Page 35 of The Problem with Fire
He arched a brow, and it worked for the CPA in him. “You know damn well what I mean.”
My grin could only be described as condescending. “Oh, you mean you want me to stay away from Monroe? Because the last time I checked, you didn’t have a family. You have a daughter.”
“A daughter who would love to see her parents back together, and your interest in Monroe is threatening that,” he replied, and it was a wonder I was still on my feet.
This asshole had to be joking right now.
Hehadto be.
“The only thing threatening you ever getting Monroe back isyou,”I scoffed. “With or without me in the picture, Monroe would never take you back after what you did to her and Leta.”
His face colored a bit. “You don’t know that,” he argued. “And even if that were the case, I’d like to find out without interference from you.”
“Well, that’s just too fucking bad,” I snapped. “I don’t know if you’re underestimating my intelligence, or overestimating yours, but we both know you don’t want Monroe back. This is a simple case of you not wanting her, but not wanting anyone else to have her either.” I stepped up to the asshole. “Well, I’ve got news for you, Thomas. Someone elsedoeshave her now.Me.And you better believe I have your ex-wife every fucking chance I get.”
“Oh, that’s classy,” he shot back. “Is that how you talk about your women? Is that how Monroe deserves to be referred to?”
I was going to fuck this asshole up.
My teeth were clenching so hard, it was a wonder I could get the words out at all. “Are you seriously daring to stand there and talk to me about how Monroe deserves to be treated? Are you fucking serious?”
“At least I never talked about her like she was just a piece of ass,” he snapped.
“No. You just decided one day that you no longer loved her or wanted to be with her, so you just walked away like a fucking coward,” I seethed. “And now you’re pissed that she’s finally moved on because, deep down, you know you walked away from a good thing.”
“Look, I’m not here to discuss my mistakes with you,” he replied. “I’m here to tell you to stay away from Monroe. Let me and her work our shit out. And if you can’t do it for me, do it for Leta.”
I was thirty-five years old, and I was pretty sure I’d never been this pissed off in my entire life. I’ve been angry, and growing up with two brothers, we’ve been in our fair share of fights with people and each other. But I’ve never been this furious before.
Never.
“I’m not going anywhere, Thomas,” I told him. “You can spin your words any way you want to try to manipulate me into bowing out, but it’s not going to happen.”
“You-”
“I love Monroe,” I said, the words sounded right and natural on my lips. “I love her in a way you never did, and I’ll be goddamned if you think I’m walking away from her just so you could have a second chance with her. Especially, since we both know you’re only doing this because you don’t like knowing that she’s moved on to smarter, stronger, younger, and better.”
“You’re wrong,” he lied. “You’re wrong, and even if you don’t back down, that doesn’t mean I’m going to. I’m fighting for my family. You’re just fighting for a piece of ass.”
I had him slammed up against the wall before either of us knew it. “They’ll never be able to pick up all the pieces if you ever talk about Monroe like that again,” I seethed.
There were shouts and the thunder of footsteps all around us, and seconds later, my body was being pulled off his. “Hayes!” Leonard yelled. Carl, Demarcus, and Lance were pushing Thomas back, while Leonard, Kellen, Jake, and Garrett were holding me back, locking me between the firetruck and their bodies.
Kellen’s head was swiveling between me and Thomas. “What the fuck is going on?”
I jerked my chin towards Thomas, anger boiling in my veins, and every ounce of testosterone in my body threatening to break free and fuck Thomas up. “That’s Monroe’s ex-husband,” I gritted though my teeth.
“Fuck,” Kellen hissed.
“Okay,” Jake hollered. “I think it’s time for you to go, Monroe’s ex-husband.”
Feeling safe with a wall of firefighters between us, Thomas yelled, “This isn’t over!”
“You’re right!” I yelled back. “It’s not!”
Kellen was patting my chest, trying to calm me down. “Relax man,” he said. “Don’t let him get to you.”
I watched as Carl, Demarcus, and Lance escorted Thomas from the building, but the guys didn’t let me go until we could hear the obvious signs of Thomas’ car driving away. But even then, it was still a couple of minutes later that the guys finally let me go.
