt-ridden puppy.
Unfortunately, her dick sucking leaves a lot to be desired.
But, if you’ve tasted her, presumably you know how tight that virgin pussy is.
Well, I guess I’m the only one who knew how tight it first was, right, partner? ”
My fist connects with his face before my red haze clears.
The punch drops him to his knees while blood pours out of his face.
Staggering to stand, he leans against the car and holds his nose.
I don’t hesitate before I’m on him again with my forearm jammed in his throat, pinning him against the black metal.
“I’ve gutted elk that I’ve cared more about.
You fucking come here and have the balls to say that shit.
I fucking dare you to say more. Please keep going.
” My voice is low and shaking, but mostly because I’m hanging on to every shred of control I have.
I want to tear his limbs off and beat him with them.
I want to inflict the same degree of pain he inflicted on Della, but I want it to be physical, and I want this fucker to beg for mercy.
I’ve never felt rage like this before in my life.
“Exactly what I wanted from you, you fucking lowlife. Now I’m going to bury you,” he sneers, but can’t get out of my grip.
“I’d sure like to see you fucking try,” I reply.