Page 78 of My Ex-Fiance's Best Men
“Oh, my God,” I gasp, finally putting two and two together. “So, the rumors were true. You’re nowhere near as rich as you claimed to be.”
“I was. But you know, it’s a volatile market?—”
“So many things make sense now.” I laugh, a tinge of bitterness deepening the sound. “Why you came to me in the first place. Why you wanted to marry me. Mom said something about your financial situation being a little shady, but I chalked it up to rumors. I defended you. Turns out the rumors were true after all, and you really did squander your inheritance.”
“I made some bad investments,” Matthew replies. “Like I said, it’s a volatile market. But we can both make our lives better if we work together. Come on, be reasonable.”
“Then you thought you could marry Crystal instead?” I keep laughing. “You dumped me for the better-looking sister because you thought you could get the riches and the babe, two birds, one stone, right? Until the babe blew you off, and now, here you are. Oh, wow. This is rich.”
“Phoebe, please.”
“This is so fucking rich.” I shake my head. “The answer is still no. Hell no. Get out of my sight, Matthew. I can’t even look at you right now.”
Before I can register it, he closes the distance between us and grabs me by the shoulders. I wince as his fingers dig deep, hurting me.
“Phoebe, I told you, I’m not walking out of here without a yes.”
“Matthew, don’t do this.”
Fear paralyzes me for one too many seconds, and I don’t know what to do. I know I need to move, I need to react, but my body refuses to cooperate. Dread freezes my blood and kills my every thought as I wonder how I’ll survive whatever comes next.
Suddenly, Dominic emerges behind Matthew. I didn’t hear or see him come in through the open door. He towers over my ex-fiancé with a murderous glare.
“You shouldn’t have come here.” Dominic’s growl reverberates throughout the room.
“What the?—”
Matthew doesn’t get a chance to finish before Dominic grabs him by the back of the neck and yanks him away from me. He hurls him toward the door with incredible strength, fueled by rage and adrenaline.
“Shit!” Matthew whimpers as he lands on his side, hitting the hardwood floor with an unceremonious thud.
Dominic doesn’t give him a second to recover. He’s immediately on top of Matthew, his hand clutching and tightening around his throat. He pulls Matthew up by his neck, the look on his face speaking of murderous intent.
“If you ever come near Phoebe again, I will finish what I started here. They will need dental records to identify you,” Dominic says.
“Okay, okay!” Matthew manages, his face twisted with fear and pain.
“Dom, don’t,” I mumble.
He lets Matthew go. A split second later, Matthew runs out of the apartment, the sound of his rushed footsteps receding down the stairs at the end of the hallway.
Dominic closes the door and reaches me in the blink of an eye. “Are you okay?”
“I am now,” I whisper and welcome his embrace. “Thanks to you.”
“What the hell was he doing here?”
“It’s a long and pathetic story. Just hold me, don’t let go,” I reply.
He doesn’t. He keeps me in his arms, and I bask in his strength and warmth, in the sweetness of his affection, in the safety heso effortlessly provides. I’m safe, and so is my baby, because Dominic, August, and Theo are the kind of men who keep their promises.
Always.
“Where are we going?”I ask, comfortably snug in the passenger seat of Dominic’s sterling silver Lexus.
We’re in Manhattan, on the business side of town. Steel, glass, and concrete giants rise on both sides of the street, casting a myriad of reflections of the blue sky against each other. Above, it’s all glimmers and sunlight while below on the street, a river of people flow in either direction.
Suits. Smart casual. The occasional flowy dress. A pinch of hipster here and there. Everyone’s so busy. Chasing money. Making money. Breathing money. Meanwhile, I’m watching them, wondering what they must be like when money isn’t the only thing on their mind. I used to play the same game with my dad, except I always knew he had his family first in his thoughts.
