Page 132 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“No you don’t, motherfucker.” It’s as though every movie where the heroine is about to kick some ass montages through my mind at once as I stare at him. I tear my hand away from Thane while slipping out of my high heels, then I remove my earrings.
I’m going to rip this asshole apart from one end of the room to another.
“It’s okay.” I barely hear Thane’s words over the blood boiling in my ears, but he presses his hands to my shoulders and eases me back into my chair.
When did he stand up?
I try to catch Thane’s eye, but his gaze is straight ahead with murderous intent. His fingers dig into my shoulders, and I squeeze them in a show of support. He inhales deeply before releasing me and making his way to the stage.
My heart is in my throat, my fists clenched tightly in my lap, and I’m ready to pounce at the first sign of my man needing me.
Please, please let this asshole make one wrong move so I can fight for everything I hold dear by utilizing every dirty trick my father ever taught me.
I will not be a pushover. I have something, someone—a family—that makes fighting for love so much more powerful than anything these assholes could ever throw at us.
And we never fail.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
THANE
I’m smilingat Weston Westbrook, actually smiling at a stranger. His poor parents set him up for ridicule with that name, but perhaps I’m missing something since the father said they adopted him.
If they filled these events with people like Weston, I might actually attend more.
“You have a superfan,” Lottie whispers to my left.
My cheeks ache. Who knew you used so many muscles to smile?
“We have a very special guest here tonight to introduce this year’s Advancement in Technology award.” The emcee could stand to turn his microphone down by at least half.
Movement at the corner of the stage catches my attention, and the man walking with a swagger I know all too well sucks all the oxygen from the room.
“No.” The word leaves my chest like an exorcism. He shouldn’t be here. Why wasn’t I notified? I’m going to kill my attorney.
“I’m so glad I could be here after a…shall we say, unfortunate misunderstanding.”
Misunderstanding? He nearly killed a family in a crosswalk when he blew through a red light, not to mention put his own daughter at risk. How is that a misunderstanding?
“My son has always…thought outside the box, though I do hope his younger sister will learn to color a little more inside the lines.”
Silence. No one laughs. No one claps.
Lottie presses on my fingertips. Fuck. I’m crushing her hand, but I can’t let it go either. It’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.
“Thane had the option of joining me at JW Tech. Unfortunately for us both, his unorthodox working styles weren’t a match for my company, and I knew that if I handed him everything from the start, he wouldn’t be able to thrive.”
Is he trying to take credit for my success right now?
“Thane has never been a man of many words, so I’m thankful I get to be here to share in his success with you all tonight. He’s said many times that he wouldn’t be where he is today if I’d coddled him.” He points to the young Westbrook, and I’m filled with rage. It eases slightly when Weston’s father wraps an arm protectively around him. “Let this be a lesson for the younger generations. You may not understand your parents’ ways, but if you trust the process?—”
“No you don’t, motherfucker.” Lottie’s words catch me off guard, and I spin in time to witness her literally preparing to fight my father.
She’s about to go into battle with him—for me.
The rage of a moment ago is replaced with something I’ve never had before—all-consuming love and admiration.
Love for this woman who is ready to go to war with a man she’s never met. Love for a sister I can’t imagine living without. Love for the family we’re creating together. Love for children like Weston and me, and all the others like us who don’t have someone fighting for us.
