Page 42 of Paradox
“What’s going on?” she asks.
I push the lesbian drama out of my head and get down to business.
“What’s going on is I’m going to deal with this shit once and for all. Let it be known that I wanted to bury the two of you, but my wife is feeling benevolent.”
“Raven….”
Lonnie steps forward, but Raven raises a hand to stop her.
“Don’t. I want you to leave before I change my mind. If you ever return to Stony View, I won’t ask my husband to show mercy. Got it?”
“Yes.” Her head bobs up and down.
“Good. Now get out of here.”
Raven says something else in Spanish that shakes Lonnie to her core. Her face blanches and she jumps into action, hurrying from the room. Raven turns her attention to Britney, narrowing her eyes. The other woman returns a defiant stare.
“Babe, can I borrow your gun?”
After all her talk of conscience, I raise a skeptical brow but hand it to her anyway. Britney’s eyes widen, gaze flicking between me and my wife.
“You,” Raven says, pointing the barrel of my Glock at Britney’s forehead. “If it wasn’t for that child, I’d put a bullet in you right now, bitch.”
“Please, I’m all he has,” she pleads, all bravado gone.
Raven drops the gun to her side. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you… today. If you ever show your face around here again, I’ll blow your brains out with no hesitation and gladly find your son a better home.”
“But—”
“No buts. I suggest you try to make up with Leanne or go find the kid’s real father. Whatever you do, don’t come near me or my family again.”
I’m somewhat in awe of my wife—again. She’s so strong. I saw it in her a long time ago, saw that I’d be able to draw from her strength. She’s proven me right over and over.
“I have nowhere to go! I can’t stay here, and I can’t go back to Leanne. What am I supposed to do?”
“You should have thought of that before you came here and fucked with us.” I step forward.
“Gage, please.” Britney turns to me. “You and me, we were good together. You loved me until she showed up and made you feel sorry for her.”
“Get this straight, there was no ‘you and me.’ We fucked. Raven is the only woman I’ve ever loved and ever will. Now grab your shit and get the fuck out of my clubhouse and my life.”
A part of me wonders if it wouldn’t be better to get rid of her. If she has nowhere to go, what kind of life are we sending her child to? Then again, Britney got a woman to take care of her before, so I think she’ll manage.
Before I can stop her, she charges at Raven but gets a gun butt to the head for her troubles.
“Ow! Bitch!” she screams from the floor, rubbing at the injured spot.
Raven tries to mask it, but I can see that took a lot out of her physically. She’s having difficulty breathing and staying on her feet. I lead her to the bed and make her sit, then grab Britney’s arm and pull her to her feet. I’ve had enough of this bullshit.
“I’ll be right back, babe,” I tell Raven as I head for the door.
Once out of earshot, I force Britney against the wall. I know Raven thinks a warning is enough to fix this situation, but if I banished her and she came back, I doubt my wife’s threat will be enough. I hate everything about this situation. For her son’s sake, I hope I can get through to her this time.
“Listen to me, and pay close attention.” I lean in close. “There are two reasons you’re not buried somewhere no one will find you: my wife and kids are okay, and your kid. I even hear a rumor that you’re back in Stony View, I won’t hesitate to put you down. You got it?”
She nods, the kind of fear I want to see finally in her eyes.
“Words.”
