Page 47 of F*ckboys

"Of course," I reply, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the arm. "I can see how much she cares about you, and I'm glad you found someone who makes you happy."

As we part ways and I watch them walk away hand in hand, I can't help but feel a twinge of excitement for the potential friendship blossoming between Wren and me. It's a new chapter for all of us, and I'm eager to see where it leads. With Wren by Bronson's side, I have a feeling that our family dynamics are about to change for the better—and I couldn't be happier.

Chapter 23

Fallon

The door to my office opens, and Teri Thickett steps inside, her eyes burning with a mixture of pain and determination. She's a woman who has been through hell and back, all because of one man—Jared Carlson. Her once vibrant life has been reduced to a series of devastating doctor's appointments and bitter tears, but she's here now, ready to take back control and make Jared pay for what he's done.

"Please, have a seat," I say, gesturing to the chair across from my desk. Grave stands stoically beside me, his presence a silent reassurance that we're here to help.

"Tha—thank you for seeing me," Teri says, her voice wavering slightly as she sits down. Her fingers nervously fidget with the purse that she clings to like a lifeline, betraying the turmoilbeneath her composed exterior. Now and then, she tucks a rogue strand of hair behind her ear as if it's one action she still has control over.

"Ms. Thickett," I begin, my voice calm yet firm, "I understand that you've come to us seeking justice against your former partner of many years, Jared Carlson. Please, call me Fallon, and tell me how we can help you."

The woman's eyes fill with tears, but she blinks them away with determination. "You can call me Teri. And yes, I'm here about Jared. I want him to pay for what he's done," she says, her voice wavering but strong. "I don't want him to be able to just walk away and forget about me. He ruined my life, Fallon, and I'll be damned if I let him get away with it."

"Teri," I say, my voice filled with empathy and determination, "I promise you, we will make him pay for what he's done to you. No one deserves to go through what you've experienced, and we won't rest until Jared faces the consequences of his betrayal."

I glance over at Grave and see his usual stoic expression, but there's a flicker of understanding in his eyes as he listens to Teri's words. His relentless dedication to righting wrongs is one of the reasons I trust him implicitly. He truly cares about each of our clients.

"Of course," I say, trying to exude both professionalism and empathy, "we want to help you, Teri, but first, we need to understand your story. We know the basics—what Jared did, how it affected your health—but we need to hear it from you."

Teri takes a deep breath, swallowing hard before she begins. "Jared was...my everything," she starts, her voice barely above a whisper. "Well, the person who he showed me… who he pretended to be… was my everything, I should say. We were together for five years, and I truly thought he loved me as much as I loved him. I thought we were soulmates. We built a life together, a home, dreams for our future... but one day, I foundout he'd been cheating on me." She pauses, her face contorting with anger and grief as the memories wash over her. "Not just with one woman, but several, including some for the entire course of our relationship."

Her hands grip the armrests of the chair, knuckles turning white from the pressure. The weight of her words hangs heavy in the air, and I can feel the anger and betrayal simmering beneath her calm exterior. She begins to tremble slightly.

"I confronted him, and he promised he'd change. He swore he loved me, that it wouldn't happen again. But he couldn't keep his promises. The lies and the cheating continued. And then..." She swallows hard, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. "Then I found out I'd contracted two STDs from him—including one that's made it impossible for me to have children, which was always one of my dreams."

The room falls silent as the gravity of her words settles over us. My fists clench in response, and I can see Grave's stoic demeanor crack ever so slightly. I feel my own rage bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over, but I keep it contained—for now.

The familiar fire of vengeance ignites within me, because although I've heard countless stories of betrayal, each one still feels like a fresh wound. Jared's cheating alone is reason to be devastated in her relationship, but the health implications, and the inability for Teri to have children far beyond her time with him, is even more unforgivable. Teri doesn't deserve the pain she's been forced to endure, and I'm more than ready to make sure Jared gets a taste of his own medicine.

"Teri," I say softly, leaning forward in my chair. "We're here for you. We understand what you've been through, and we want to help you get the justice you deserve."

Her gaze flickers between Grave and me, her skepticism evident as she crosses her arms protectively over her chest. "So,what exactly is it that you two do? I mean, how can I trust that you're not just... playing with my emotions? That this isn't some type of scam?"

"Teri, we understand your concerns," I say gently, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. "Our sole purpose is to deliver justice to those who have been wronged by people like Jared. We're not here to exploit your pain. We're here to help you heal."

"Can you really guarantee results, though?" she asks, biting her lip nervously. "I'm scared to get my hopes up after everything he's done."

"Nothing in life is guaranteed," I admit, "but we've been quite successful in our missions so far, haven't we, Grave?"

"Yes, we have," Grave chimes in, his voice steady and sure, his expression stony with determination. "We won't stop until we've achieved your target result."

As the meeting continues, I can see the skepticism in Teri's eyes begin to transform into a steely resolve. She asks question after question, probing our methods and motivations, but with each answer, her trust in us grows stronger.

"Thank you," Teri says as she stands to leave. "I never thought I'd find people who would understand what I'm going through, but you two... you're different. Thank you for giving me hope."

"Remember, Teri, you're not alone anymore," I tell her, my voice filled with conviction. "We're in this together, and we won't stop until justice is served."

As the door closes behind her, Grave and I share a look of quiet determination. We've taken on the responsibility of avenging Teri's pain, and we won't let her down. The time for her suffering is over. Now, it's time for planning and action—and there's no turning back.

Grave and I barely wait until Teri has left my office before we begin delving into the specifics of our plan. My strategic mind begins to whirl, considering every angle and possibility while Grave's tactical expertise ensures that no detail is overlooked.

"Fallon, how far are you willing to go to take Jared down?" Grave asks, his eyes searching mine for any hint of hesitation.

"Far enough to make him feel the same pain he inflicted on Teri, and definitely something with similar long-term repercussions," I reply, my voice dark and unwavering. I frown. "But we can't cross certain lines, as tempting as it might be. We're not murderers after all, are we?"

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