Steven holds his head high and his nose proud in the air when it should be shoved through the grounds of the earth collecting dirt and shit. “I’m only doing what is best for Connor.”
Oak barks out a bleak laugh. “You can’t expect me to believe that when even you don’t.”
“I always have both Grace and Connor’s best interest at heart. I’m only doing what is right.”
Oak’s nostrils flare. “What you’re doing is keeping her at your fucking will. Trust me on this, fucker, as long as I’m in her life, as long as I’m alive, she won’t be at your mercy.”
“We will see about that, won’t we?” He then backs away from Oak and struts over to me with more confidence than The President of the United States.
I feel myself crawling out my skin the same time I want to chop his dick off and shove it down his throat.
He stops just a few inches in front of me and reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair away from my face. I dodge him at the last second as his fingers graze my chin.
And it’s enough to feel the blistering cold coming from Oak. I look over Steven’s shoulder and beg with my eyes for him not to move a muscle.
When he remains where he stands, reluctantly, I feel a weird sense of relief.
Steven wants him to react and I’m not going to let that happen.
“The next time I visit if he’s here what I write on Connor’s file will be damning for you,” he warns me.
My eyes harden. “It will be a lie.”
He shrugs his shoulder. “I’ve been lying this whole time. What’s one more?”
Fighting the urge to spit in his face I forcefully swallow down the saliva that sits bitterly on my tongue.
With a smug face he then backs away from me and starts to see himself out.
“Steven,” Oak calls out his name and Steven has no choice but to listen to the command of his tone. He stops, giving Oak his back but looks over his shoulder. “Your days are numbered.”
“The very same can be said for you.” And with that he leaves.
I don’t feel like I can breathe properly until I hear the front door shut behind him.
Then I exhale a long breath as my shoulders sag and I can feel myself about to collapse on the floor.
Before my knees give out on me Oak collects me in his strong arms and cradles me against his chest.I close my eyes as I let my head rest against him. I allow my body to release all the tension and seething anger.I let Oak’s scent fill my nostrils to cleanse the air and I welcome his touch to soothe my soul.
He carries me gently back to the bedroom and sits down on the edge of the bed but doesn’t let me go.If anything his hold on me tightens. His arms bound around me like steel.
“I’m not giving you up, Oak,” I tell him, my voice absolute.
He smiles down at me but it isn’t as bright as they were just earlier today. “I know, baby. Believe me, I’m not giving you up either.”
I frame his face in my hands and lean upwards to place a kiss on his lips. He kisses me back but not with urgency like our other kisses. No, this is tender, affectionate.
“What are we going to do?” I ask him.
He places another soft kiss on my lips and then my forehead. “We’re going to fight this battle together, Grace. You and I, we’re one in the same. We fight because we don’t know how not to. You’ll be the shield and I’ll be the sword.”
I love him.
I love him. I love him. I love him.
I feel it in my every heartbeat and every breath. I feel it flowing through my veins and in my soul.
I love him.
