“I needed it for work, so I left it here.It was password protected,” he growls.“Kate!”
Her fingers still, but she doesn’t look up right away.She minimizes the window and slowly swivels her head.“Yes?”
“You lied to me about having a kid and you tried to frame Cali.You’re lucky she didn’t die from the drugs your friend gave her.”
I try to not think about the high fatality rate after aspirating vomit.It’s kind of frightening.
“I’m sick of your shit, Kate.I never want to see your face again.You’ve been legally ordered to leave my house, and nowI’mordering you.”
Jaeger is large and imposing, but it’s not his size that’s so intimidating, it’s his voice.The deep rumble directed at Kate could quell a lion.
“Don’t act all gruff and intimidating, Jaeger,” she says in her nasal whine.“We both know you’d never hurt a female.”
He might not, but I have no problem hurting Kate.I step in front of Jaeger, but he drags me back.I glare at him and he shakes his head.
Kate grabs an aerosol container and pops the cap, oblivious to danger.She sprays nail polish drying formula onto her red toenails—and the surface of Jaeger’s oak Mission-style desk.
Jaeger leans his hip against the doorframe and crosses his arms.“Nice car you got out there, Kate.”
She leans forward and picks at a hangnail on the corner of her toe.Her eyes flicker in his direction.“What about it?”
“The VIN indicates it’s your boyfriend’s car.Word around town is the condo you own in Reno was purchased with his drug money as well, and that you played a part in his meth lab.”
Her head whips around.“That’s a lie!”
“You had your boyfriend order his dealer buddy to drug Cali.You’re an accomplice, and I can prove the link between you and Brad.If I want, I can make it so you have a home just like the one your man’s in.Nice and compact, living the simple life.”
Kate’s feet are on the ground in seconds.“What do you want, Jaeger?”Her words are punchy with anger.
Cornered and still a bitch.Impressive.
“I want you out of my house and my lifefor good.Don’t go near my girlfriend, my family, or my friends.Matter of fact, might be a good idea if you left California and Nevada and went somewhere far away.”
She chuckles bitterly.“You’re crazy.I’m not leaving.Besides, I don’t have any?—”
“Money?”Jaeger’s arms drop and he straightens to his full height.“Sell the five grand worth of crap you purchased on my credit card prior to my finding out”—I choke, blinking uncontrollably.Five grand?—“and the apartment you own, and move away.You might consider getting a job for once in your life.It’s over, Kate.There’s no one left to freeload off.Your family filed restraining orders against you.”
“What?My mom would never,” she says, but uncertainly fills her eye.
“Your mother, your father, and your sister and her family.Everyone.I filed one this morning.So technically, it’s illegal for you to be this close to me and my property.I could have you arrested.”
A stunned moment of silence congeals as Kate takes in Jaeger’s words.In her attempt to screw others, she has ultimately screwed herself.She has no one.
Kate looks around the office, as if searching for someone or something to save her.Her jaw hardens and she shoulders past us to the spare bedroom.We hear a zipper unwinding, along with drawers screeching open and closed.
It’s music to my ears.
Ten minutes later, Kate is in her car and pulling out of the driveway.
Jaeger and I stand for a few moments in silence, watching her car disappear down the drive, just soaking up the peace that is a Kate-free zone for the first time in weeks.
Gen finally told Blue Casino what Drake did to her, and now Kate’s been run out of town.Life is turning around.And I’m with Jaeger.There is nothing better.
I look back, considering.His beautiful home has been totally contaminated.
Jaeger pulls out his phone, scrolling through his contacts.“Don’t worry, I’m having it detoxed.Calling my cleaning lady right now.”
“I’ll pitch in for new bedding.”
