Mati threw open her door. “It looks like my parents and Stephen and Mikey are here. I’m going to go yell at them for not answering my calls. I’ll be right back.”
“Wait for us. We all go,” David said, sighing when Mati closed the door and ran up the walk. “The two of you are going to be the death of me,” he muttered, shoving Chaz from the car. “And she’ll have to be the one to explain why we have this asshole with us.”
Reese ran after Mati. Just as he reached the front stoop, there was a loud and furious shout from inside the house.
All the hairs on the back of David’s neck stood on end.
“Wait,” he barked as Mati turned the knob, but it was too late.
“She’s fucking them both! I’ve seen it myself. I’ve been nothing but good to you, and you let your fucking slut daughter tell you tofireme?”
Mati froze, one foot in the door, her face draining of all color. David made a grab for her, ready to yank her back out of the house, but she charged forward before he reached her.
Jesus Fucking Christ.
Reese looked at David in apologetic horror and sprinted in after her.
David’s stomach plummeted.
“Frankie!” Mati’s voice practically shook the house.
A collective gasp issued from the direction of the living room.
“You!” Frankie cried.
David shoved Chaz through the door and into the front hall, forcing him to sit on the stairs, out of sight. “Don’tmove,” David whispered furiously while shrugging off his coat and tossing it aside.
His heart was beating way too fast.
He leaned in close to Chaz, who flinched. “Text your sister and have her send the cops. Now.”
Chaz nodded quickly, his eyes bugging out. If he ran, David wasn’t opposed to tackling him to the ground and threatening to rip his balls off through his nose again.
He took a deep breath, years of training trying to kick in with absolutely no good effect. He knew Frankie’s type—still obsessed with Mati a year later, stalking her for months. He’d seen the way Frankie had chased her through Reese’s house. It all added up to very bad news.
He stepped into the living room, gathering the attention of everyone inside. He noted Frankie’s wild eyes and combative stance while reminding himself sternly that he had advantages. He was trained in hand-to-hand combat. He was bigger than Frankie. He knew the layout of the house, and could hope that Reese and Mati would fucking listen to him if he asked really nicely.
Mati’s parents were on the couch, her brothers hovering nearby. Reese stood behind Mati, facing down Frankie in the middle of room, like some bizarre theatrical production playing out for her family.
“What do you think you’re doing, Frankie?” Mati asked furiously, her hands on her hips.
Frankie’s attention swung back to her. “I’m telling them the truth,” he shouted, his face red and eyes wild. He brandished his phone in the air. “I’ve got pictures of the three of you in the pool house.”
Mati’s face went red, but she didn’t flinch. “Okay, let’s see them.” She held out her hand, calling his bluff.
She was so fucking brave, and David loved her so fucking much.
“Is this true?” Stephen asked.
Reese glared at him. “Is that really the issue here?”
Stephen seemed to think it was.
Frankie held his phone to his chest. “I’m not giving my phone to you. You’ll delete the pictures.”
Mati laughed. “Oh, I guess you think I’m an expert at phones, like you? I hear you cloned mine in church. I’m pretty sure that’s a sin, asshole.”
Mati’s mother gasped.
