Page 5 of Takedown

“You attacked me twice, and you’re scared ofme? Since when?”

“You think a few punches was an attack? Just wait. I’m going to slice your face when you sleep tonight, just like I should have done the other night.” She lunges for me again, but Jason wraps an arm around her waist, lifts her off her feet, and pulls her away.

“What the hell is going on in here? Jason, are you coming back to bed?” Jason’s wife, Alex, stops short when she sees me. She looks around the room, sighs, and walks towards Mel.

“Did he chase your date away again?” She shakes her head and says, “This has got to stop. She is not your property, Adam.”

“Never said that, but sheismy wife. I’m sure you’d have stopped it too if Jason brought home another woman.”

Alex stands still and looks around the room. She turns to Mellie, runs a hand through her curly, dark hair. “What the hell did he just say?”

“I’m waiting to hear Mellie’s take on that,” Jason says.

“I already told you he’s lying.” My wife crosses her arms. I’m not sure if she’s defiant or deep in denial.

“I’m lying?” I ask her. “Out of the two of us, you’re sayingI’mthe liar?”

“As if I would ever marry you.” Mel scoffs and like a petulant child, she turns her head away from me.

“I’m disappointed in you,wife,” I say to Mel. “You’ve always been a pathological liar, but this is low even for you.”

“So, just so we’re clear, you did not marry Adam in Vegas?” Jason asks his sister.

“As if I would ever,” she scoffs. “I’m not attracted to him.”

She doesn’t disappoint. I knew she’d fight me, but the outright denial is unexpected. It hurts that someone who promised to love, honor and cherish is now denying those sacred vows.

“Well, this marriage certificate says otherwise. And that kiss we shared on New Year’s Eve? That wasn’t a kiss from someone who isn’t attracted to me.” I pull out another marriage certificate and hand it to Alex. She puts a hand to her mouth in shock as she reads it. “And you put this on my finger." I hold up my left hand and show them the platinum wedding band. She tries to reach for that certificate too, probably to rip it, but Jason holds her back.

“Go ahead, rip it. I have more. But you can rip them all, and it won’t erase one fact. We’re married.” I pull out my phone and hand it to Jason. “Press play,” I tell him. Mel lunges for the phone, so Jason hands it to Alex. She touches the screen, and my wife’s voice fills the room.

“I, Melanie Elyse Dupree, take you, Adam Finnegan Flynn, to be my lawfully wedded husband.” Mel lets out a loud scream, and she breaks free of Jason’s hold. He tries to grab her arm, but she runs across the room, jumps on me, and goes for my neck. Jason grabs her waist, but she manages to wrap her hands around my throat and squeeze. It takes no effort for me to pull her hands off. Jason lifts her away, but she’s like a crazed animal, doing her best to get away from him and come after me again.

Her hair is wild, fallen out of her ponytail as she curses. Soon, she tires herself out and Jason puts her down, but I don’t miss the tears running down her face before she walks away and sits at the kitchen table.

3

Ten tears fall for each one I swipe. The dam really breaks when Alex takes me into her arms, and I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s okay, Smellie,” Jason says. I let out a choked laugh at the childhood nickname. The name he used to call me before our relationship turned to shit. Before I decided I hated my brother and everything he stood for.

I cry until there’s nothing left, and my head starts to hurt. My shoulders shrug in despair, and I say, “I don’t remember it.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know they’re another lie. Every memory, every word, and every promise we made is right there in the forefront of my mind, but there’s no way in hell I will ever admit to that. “But I guess it’s true. What he said.” I point a finger toward Adam without looking at him. “It’s true.”

Jason sits down across from me and puts both hands to his face. He rubs the back of his neck before he looks at me again.

“I’ll call Tina and see what can be done. I’m sure you can get it annulled,” Alex reassures me, then she gasps and looks over my shoulder to Adam. “Did you already sleep with him?” she whispers.

“Jesus,” Jason says.

“No, she didn’t,” Adam says from behind me. “But I’m not agreeing to an annulment or a divorce. I’m Catholic.”

“Well, it’s not only up to you!” Having had enough of him, I scream those words, shocking both Alex and Jason. “And your religion has absolutely nothing to do with me, so shove it.”

“Flynn, I’ll deal with you tomorrow, but you need to leave right now.” Jason’s chair scrapes against the hardwood, and he walks across the room. I turn in time to see him grab Adam’s elbow and lead him away. Adam holds my stare until he turns the corner, and I can no longer see him.

I hear the drone of their voices, but they’re too far away for me to hear the words. Jason talks first, then Adam. I visibly relax when I hear the front door open and close.

Jason returns and stands in front of me, offering me his hand. I take it, and he pulls me into a hug. Alex joins us for a group hug in the kitchen.

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