“Iknow that,” she says. “Andyouknow that. But by law, theywillinvestigate it. I’ll drag your name through the fucking mud. I’ll say I found out you’ve been molesting her for years, and I’ll add Arlo to that, too. How’sthatsound? How friendly is he going to want to be with you while I ruin his fucking life?” Her evil smile widens. “He’ll probably throw you out on your ass if I tell him to, just to save himself the trouble. Or Zoey will. She seems smart.”
I’ve never been struck speechless in my life.
Until now.
She’s not done, either. “Meanwhile, I’ll get an emergency order allowing me to take Katie to California with me, pending the outcome of the investigation. Once I’ve established residency out there, I’ll file to move the jurisdiction to California, and you’ll have to pony up money to fight me out there. Not to mention I’ll file to modify child support so you’re paying it all. You and Arlo willbothlook guilty by the time I get done with you. Maybe I’ll even add Lucas to it, hmm? Ruin his life before he’s even eighteen? How about that friend of his who’s always hanging around? Caine, is it?”
She grins. “Won’tthatbe fun? I’m sure Zoey and Arlo willdespiseyou by the time I’m done with them.” She clicks her tongue. “Of course, you could always move to California with us, live with us. Maybe we can try again? I’m going to need someone to take care of her for me out there anyway. Might as well be you. About all you’re good for.”
I feel my fists clench and will myself not to punch her. “You’re evil, Jerilyn.”
“No, I’msmarterthan you. I know how to apply leverage. I always did, with you. No one will believe the four of you are innocent. They’ll believeme. Theyalwaysbelieve the mother about something like this.”
I feel like puking over her smug smile. Then I hear a noise behind us and look to see Lucas standing there with his phone out.
“No, they won’t,” he says. “Because I just got you admitting alll of that on video, lady.”
Her eyes widen and she lets out a screech. “What?Giveme that, you little shit!”
“I don’t think so.” He’s laughing now as he backs up, the phone still up and recording. “I think the judge is going to be interested in watching thiswhooolething. You try to file a false police report against any of us, especially against me, my mom will sueyouforeverypenny you’ve got. I’m sure Arlo will want a piece of that, too. So will Caine’s parents. They’ll make you theirhobby. And Idareyou to try to file a false report against Nolan. I’m also a witness to this, in addition to the video evidence.”
Did I mention the kid’s planning on becoming a lawyer?
When she lunges for him I step between them and smile down at her even as my heart is galloping in my chest from a mix of rage and relief. “Get the hell off this property, Jerilyn. Before I call the cops. You’ll be hearing from my attorney in the next day or two. Hope you’re ready for a fight, because since you want one, you’re going to get it.”
If looks could kill, Lucas and I would both be dead. “This isn’t over, Nolan,” she spits. “I’m not through with you.”
“You’re right about that. It’s not over. It’s just gettingstarted, Jer.I’mfiling for full custody now. You’renottaking Katie to California. I’m going to play that video for the judge and enter it into evidence, part of the record. So you might want to watch what you say. Assumeeveryinteraction I have with you from this moment going forward will be recorded.”
Her face contorts with rage. How did I ever even think she was remotely attractive? “You always did love them more than me. If it hadn’t been for them—”
“Stoprightthere. They warned me about you, and they wereright. The only good thing that came from my relationship with you is Katie. Likehellam I letting you take her away from me. Ifyouwant to move to California, that’s up to you. But Katie’s stayinghere, in Florida. Withme.”
She sends another dark glare toward Lucas before she turns on her heel and storms off the property.
Once she drives away, the shakes hit me. I turn and clap Lucas on the shoulder. “Thanks.Pleasetell me you really got her on video and that wasn’t a bluff.”
He laughs. “Oh, I got her on video, all right. Mom always has hated her and never trusted her.” He shows me his phone and plays the video back.
You can hear every word she says. He filmed everything from when I answered the door. He almost immediately followed us outside, but he opened the door so quietly I never heard him.
Especially with my focus on Jerilyn.
I hug him. “Buddy, I love you so dang much right now, you havenoidea. Upload a copy of that to Dropbox and send me the share link, please.” A plan’s already rolling through my mind as I pull out my phone to call my attorney.
“Sure.” Lucas laughs. “Please tell me you’re going to upload it to Facebook.”
I grimly smile. “That’s even better than what I had in mind.” Then, I go totally Arlo, channeling my sweetly scheming guy. “You know what? Ifyouupload it to Facebook and set it to public, I couldn’t stop you now, could I?” I grin.
He laughs again. “Damn, that’s stone-cold.” His thumbs quickly travel over his phone’s screen. “That’s why I think you’re so cool.”
I know it’s what Arlo would do. “I learned from the best, bud.” I find my attorney’s number in my contacts. “Make sure you put some sort of message on that when you post it, about warning people to stay away from her because she likes to file fake police reports for extortion.”
“Ha!” His thumbs move even faster. “I’ll do better than that.”
I thumb the contact for my attorney and put my phone to my ear. “What’s that?”
He evilly grins. “I’m going to post it to Twitter, too. Then I’m going to tag her employer’s Facebook page and Twitter account, among others.”
