Page 46 of The Drummer's Heart

“What the heck?” I shouted.

Atticus’s eyes flashed with anger. “He’s here.”

“Who’s here?”

“Fucking Julian is out front. I set up a Ring camera on the house, and it alerts me whenever someone’s at the door.”

CHAPTER 14

ATTICUS

He had some fucking nerve showing up here. I’d never wanted to break someone’s neck more in my life.

But I couldn’t risk Mimi hearing anything.

“Why are you here?” I spat as I rounded the porch, my ears throbbing.

Nicole took Julian by the arm and led him down the street. “We need to talk down here away from the house,” she explained.

No way I was leaving her alone with him, so I followed. “You didn’t answer my question,” I said to him. “Why are you here?”

“I don’t need to explain that to you.”

“She dumped you. Why would you come if it wasn’t to make trouble?”

“She dumpedme? You’re thinking ofyoursituation.”

My blood boiled. “You need to leave. You know why she and I are here. Now is not the time for your bullshit.”

“I don’t really think that’s for you to decide. You have no right to tell me what to do.”

“I haveeveryright to protect my wife.”

“Your wife?” He huffed. “I believe that ship sailed long ago.”

Nicole stopped walking and held out her palms. “Stop! Both of you.” She turned to me. “Leave us for a bit, please.”

Me?My chest heaved as I looked between them. She wantedmeto go? It pained me to turn around and leave her alone with him, but I did as she asked—mainly because I didn’t want Mimito suspect anything was off if we’d both disappeared. If I came in bruised up, that wouldn’t have been a good look, either.

“Call if you need me,” I said as I walked away.

Much to my chagrin, I got back to the house feeling like I’d left my heart out on that sidewalk with Nicole. I felt hollow inside, and most of all, ashamed—ashamed that my actions had caused all of this. Ashamed that I’d ever allowed her to land in the arms of another man, especially him.

I checked in on Mimi, hoping she hadn’t sensed any commotion outside.

She looked up at me. “You stopped drumming.”

Running my hand through my hair, I sighed. “I did.”

“Did I hear someone at the door?”

“Yeah…uh, it was just someone selling something.”

“Where’s Nicole?”

“She stepped out for a bit.” I walked over to the window and looked out, tapping my foot.

“What’s so interesting out there?”

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