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I hear rustling on the other end of the line before he speaks. “What’s going on?”

“Did you know? Did you know Gemma and Oliver are still married?”

Bash inhales sharply. “What? No way. Gem told me she filed for divorce months ago.”

I rake a hand through my hair in frustration, yanking at the roots. “Well, apparently, it didn’t go through. She told me herself. She’s been stringing me along this whole fucking time.”

“Shit. I can’t believe it. She wouldn’t do that, man. Not to you. She hates Oliver.”

“He’s forcing her with something. I can’t think of anything else.”

I’m fuming as I pace around my office. This whole situation with Gemma has me reeling. That sneaky bastard Oliver. And her, not breathing a damn word about it to me until now.

“Did she tell you anything else?”

Bash sighs. “Let me talk to her. She wouldn’t do this without a reason.”

No, she wouldn’t. I have to make her tell me everything.

Concern edges Bash’s tone. “Did he hurt her?”

“He had his hands on her. Practically dragging her around.”

“Son of a—” Sebastian cuts himself off, exhaling. “Alright, don’t do anything stupid. I’m on my way.”

“Hurry the hell up then. I’ll talk with Connor in the meantime.” As much as I want to pummel Oliver into the ground, I can’t. Gemma seemed scared to her death. I don’t want to add to that. For now, anyway.

“Keep me on the call. This is my sister.”

I add Brandon and Connor to the call, filling them in on the fucked up situation.

“I’ll look into it right now,” Connor says.

The call goes quiet except for Connor’s rapid keystrokes. My hands clench into fists, anger boiling inside me. I should have checked on her scumbag of a husband, making sure he wouldn’t find some way to keep his claws in Gemma.

A notification chimes on Connor’s end. “Yeah, the divorce was never finalized. It’s been stalled in litigation after some other issues.”

“That son of a bitch,” Sebastian says.

I’m seeing red. That slippery fuck Dorrance is still holding my gem captive. Over my dead goddamn body.

“What do we do?” Brandon asks.

What do we do? I’ll tell you what we fucking do. We get my girl back, no matter what it takes.

“We take the bastard down.” And I’m getting my fucking wife back.

Chapter 31

How did everything fall apart in a few seconds? Yesterday, I’d been happy in Elijah’s arms, dreaming of a future together this morning. And now, that future is in ashes, destroyed by the man beside me.

“Your performance needs to get better. I’ll let it slide. This time.” Oliver pats my knee in a mocking gesture before starting the car.

We drive back to the city in suffocating silence.

I stare out the window at the sea stretching before us. I should have known Oliver wouldn’t give up control over me. Should’ve questioned more about him stalling. But I’ve been foolish.

This was supposed to be the start of a new chapter in my life, free from Oliver, free to explore a genuine relationship with a man who cares... cared for me.

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