Page 38 of Every Single Vow
I watch him walk away, a heavy feeling weighing on my shoulders. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s not. But not even the heavy weight of that possibility fills me with unease like the sight across the street, and the man who currently has my wife pinned against the pharmacy building.
Chapter twenty-three
Dakota
My boots carry me up the sidewalk of downtown Mayson Ridge while Cooper talks with whoever needed his attention.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I slip it out before swiping the screen. “Hello.”
“Hey, I just passed you. I would have stopped, but I’m heading to pick up Trace. School called and said he has a fever.” Laiken sighs.
Her voice sounds tired and strained. My heart goes out to one of my dearest friends. She’s tough as nails, but sometimes I wish I could swoop in and make everything easier for her. Turns out,I’m not the kind that makes thingseasier.I tend to make things messier. The first time I babysat Trace is convincing evidence of that. I was covered in baby poop from tank top to toes and managed to mix up the toothpaste and the diaper rash cream.
“I’m sorry, Laik. Do you need anything? I can pick up some Tylenol or Gatorade? I know he loves those animal crackers when he’s feeling yucky.”
“That would actually be wonderful. Mom is sleeping since she goes in at six.”
Laiken’s mom, Millie, works nights at the Silver Ridge Nursing home and is right up there with Ruthie Mayson on the list of the world’s best moms. When her husband was tragically killed in a car accident, she continued to raise Maddox, Laiken, and Brady the best she could. Throw in Laiken’s unexpected pregnancy with a low life who wouldn’t step up, and Maddox’s need to be Mr. Save Everyone, along with Brady’s drunken outbursts, it was a tough time for the entire family. But Trace was the best thing to ever happen to our little corner of the world, and Brady may have had his fair share of trouble, but he was turning his life around. He’d become a firefighter and he and Maddox had been mending their strained relationship. Laiken had a harder time seeing the silver lining some days. And I don’t blame her.
“Don’t worry. Auntie Kota is to the rescue. Do you need anything?” I ask, crossing the street to The Medicine Box. The small pharmacy/grocery store on the corner.
“I’m good. You’re a life saver,” she says.
“Coop and I will drop it off. Take care of our boy,” I say before hanging up the device.
My hand is resting on the handle of the pharmacy door when I hear the barbaric voice of none other than Joseph Terrell.
“Stopping by to get your herpes meds?” He sneers.
I freeze, whipping around to see the so called cowboy storm up the sidewalk.
“Fuck off, Joey,” I quip, rolling my eyes.
Joseph works for Rocky Bernard. A ruthless crook with more money than he knows what to do with. Joseph trained horses on his ranch and was known for being cruel and unkind to the animals under his training. Which is why at least half of his clients are now mine.
“You think you’re something special?” He growls.
I turn to face him, my chin high. If he thinks he can intimidate me, he’s in for a rude awakening. I’ve been backhanded by my six foot four drunk father on multiple occasions. I can handle an idiot like him any day of the week.
“If you’re mad about losing clients, that’s your own fault,” I say casually. “Maybe you should try actually taking care of those horses. Not abusing them.”
His face curls into a snarl, his brown beady eyes glaring as he crowds into my space. “You think just because that Mayson boy lets you ride his dick that you’re better than me? I know where you came from, girl. Know exactly what a whore like you does to climb the lad….”
“Joseph.”
The simple name is said with so much fury that my eyes widen when I spot Cooper standing behind him. Along with Ryder. And Emmett.Where did they come from?
Joseph pauses, his head turning slightly to glare at the three men.
“Do you know who you’re talking to?” Cooper asks, his hand flexing by his hip.
I’ve seen this move dozens of times. It means he’s about three seconds away from causing a scene.
Joseph scoffs. “A no goodSterlingis who I’m talking to.”
I can feel myself flinch, but I still hold my head up, noticing the bystanders starting to focus on our little altercation. I’msure a cell phone somewhere in the vicinity is capturing every horrifying moment of this.
“Wrong.” Cooper takes a step, then another, until he’s right in Joseph’s face. “You’re talking to aMayson.Mywifespecifically.”He peers down at Joseph, who all of a sudden looks scared shitless. “And let me make this extremely clear.” Cooper pushes forward so his broad chest brushes Joseph’s. “That is the last time you will speak to her, let alone look in her direction.”
