Page 96 of Players and Pages
“I was just making sure your point got across. You were obsessed and I didn’t like that they were making us look crazy,” she complained. “The emails were harmless. So was the note and the paint. You deserved it.”
Her lips curled again as she sneered at me.
“None of it was harmless. It was harassment and you just admitted it,” I pointed out.
“I’m just backing up my brother. No one treats our family like this,” she growled, trying to look fierce but I just rolled my eyes.
Henry turned to her, shaking his head. “You made this so much worse. I told you to back off after I found the paint you tracked in.”
So he hadn’t been involved in that? What the hell was going on?!
“I was doing this for you!” she screeched, voice so high it turned raspy at the end. She was losing it. “I promised Mom I’d watch over you.”
“You can’t do that if we’re in jail, Valerie,” he hissed back, letting out a defeated sigh. “Look. I got the message last time. I’m stepping back. So is she.”
“Like hell I a-” He slammed a hand over her mouth, holding it there as she thrashed around. They were both fucking crazy.
“I’m sorry. She’ll stop,” he promised. “Please don’t press charges.”
“And what, we let it all go and live our lives?” Jackson asked, looking skeptical. “No chance.”
“You have the restraining order, her confession, all the evidence. I… I let it all get to be too much, focused on the wrong things. I’m sorry,” he tried again. “Life just… is hard sometimes and I looked at you with your perfect face and perfect personality, perfect pack… perfect omega.”
He cut off as my pack growled at him, holding his hands up and throwing me an apologetic look.
“Sorry. I just… let it go too far. I’m starting therapy and the team has me on probation and strict rules. I’m trying here.”
“And you?” I asked, turning to Valerie. He let his hand fall away and she huffed. “Do you have it together or do I need to share this video?”
Her face paled as reality sank in.
“Fine.” The word dripped with so much hate and frustration that I knew it was only from her brother’s pleas that she let it go.
“One point of contact. One note. A single fucking email, and it’s out there,” Bea warned. “My taste for vengeance is strong, don’t fucking test me, Barbie.”
Valerie snarled but Henry tried to shove her through the door.
“She won’t. I’ll talk her down,” he promised. “In fact, we’ll move on. A fresh start somewhere else. Okay?”
“What?!” she protested but he was still trying to push her inside and away from us.
I didn't trust this. He was too compliant right now. After going through all that effort? Something was off.
Jackson must have agreed. He stepped forward, facing off with Henry.
“Just like that you’ve changed?” he laughed in his face. “No hard feelings, huh?”
His fist flew out so fast the other alpha had no time to stop it. Jackson’s fist hit Henry square in the nose, a sickening crunch making my stomach churn.
“One wrong move, Henry. And I will bury you.”
“Understood,” Henry gasped, turning and rushing toward the door. Not before Dolly lunged. She’d been waiting, purse at the ready, and wasn’t missing the opportunity for violence.
She swung, the purse hitting him in the ass so hard a thud echoed out and he was pitching forward. He faceplanted, then scurried to his feet and inside like a scared little rabbit.
“Damn, didn’t know you had it in you, Jackson,” Bea cheered. “That was a solid hit. You get that on camera, Dani?! And that finale, Dolly?! Perfection.”
“Yeah, I did,” I grinned, ending the recording and shaking my head. It was the performance of a lifetime.
