Page 26 of Tangled in Vows

Holden

Day 161 without you: It seems our divorce is final. I hate it even more than I thought I would.

“Boss, you need to calm down. People are staring.” Jax steps in front of me, shielding me from bystanders.

“But—”

He nods. “I know. Someone threatened your wife, and you want to destroy that person. I’d feel the same if it happened to my husband. But we secured the area, and Archer is already looking into it. If anyone can find out who sent the flowers, it’s him.”

I let my head fall against the trailer behind us and count to ten.

Some motherfucker sent Olivia flowers with a note that was an obvious threat.

Did you love my surprise? Let’s see how many other skeletons you are hiding in your closet.

Is this from the same person who told the media about our marriage?

And why was Olivia already reacting before she even saw the note? I feel like I’m missing something, but I don’t know what.

Speaking of Olivia. What did my damn wife do after being threatened? Instead of telling me what got her spooked, she disappeared into her trailer to prepare for the photo shoot as if nothing happened. I can’t decide if she’s as nutty as a fruitcake or if she’s in denial.

I want to march in there to shake some sense into her, to demand to know what’s going on in her pretty head. But I can’t do that. For one, I know how stubborn she is. And as much as I hate it, I know this isn’t the place for it. At least, I’m trying to remind myself of that.

So yes, I might have lost it and thrown the bouquet across the alley. Since several people witnessed my slip of control, I hope no one took a picture or video, or we’re in trouble. At least I waited until Nisha was in the trailer with Olivia, or she probably would have ripped me a new one.

After what feels like an eternity, the door to the trailer finally opens.

Heather, Olivia’s assistant, hops out with a water bottle in one hand and a thermos in the other. She notices us and stops for a second, gives us a shy smile, mumbles, “Hi,” and glances away after half a second.

I met most of Olivia’s team earlier. I already knew everyone on paper, but no one needs to know that. In addition to Heather, there’s Harrison, the stylist, Elise, the makeup artist, and Eduardo, the hairstylist. None of their background checks raised any flags, and they’re all pleasant enough. Of course, they’re all confused about my sudden presence and the news that we’re married. But that was to be expected.

My phone rings in my hand, and I take the call when I see it’s Archer. “Please tell me you got the fucker.”

He sighs into the phone, and I grind my teeth, already knowing the answer.

“Sorry, bro. They ordered the flowers online from a burner phone.”

“Damn it.” I clench my free fist as tightly as possible to keep from hitting something. There would be no way to keep that out of the news.

Jax exhales loudly and rubs his hand over his short hair. He doesn’t need to hear Archer to know the search was a dead end.

Anger is coiling tightly in my stomach, the pain radiating outward until small white flecks pepper my vision.

You need to calm down.

Going berserk doesn’t help find the guy or keep Olivia safe.

“I’ll keep digging. Maybe I missed something,” Archer says.

I close my eyes and inhale deeply until the rage simmers to an appropriate amount of frustration.

Nearby voices draw my attention, and I turn just as Olivia steps out of the trailer.

“Holy shit.”

“What’s happening?” Archer’s alert voice is in my ear.

My mouth is dry, and I have to swallow several times before saying, “All good. Thanks for the call, Arch. We’ll talk later, okay?”

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