Page 192 of Ruthless Legacy

I give her one more opportunity to rethink her life choices and go stand in the corner. After a few more minutes, she says. “You’re in my spot.”

I rub my temples, knowing exactly what’s going to happen next. “Whoever put you up to this was an idiot. Don’t be their pawn.”

“What did you say to me?”

If I answer or not, it won’t matter. She’s already committed to what she’s about to do. She ignores my warning and grabs for me. I let her, because it really isn’t her fault she was given a shitty assignment or promised money in exchange for getting her ass kicked. I even let her get in a few hits, thinking it will appease her to say she roughed me up like instructed.

But instead of taking the win I give her, and walking away while I’m bent over trying to catch the breath I lost when she punched me in the stomach, she continues to waste her breath.

“I’m gonna mess up that pretty little face of yours.”

She lunges at me. Instead of moving, I grab her and pull her closer. The momentum throws her off balance. I grab the back of her head and smash her face into the wall. She screeches in pain and spins around, blood gushing from her nose.

“Now, who’s got a pretty face?” I ask.

“I’m gonna kill you.”

She comes at me and once again I let her get a few hits in. I shove her away. “Okay, that’s enough.”

“Not even close.”

She pulls a knife she shouldn’t have out of her pocket and charges me. We struggle for it. She’s about my height but has more muscle.

I can’t get the knife free, so I do the only thing I can do. I let go of her hand and slam my shoulder into her chest. I feel the slide of the blade across my arm as I tackle her to the ground and the fire of the blade when she stabs me in my back.

I straddle her and ram my fists into her face over and over again. I stagger to my feet and pull the knife out. The cell door opens, a cop steps into the cell, staring down at my roommate sprawled onto the floor. He quickly calls for backup. He orders me to drop my weapon. I do, but three cops charge at me and wrestle me to the ground.

The guy who called for backup is closer now. “Calm down. Calm down.”

Why is he saying that? I am calm. His is the last face I see before he stabs me in the arm with a needle and things go black.

Chapter76

Pax

Ipace back and forth, checking the time on my watch again. It’s only a few minutes later than the last time I looked. Where are the guys? They should be here by now. We just need to make it through this meeting, and then everything will be ready. We’ll be able to formally announce our plans for Thea.

She’s everything I could ask for in a wife. Strong, smart, funny. Sexy as hell, and she accepts me. All of me. Even the parts I’ve kept hidden all these years.

She knows I’m an asshole, aCoxsucker.But she hasn’t asked me to change, even though the same can’t be said about me. What was I thinking? How could I ever have thought she needed to conform? As if dyeing her hair, or talking and behaving a certain way would make her more worthy. More deserving. I’m glad she never listened. I don’t want a carbon copy of every other league wife. I want Thea. The original, unfiltered version.

The door knob turns and the door squeaks open. I turn in my chair, “It’s about time-” My elation drops when I see who steps into the room. “Dad.”

“Why do you look so surprised to see me, son? Did you really think you could have a meeting with a lawyer without me knowing about it?”

I spot Eloise behind him. What’s she doing here? I cover my confusion by saying, “It hadn’t crossed my mind to tell you I was seeking council for a question I had.”

“A question.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And what question would that be?”

“I wanted-”

“Don’t even fix your mouth to lie to me, boy. I already know what’s going on. You may have thought you were keeping your plans from me, but there’s nothing that happens in this town or with a prospect that I don’t know about.”

He takes the seat at the head of the conference table. “I’m not upset about your visit. In fact, I’m glad you took the initiative. Saves me the time from having to do the legwork myself. I want you to finish drafting your marriage contract.”

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