Page 88 of At His Beck & Call

“Stop worrying, it’s gonna be a great eve?—”

Her eyes are suddenly fixed on something ahead of us, and her fingers take a white-knuckled grip on the wheel.

“Oh, that asshole son of a bitch,” she whispers.

We come to a stop at the base of the steps near my apartment, and I look up to see James standing at the top waiting for us.

“Fuck this,” Bethany says acidly, “I’ll get rid of the fucker.”

I put a hand on her arm, looking imploringly back at Henry. She inhales deeply and sets her jaw.

“Alright, alright,” she snarls, squeezing the wheel. “You need me to come with you?”

“No. It’s alright,” I say weakly, the fear of James’s presence humming through my entire body. “I’ll just hear him out, and he’ll leave.”

“He’s notallowedto be here,” Bethany mutters bitterly. “Fuck that asshole.”

“Beth.”

“Sorry, alright, I’ll stay here with Henry. Don’t let him get near you, or I can’t be responsible for my actions.”

“Not a chance,” I say resolutely, and she gives me a nod. I get out of the car, closing the door quietly behind me, and walk toward James.

I can tell he’s here for one purpose; the brown envelope in his hands is exactly what I have been expecting.

But something is different. For the first time, as I approach him, I’m not scared, or cowering away, wondering what he’s going to do. Today, I’m spitting mad.

Fuck him.

He’s destroyed everything in my life up until this point. The only good thing he ever gave me was Henry, and now he’s trying to take him away.

How dare he fucking try to do that?

James descends the steps, his expression stern and angry as he thrusts the envelope at me. A wave of something moves through me; it’s not rage this time, just a strange, sweeping feeling of calm.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” I say, and my voice comes out a lot louder than I’m expecting. James stops, faltering for a second before he continues advancing.

“Divorce papers,” he says triumphantly. “Don’t get used to having sole custody of our son,myson; those days are coming to an end.”

“The reason I have sole custody is because you almost killed me,” I spit out. I don’t know what’s come over me, but it’s empowering as hell.

“Excuse me?” his mouth is slack with shock. It’s the first time I’ve ever spoken back to him, and his disbelief is palpable.

I snatch the papers from his hand. “Is that it?” I ask. “You’re here violating the protective order against you. Again. You could have sent somebody else to deliver these, but you’re doing it to show how muchcontrolyou have over me. Well, you don’t. I’ll fight you in court, and I’ll win custody of Henry. You’ll get yourvisits when I allow you to, and until that point, don’t fucking bother me again. Is that understood?”

I’m shaking like a leaf inside. I’ve never said anything even remotely combative to him in all the years I’ve known him. But there’s a fire inside me now, it feels a lot like the little flame that burns when I’m with Oliver.

“What did you just say to me?” he demands, disbelief in his voice.

“You heard me,” I say.

My whole body feels as if it’s going to vibrate right through the sidewalk, but I don’t back down, taking a step toward him, and for the first time ever, he retreats from me.

“I won’t stop you from seeing Henry when you arepermittedto come here, but don’t talk to me again unless absolutely necessary. Is that clear?”

His eyes move to the car, where I know Bethany will be glaring daggers at him. I just hope Henry can’t hear any of this.

James laughs mockingly. It’s always the tactic he uses when he’s surprised by something. Making fun of someone who got the better of him is always easier than admitting defeat.