“Bryce, it’s over. We’re done. Go back to L.A. and leave me alone.” I stood firm and said all of the things I wanted to say when I walked out a few weeks ago but had been too scared. He’d only signed the divorce papers because my team of six-thousand-dollar lawyers were hovering over him. His pride wouldn’t allow him to beg me to stay before such distinguished men.
“Come home.” He completely didn’t listen to a word I fucking said.
I sighed. “I am home. Go find someone else’s life to ruin. I’m fucking done with you.”
I turned to walk inside when his ominous voice reached out to me. “But I’m not done with you.” I froze, chills working up my arms.
When I spun around, his car took off. He was gone, and I hated to admit it, but he’d scared me shitless.
I’m not done with you.
When I walked back inside, my hands were shaking a little, but I put a smile on my face. I walked right past Ethan’s table and up to the bar. “Sorry, Mickey. Won’t happen again.”
I needed this fucking job.
“It’s okay, doll. Isn’t the first and won’t be the last. You okay?”
I nodded.
Reaching over to the beer tub, I grabbed four Bud Lights and popped the tops.
I’m not done with youplayed over and over in my head as I walked to Ethan’s table. When I got there, all four guys were silent. I set the beers before each one of them, unable to meet any of their gazes. When I went to pull my hand back from setting the beer before Ethan, his snaked out and gently grabbed my fingers, lacing them through mine.
“Are you okay?” His other hand reached out and tipped my chin up.
I knew if I met his gaze I would cry, so I focused on his nose. “I’m okay,” I repeated, almost to myself.
“Where does that douchebag live?” James asked in a steely growl. He never spoke. I had maybe heard him say three words in the handful of times I met him.
A weak smile graced my lips. “Let it go, guys. It’s over.” Pulling my fingers from Ethan’s grasp, I walked back to the kitchen.
Why had I thought divorcing Bryce would solve all of my problems? I should have known he wouldn’t let me go until he was done with me.
Problem was, he’d told me once that I would only ever leave him in a body bag. At the time I wondered if it was a morbid joke. Now I prayed it wasn’t true.
OceanofPDF.com
Seven
When Ethan came in with his boys, they normally stayed for a couple hours and left. But this time, when his friends left, he stayed and kept ordering bottled water every hour. I was still shaken from my run-in with Bryce, and when Mickey cut me at 2AM for my shift, Ethan wordlessly led me outside and we got on his bike. As I clung to him, driving home, my eyes darted around for that black sedan. How long would Bryce stay here? Surely he had to get back to work … unless he’d asked his dad for a transfer to the Phoenix firm. The very thought made bile rise up in my throat.
Did he know I lived here above the garage with Ethan? Could he break in and…? I hadn’t even realized we had reached home until Ethan stepped off the bike. We still hadn’t talked; Ethan was good like that. He could pick up on my emotional shutdowns and he knew when he shouldn’t push me or force me to say anything. Maybe he’d learned it living with his mom…
The very thought that Ethan was well equipped to deal with me because of his experience with his mother made depression settle into my bones.
By the time we reached the top of the stairs, I felt a mild panic at the thought of sleeping alone tonight.
“Can I lie with you?” I blurted out. “Just for tonight?”
When he turned to face me, his eyes were alight. “Of course.”
I nodded. “I’ll just change.”
I had seen his door cracked open once and knew he had a big bed, not the twin that I had, and a more luxurious bathroom. So I popped into my room, pulled on my white silky sleep shorts and a tank top and brushed my teeth.
I’m not done with you.
I’m not done with you.
