Page 36 of Bossy Hero

Dammit. I fucking knew it.

My gut is never wrong.

“What’s wrong, Maddie?”

Slowly and deliberately, she flips her phone closed and sets it on the table. She tosses back the rest of her wine in three large gulps.

“Talk to me,” I urge softly.

She doesn’t meet my eyes, nibbling at her lower lip and removing some of the plum lipstick. “Um. Well, the evening was nice while it lasted.”

“You can tell me anything, Maddie.”

Finally, her eyes return to mine. “It’s Travis.” She huffs, shoulders sagging. “He’s refusing to sign the divorce papers, and now he’s—” Her words cut off as she fights back a sob. “I can’t believe this. And now he’s...”

Dread lodges its way into my throat. “He’s what?”

“He just texted.” She gestures toward the phone. “It seems he flew down for the ceremony. He’s here now. Leo’s giving him trouble at the door, so he can’t get in. And he wants me to go smooth things over.”

My teeth scrape and grind. “What?”

I couldn’t have heard her correctly.

Continuing to avoid my gaze, she adds, “I told him not to show up here, but he doesn’t listen to me.”

“Why would he come here? Your son certainly doesn’t want to see him. And what does this have to do with the divorce papers? Why did you bring that up in the same breath?”

Answering out of the corner of her mouth, she mutters, “Instead of signing, he wants to make things right. And I suspect him showing up here is part of that.”

My eyes catch on how her pretty painted fingernails scratch against her forehead as she digs them in to ease the tension.

I don’t want to ask this next question, but I can’t stop it from coming out. “Make things right with Leo or with you?”

“Both,” she whispers, her chin trembling. “But I told him not to come. Idon’twant this. I don’t want him.”

She keeps glancing over her shoulder for him.

Because he’s here.

Struggling to keep my cool, I blurt, “You’re not fucking thinking of taking him back again, are you?”

Her head kicks back like she’s been smacked. Anger flares behind her eyes. “Excuse me?”

I see the answer. It’s there, hiding behind her expression. She doesn’t even realize it, but she left the door open for that fucker. And he’s about to slither right back into her life.

She’s already as good as gone.

“You don’t have to answer, Maddie. I can see the truth. You’re gonna take him back.”

“Oh, you have me all figured out, huh?”

“You haven’t denied it.” Although my volume is low, my tone is coated in metal spikes. “Pleasetell me what is going on in your head for even considering taking that fucker back.”

“You’re so wrong, Alan. However, I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Her anger gives her the strength to face me head-on. “Where do you get off judging me like this? This has nothing to do with you.”

“Oh no, nothing to do with me at all. Until he tries to kill you again, and then you’ll need my help or one of your kids to save you.”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I ache to suck them back in. “Shit, Maddie. Sorry I?—”

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