Page 42 of Twisted Contract

“Connor, please. You may hate him, but I don’t, and I don’t want any part of it.” I walk out of the hospital to get some air. As soon as I step outside, I know I made a mistake and want to return to Connor, but I’d said too much when he was already hurting. He didn’t need me to make things worse, and I did just that. What a selfish bitch.

The men that work for the MacNamaras are all around. “Mrs. MacNamara, you shouldn’t be out here all alone.”

“Is there someone who can take me home?” I ask.

“Yes, I can,” he says.

“Thank you.” I get in the vehicle and as he pulls out of the lot, I tell him where to take me.

“That’s not home, ma’am.”

“Technically, it still is my home.”

“I don’t believe Mr. MacNamara will be pleased.”

“I assure you, right now he wants to see the back of me.” He gives me a skeptical look and drives on.

“If that’s what you wish.” It’s not. What I want is Connor to really be in love with me the way I love him and for us to put this contract to bed. It doesn’t matter to me anymore, but he only wants revenge against my father and a divorce. I can at least give him the divorce.

I sit in silence in the back and think about my bakery that I haven’t been in since the shooting. Oh goodness, it’s probably a mess and has been looted. I really need security cameras. With the new sales I have planned, I should be able to afford the upgrades.

When we pull up to the building, the wood is gone and the glass has been completely repaired. I’m shocked because it’s only been a week and I haven’t spoken to the people about repairing it yet.

I enter my apartment from the side because I’m not in the mood to walk through the chaos of the destroyed storefront. When I open my apartment door, it’s pretty much just as I left it. Oh my goodness. “All the food,” I gasp. All my produce in the fridge must be gross by now.

I don’t want to deal with it right now. I strip out of my sweater and toss it to the side. My body and soul ache, and I need a shower. Naked and with the water spraying on me a few minutes later, the hot water gives me a bit of relief until I hear, “Couldn’t wait to wash me away?”

Chapter Sixteen

Connor

This is the worst fucking day of my life. I can’t believe shit. I want to go in there and smash his face in, but I need to hunt her down and stop her. Jack comes up behind me as I stare at the empty hallway. “Go after her. We’ll watch and keep you posted. There’s nothing you can do here. You know surgery is going to last a long time, Brother.” Jack hugs me.

“Thanks.” I run after Claudia.

When I get outside, she’s gone. I see another one of my guards. “Where the hell is my wife?”

“Tommy took her home,” he says. “That’s where she wanted to go.”

“Okay.”

I rush off to my vehicle so I can get to her. Only two minutes into driving home, I get a text message from Tommy.Taking her to the bakery apartment. She said you’d approve.I’ll stay outside.

Good. Don’t leave her. I’ll be there soon, and don’t tell her I’m coming.

My chest aches when I hear she decided she wanted to go to her apartment and worse, called it home. There’s no way she can just get away from me that easily. We have a deal, a contract, and we haven’t even met a fraction of it. Yes, her father was a portion of it, but she still had to bake Nora and Jack’s wedding cake and so far, it doesn’t look like they’re getting married any time soon.

I pull up behind Tommy, and he steps out to meet me. “Any issues?”

“No. She went straight through the side door to the apartment.”

“Okay. Good. You can go. I’ll deal with my wayward wife.”

“Sir, just so you know. She said that you would be glad to see the back of her.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I thought it was odd, but I figure couples have spats. Me and the missus have had our share, and she’s gone to her mother’s to cool down.”

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