Page 188 of Sinful Blaze

I need to stretch my legs. The closer I get to my due date, the heavier I feel and it causes cramps in my calves.

I just feel too drained to do anything other than check the mail.

Mak and Sofi insist on joining me, while Asya starts making dinner.

“By the way,” Sofi says once we’re in the elevator, “I saw the security footage from the restaurant. I am so fucking proud of you.”

“And a tiny bit scared,” adds Mak. He winks at me. “Just you wait. We’ll have you running interrogations in no time.”

I muster up a feeble smile.

Then the elevator opens and that smile dies a nasty death.

“Well, well. What perfect timing.”

My blood ices over. Just when I thought things couldn’t get possibly worse, she has to show up.

“I was just on my way up to offer my condolences.” Brittany flashes me her wicked smirk. “Thanks for saving me the trip.”

“You can’t be here,” Sofi snaps at her.

“I can, and I am.” Brittany scoffs and gives her a onceover. “This isn’t your corporate tower. You have no say here.”

“The hell do you want?” I croak. “Obviously, you want something. You’re here, I’m here, so spit it out.”

She smirks. “Oh, ‘NeNe, you’re so touchy lately. Calm down. I’m just here because I want to make sure you know it was me.” She takes a step closer, her voice lowering into a dangerous rasp. “I want to see your face as you realize I’m the one who ruined your perfect little happy-ever-after. Just like you always ruined mine. Bitch.”

I look at her.

I set the mail down.

Then I crack my fist into her nose.

Brittany Cleary screams bloody murder and crumples against the wall. Blood gushes through her clutching fingers, pours down over her shirt, and drips onto the floor.

Well… shit.

I think I actually broke her nose.

“Someone help me!” she shrieks at the top of her lungs. “I’m being attacked!”

“Shut the fuck up.” Mak signals something to the doorman, who rushes off to call the authorities. “You’ve been harassing her and just admitted to stalking her. You’re lucky I don’t hand her some cutlery.”

Even in the midst of all this horrible chaos, that makes a tiny bubble of laughter form in my chest. When I look up at him, he smiles, winks at me, and mouths something that looks like, Everything’s gonna be okay.

“I’m gonna sue!” Brittany swipes a bloody hand at me. “I’m gonna fucking sue you, you bitch!”

“The only thing you’re going to do is stay the hell away from me.” I kneel down close, just so she can see my face clearly. “Stay the hell away from me and my family. The next time I see you, I’ll break more than your nose. I’ve got people who will happily help me bury what’s left of you. Do. Not. Fuck. With. Us.”

Brittany seethes through the blood. In her eyes, she’s always the victim. In her eyes, she can never do wrong.

I don’t actually care what she thinks—as long as she keeps her hands off me and mine.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, she nods. I wait until her body slumps in surrender before I back off.

But I don’t turn my back to her. I don’t trust her not to suddenly change her mind and go apeshit on me.

Mak grabs the mail and drapes his arm around my shoulder as we walk out of the room. Sofi keeps her eyes glued to Brittany until we round the corner.

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