Page 99 of Takedown

“Enough of this bullshit,” I say to Ethan. In two quick steps, I cross the room and walk behind the asshole’s desk. I pull him out of his chair, lift him off his feet and slam him so hard against the wall that his diploma falls to the floor, and the glass shatters.

“Adam!” I ignore Ethan’s warning.

“You stupid, lying sack of shit.” I let go of his collar long enough to wrap my hand around his throat. He starts to kick, but I’m too close for any of his efforts to matter. His hands go to mine, doing his best to pull them from his neck. I give him just enough pressure to warn him to stop. Lucky for him, he’s smart enough to drop his hands. “She tells a very different story. One where you sexually harassed her and then put your dirty, filthy fucking hands on her. Who do you think I’m going to believe?” I ask him.

“Who are you?” he manages to squeak out.

“I’m her very pissed off husband.”

“And my brother. You sexually harassed my sister-in-law, James,” Ethan says. He’s standing in front of the desk. He crosses his arms, and from my peripheral vision, I can see him shaking his head. “Welcome to the consequences of your own actions.”

“She came on to me,” he lies. This time when I squeeze his neck, I add more than just a little pressure. I squeeze enough for his face to turn purple. When I ease off, he starts to cough, but I don’t let him go quite yet.

“Say one more lie about my wife.” I get closer to his face and say, “I fucking dare you.” I let go of his neck only long enough to grab his jaw and squeeze it with my hand. “Say one more thing,” I taunt. “Now you know what it feels like to be at the mercy of someone bigger and stronger than you.” I let him go and he falls to his knees, coughing and sputtering. I grab him and stand him up. I’m like a crazed madman. I can see Mel, afraid and doing her best to get away from this predator.

I push him against the wall and punch him hard in his stomach. He doubles over, but I stand him up and give him two more solid punches in his ribcage. He cries out like a gutted animal and falls to the ground at my feet.

Ethan looks at me and shakes his head. He texts something on his phone and slides it back in his pocket. “Alright then. Security will be here to escort you out, James,” he says almost as if he’s bored with this conversation.

“My,” James says before he starts to cough, “lawyer.” He winces and starts to wheeze. He sounds like a wounded bear, and I smile, knowing I broke at least two of his ribs.

“Yeah, yeah have your lawyer call my lawyer, but you might want to think twice before you open that door. My sister-in-law isn’t your only victim, but it all ends today. You’re done,” Ethan says. “And don’t think that this ends here. I’m going to ruin you.” He gestures for me to follow him. We walk out of the office together, shoulder to shoulder while everyone does their best to pretend they’re not looking at us.

We don’t speak until we get back to his office. Once he closes his door, he turns to me, but there’s no anger in his eyes. He walks behind his desk, pulls out a bottle of whiskey, and pours each of us a glass.

“Remember the part about you not touching him?” he asks.

“Two things you should know about me. Nobody fucks with my wife or my mother. I didn’t kill him, so I consider that a victory.” I down my drink in one swallow.

“I respect that,” he says.

I drop myself on the couch in the corner of his office and cover my eyes with my arm. “And I suppose I have a sister now, so nobody better mess with her either. Don’t tell her I said that or she’ll cry again.”

“I’m definitely telling her,” he says.

48

After eating lunch at a fancy Manhattan restaurant, with Elizabeth holding my arm for dear life as we walked in and out of the place, a place I never would have stepped foot in on my own or with Mel, we head back to the BradCo headquarters. I laughed when we sat down for lunch. I imagined Mel’s eyes bulging out of her head at the prices listed on the menu.

“I can get a taxi.” I’m eager to get out of this city and back home, but nobody seems to be listening to me.

“I have my driver downstairs and I can take him to the airport.” Elizabeth and Ethan talk about me as if I’m not in the room. “I can get some more time with him.”

“Well, I can’t go. I have a meeting with the shareholders the rest of the afternoon,” Ethan replies. He seems agitated, and he paces back and forth in his office.

“I don’t need you to go,” she insists. “And I know you have a meeting that you can’t get out of.” I’m not sure, but she sounds a little smug, as if she just bested him.

“Oh, why should you get more time with him than me?” Ethan asks.

“He was here with you all morning. Not to mention whatever went on with Kent James.”

“Excuse me,” I say, finally having enough of this argument. When they ignore me and continue to argue, I go and lean against Ethan’s mahogany desk and cross my arms. They argue for a few more minutes before they finally notice me. “Are you two done?” I ask. “I’ll grab a taxi, but I need to go now.” I walk to the couch and grab my coat, but as soon as I put it on, Elizabeth wraps her arm around mine.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Let’s go,” she says. “I’ve already taken the rest of the afternoon off. Have fun in your meeting, Ethan.” She says the last part like a taunt as she sticks her nose up in the air.

“Whatever,” Ethan says. “You act like he’s seven. What are you going to do? Take him out for an ice cream cone and the arcade?” Elizabeth looks at me almost as if to gauge my reaction to Ethan’s suggestion.

“No to the ice cream, but yes to the arcade. Maybe next time.”

---