“You guys,” I said, choking back a sob as I stared at my friends as they walked over to hug me.“Thank you so much!This is amazing!”
“Thank Dom, he’s the one who put everything together.We just helped with the easy stuff,” Charlie said as she took Molly from Axel and rocked her to sleep.
“This is seriously the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen,” I said, turning to Dom.“Thank you so much.”
“You never have to thank me, baby.”He leaned in and kissed my forehead, then let go as Keith and Ashley came over to wish me a happy birthday.
After all of the hugging was done, I grabbed a plate and started filling it with food as a few other friends showed up.I caught Dr.Foster talking with Dom and noticed the way she lowered her head when I gave her a look, knowing she hadn’t needed my help today after all.It was all just part of the ploy to get me away from Dom long enough for him to do this.
Everyone was sitting down eating when the front door opened.
I turned to see who it was and froze as my fork fell from my grip to my plate, the sound shattering the silence that had fallen around us.
“Happy birthday, Jo,” Tray said as he stepped inside, flanked by two burly-looking men on each side of him.
Fifty-Four
Jo
My entire body frozeas I stared at him, a tremble running through me as I struggled to process what was happening.How could I go from having the time of my life to looking death in the eye in a matter of seconds?
Commotion broke out around me as Dom, Axel, and Keith got up and headed toward Tray.Within seconds, they all stopped as my heart hammered so loudly in my ears that I couldn’t hear what anyone was saying.All I could see was the guns pointed at three people I loved and the one Tray had aimed at my head.
I felt something poking my leg and glanced down to find Ashley’s hand against it.I kept my attention on Tray and his men as they came inside, allowing the door to slam shut behind them.From my periphery, I could tell that Ashley’s attention was fixated on them as well.
I reached down and brushed my fingers against hers, letting her know I acknowledged her.The feeling of cold metal brushed against my palm as she pressed the butt of a knife into it and pulled her hand away as I closed my fingers around it.
There was something unnerving about being here tonight because I didn’t have my gun on me.It was a rookie mistake, but I had been in a rush when I left earlier and hadn’t thought to grab it before I went to the clinic.Or maybe I had just gotten too comfortable, knowing that Dom had his on him and that Dr.Foster had several to choose from at the clinic.
“You need to get the fuck out of here,” Dom growled as my attention snapped into focus at the sound of his voice.“Now.”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready to,” Tray said as he pulled a chair out from one of the tables across from me and sat down.“I wouldn’t want to miss mywife’sbirthday party.”
My skin crawled from hearing his voice, but I pulled my shoulders back and looked him in the eye as I tucked the knife into my jeans.
“Ex-wife,” I corrected, my attitude immediately shifting to the pissed-off woman who left him all those years ago.“And you’re not fucking wanted here, so get the fuck out.”
