I have no idea where she learned such a phrase and snicker.
Of course, Farid has no tolerance for jocularity and uses his superior tone to ruin the mood. “What are you waiting for? Clean her up.”
He points to the outside shower, and if not for Abbie, I would’ve kicked him in the balls. “We’re not married anymore. You can’t order me around.”
I don’t want to get into a big fight where Abbie can hear us, but I refuse to fall into old habits.
Farid rolls his eyes. “You are so overly dramatic. You haven’t changed one bit.”
Somehow, it’s essential Axel doesn't see me as weak. I am not the same woman who married this asshole. I am much different, dammit.
Inner Beyoncé cheers me on.You go, girl. Give him hell.
I get right up in Farid’s face. “You will not gaslight me.”
He laughs and glances over at Axel. “See what I have to put up with?”
Oh no, you did not just say that.While my shoulder angel shoots her middle finger in the air, Abbie tugs on my shirt. “Mommy, let’s go.”
I jab Farid in the chest. This familiar pattern pisses me off, and yet I see no way of calling him out short of causing my daughter more emotional harm.
“Honey, I’ll meet you in the outside shower. Run along, okay?”
After she shuts the door, I lean over, grab the waistband of Farid’s bathing suit, and tug it to his ankles. I’ve seen both men’s penises and believe me, there is no comparison.
Axel smirks and the people on the sidewalk gasp while I hold my head high and strut toward the house. Farid’s tiny pecker is one of his biggest embarrassments, and I exposed him to the whole damn world.Thank you, interweb.
After I turn the spigot and wait for the water to warm, my five-year-old asks, “Why is Daddy using bad words?”
Picturing her father’s horrified face, I giggle. “He probably got sand up his butt, too.”
Once she’s squeaky clean, I wrap her in a towel and help her put on soft cotton clothes in her bedroom. Now that she's engrossed in her favorite movie, I join the men speaking in the kitchen.
“Is she safe or not? It’s a simple enough question.” Farid’s courtroom tone causes me to roll my eyes.
Wulf, however, appears unaffected. “If you allow our man to remain close by, yes, she is.”
Done scowling at the FBI agent, my ex points an index finger at me. “This is all your doing, Guinevere. If you’d quit your job when I asked, your daughter would be safe.”
As I open my mouth to put him down, Axel stands and takes my hand. “Nice talkin’ with you, Mr. Parisi. We must be on our way and let you return to your vacation. Gwen, say your goodbyes.”
“This is not over, Agent. I will see you in court.” He should know better than to threaten a wolf.
The smile Axel shoots back is more predatory than any I’ve seen. “Have a lovely day.”
He glances down at my ex’s crotch and smirks. “Sir.”
He might as well have addedMr. Tiny Pecker.
Chest tight, I walk back into the living room to kiss my now-sleeping daughter’s forehead. I draw a heart with a red crayon followed by Xs and Os in her open coloring book. Tears in my eyes, I stroll out the door to the Volvo.
Feelings churn inside me, and I try to define them. There’s anger at Farid, pride at how I stood up to him, and guilt for leaving Abbie. The one emotion I hate to own is this overwhelming warmth and admiration for the man sitting next to me. Without raising his voice, he had my six and put my ex in his place.
If this is love, it scares the shit out of me.
Chapter 16
Sometimes the darkest creatures have the purest hearts.~The Big Bad Wolf
