Page 32 of Marc

He doesn’t know how bad Jared can be, and I would feel incredibly guilty if something happened to Marc, especially if it prevented him from modeling.

I break every driving law imaginable as I race towards my dangerous ex-husband.

Chapter Eight

MARC

Staci’s ex-husbandstalks closer to me.

I lean against my car door, making sure to keep my distance and my composure. Out of respect for Staci, I won’t start or instigate things with her ex, but I won’t bow down either.

He needs to know that I won’t put up with his shit.

And neither will Staci.

Just because she endured his drunken abuse and anger outbursts in the past, doesn’t mean she will continue to put herself in danger for him under the guise of marriage.

When he’s about three feet away from me, he stops. “Who do you think you are checking Staci’s mail? That’s a federal offense. You don’t live here and you won’t be with her much longer. Staci can do better than you.”

Laughing, I say, “That is true. Staci can do a lot better than me, but she can also do a lot worse. Iknow I’m not good enough for her. I never claimed to be, but that is for her to decide. She is with me and is happy right now. Leave her alone.”

My voice is calm but sharp with a hint of a warning. His best friends might be the police chief and the sheriff, but that doesn’t scare me.

The law is the law and eventually he will get what he deserves. I’ll see to it.

“Hey, you said it.” He grins like he just roasted me.

I shrug, not fueling his ego.

A woman like Staci deserves the entire world and then some. I know she could do much better than me, but for now I’m happy pretending to be in a relationship with her.

Maybe one day, things can be real between us, and then I’ll work my ass off every single day to deserve her love, but I will not push her when she is still healing from her past trauma that this asshole caused.

He tries to provoke me more. “She wants to be with me, and she still loves me. You are only with her for the time being. I was her husband. She was loyal to me and only me.”

I scoff and give in a little. “Yeah, you were her husband. Past tense. But you fucked up. Big time. She will not make that same mistake twice.”

I grin as his face turns ten different shades of purple and the vein in the center of his forehead bulges from exertion.

He opens his mouth before closing it. He does this several times like he’s mimicking a fish.

I cross my arms in front of my chest and wait for him to speak.

“I can get her to come back. I have my ways.”

Staci would be a fool to take him back in any capacity, not just as a husband.

Interested in hearing more of his plans, I ask, “And what ways would that be?”

He clenches his fists and lowers his tone to where it is more threatening. “I have my ways.”

“What kind of man threatens and abuses the woman he loves?”

When he doesn’t answer, I answer for him.

“A coward, that’s who. You’re nothing but a coward. I know this. You know this. And Staci knows this. You feel as if you need to control Staci with your fists and your anger, but Staci deserves all the love and affection she can get, and then some.”

He takes a step towards me. His eyes are black with hatred. I stand up straighter and prepare for the unknown.

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