Page 33 of The Honest Affair

“And without the ball and chain, no less,” added Jackass Number Two as he examined Nina in her dress like she was something on display at the butcher shop. He actually licked his thin lips before taking a drink of his champagne.

Jackass Number One nodded. “We were all taking bets on how long you and Gardner would last, you know. Grayson had ten years, the bastard. I owe him that fifty grand now, thanks to you. Did you know Gardner’s nickname around the club? Chase here called him ‘The Grub’ once, and it stuck! So, for a while, I guess that made you ‘Mrs. Grub.’”

He grinned like she was in on the joke, and the other one laughed outright. Nina bared her teeth in a polite smile, but her jaw tightened. I wanted to punch both of them in their flash-bulb veneers. As satisfying as it was to know other members of Nina’s social circle thought Calvin Gardner was unfit for this goddess (and resembled a wormy little scavenger), the way they had all been casually betting on her marriage like she was a thoroughbred was infuriating. Where were they, I wanted to ask, when she was being conned for everything she was worth? Where were they when she practically signed away her life and had gotten wrapped up in his schemes?

Where were any of these smug motherfuckers then?

“So, Nina,” said Jackass Number One (I couldn’t remember either of their names, and I really didn’t give a shit either). “How was the big house? Bigger than your house?”

“Did you get lucky on the inside?” added Jackass Number Two as his eyebrows popped up and down like overly groomed caterpillars.

“What a fantasy that is,” said Number One. “That’ll keep me in business for a good while, if you know what I mean. Thank you for that, Mrs. Gardner.”

“Oh God, yes,” agreed Number Two. “Every morning in the shower for the next six months at least.”

Were they for real? Were these two pigeon-shaped hot air balloons actually saying they were going to jack off to the idea of Nina in jail? To her face? What in the ever-loving fuck was wrong with these people?

I opened my mouth to tell both of them to have some fuckin’ respect or I’d teach it to them myself, but Nina spoke up first.

“That’s enough,” she said sharply.

“Come on, now, Astor,” taunted Number One. “It’s just a friendly joke.”

He used what I recognized as her father’s surname—the one she’d given me when we met, but which she’d also shunned as a teenager. Which meant she must have known these jokers long enough for them to have used it regularly back in the day. I didn’t care how long they’d known her. They deserved to have their teeth knocked in regardless.

“It’s disgusting, and you’re disgusting when you tell it,” Nina retorted. “Frankly, Sawyer, I’m surprised you’d bait me like that. Particularly when you might find yourself in a similar situation one of these days.”

The smug grin on Jackass One’s face disappeared. “Excuse me?”

Nina took a step closer, and her voice dropped, thick and husky. “I think you know. The thing about being married to a grub…I know exactly which carrion he devours. Like your father’s company, Sawyer. And the ways in which Calvin may have curried your favor.”

It was a bluff. I knew it was a bluff. Until last September, Nina had known only the basics of Calvin’s operation, and nothing about its prostitution side.

But the look on both these men’s faces told me they weren’t so sure…and that ten to one, they had made use of Calvin Gardner’s little operation over the years.

Nina stepped back and took a calm sip of her champagne. “You might want to consider that before you make me the object of your schoolboy fantasies.” Her face remained placid, but her voice sounded tight, like a string pulled past its capacity. My hands clenched. Something told me this string was about to snap.

“Whatever,” said Jackass Number Two. He nudged his friend. “Something tells me that after ten years, you’re probably used goods anyway.”

I almost flew forward with a punch right there, but once again, Nina beat me to it. Her glass flew out of her hand, and champagne coated the man’s face, tie, and expensive suit before the flute fell to the ground with a smash that was only just hidden by the loud music and hum of the party.

“Bitch!” Both men jumped back, as if the action would allow them to step out of the sopping mess of champagne covering their clothes. “What the fuck, Nina!”

A few of the people around us turned with bored expressions to see what was happening, but it was soon clear that watching these gentlemen have drinks thrown in their faces was nothing new.

Jackass Number One raised his hand, ready to retaliate. This time, I did step in front of Nina and pushed her solidly behind my back. Her hands rested against my shoulder blades, fingers quivering with tension.

“Just try it, son,” I growled, low enough that I was only heard by the four of us. “Touch her, and I’ll knock every one of those pretty teeth out.”

“Oh, really?” sneered Jackass Two as he shook out his tie. “And who are you, her white knight? Or just her mangy guard dog.”

“I’m whoever the fuck she wants me to be,” I snarled. “And if you’d like to learn more, I’m happy to make an introduction outside.”

Both men looked like they wanted to take me up on my offer, but before either could say anything, the music was shut off and a high-pitched ringing of silver tapping crystal filled the room, catching everyone’s attention.

“Stop.” Nina’s voice was barely above a whisper, her breath warm against the back of my ear. “Thank you. But you can stop now.”

I was shaking with anger. Anticipation. I hadn’t wanted to fight this badly since I was in the Marines. I hadn’t realized until now how deeply that need was ingrained in me, how being a DA had given me a place to channel it. And now I didn’t have it anymore.

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