“You’ve been the one making threats, Shawn,” I snap. “Threatening to take my son from me. A son you admitted you don’t even care about.”
“It’s called a bargaining chip, Elliot. God, you’re so dramatic. If you’d just gotten me the tickets, I would’ve left you alone. But no, you had to be a total bitch and now?—”
He moves to crowd me back against the car.
But he never gets the chance.
In one smooth, terrifying motion, Shawn is yanked backward and lifted clean off his feet.
Arthur.
Arthur turns him around mid-air, sets him down hard, and shoves him back against the car like he weighs nothing at all. Shawn stares up at him, eyes blown wide.
“And now?” Arthur asks.
His voice is low. Flat. Ice cold. It sounds nothing like the man who brought me breakfast this morning and stole a kiss when no one was looking.
“Jesus,” Shawn breathes. “Coach Stetson?”
“Don’t call me that,” Arthur says calmly. “My players call me that. And if I ever saw one of them threatening a woman,they’d be on the injured list permanently. Now, what were you saying to Elliot?”
Shawn’s gaze flicks to me, suddenly uncertain, almost pleading. “I…I…”
Arthur doesn’t let him finish. “You know what? I don’t want to hear it, and I sincerely doubt Elliot does either. You’re not supposed to be speaking to her at all. That’s what lawyers are for. So I suggest you leave before I call the police.”
He steps back, giving Shawn exactly enough space to walk away. Nothing more.
Shawn straightens his jacket, still visibly rattled. He shoots me a glare, but Arthur shifts smoothly in front of me, blocking him from view.
“Let me be very clear,” Arthur says. “You don’t look at Elliot. You don’t talk to Elliot. You stay the hell away from her and from Sam. If you contact either of them again, I will make it my personal mission to ruin your life. Do you understand?”
Shawn nods. Fast.
He starts toward his car.
“One more thing,” Arthur calls.
Shawn turns back.
“I can’t stop you from being an Otters fan, but the feeling is not mutual. You’re banned from this arena. Security will have your picture within the hour. If you show up here again, you’ll be escorted out. Have a nice day.” Arthur pauses, then adds pleasantly, “Actually, go fuck yourself.”
I exhale for what feels like the first time in minutes.
He turns back to me, dark eyes scanning my face like he’s checking for cracks. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I say, and I mean it. I am okay. “Thank you for being here.”
“Always.” He hesitates, then adds, “I’m going to have someone walk you to your car from now on.” I open my mouth to argue, and he catches it immediately. His expressionsoftens, the edge melting away. “Please, Boss. Humour me?”
I sigh. “Okay. Just for a little bit.”
“Thank you.” He pauses. “Are you going to call Jess?”
“Yes. As soon as I’m in the car. And Nadine.”
Arthur nods, already in problem-solving mode. “I’ll have security pull the footage and send it to them.”
“Thank you.”
