Page 27 of Property of Stone
“Why?”
“Vic had stopped paying child support even before hewas arrested. He won’t help keep a roof over his own son’s head.”
“Why not?” Besides the fact her ex was a complete asshole.
“He wants me to lose the house. If I’m homeless, he figures he can fight for custody by claiming I’m an unfit mother. He wants to say I can’t give Wren a stable home. That I’m irresponsible and can’t care for him properly.”
“That true?”
Her blonde head twitched. “That I’m a bad mother?”
“No, that he can pull that shit when he’s the motherfucker not payin’ child support.”
She shrugged. “He has the money to pay a good lawyer while I’m financially struggling and can’t.”
“How? He’s doin’ time for beatin’ the fuck outta you.”
“His brother has a very successful chain of car dealerships and has powerful connections. Vic began working for him after we split.”
“Get the courts to garnish his fuckin’ wages.”
“He lied and told the courts he was unemployed and now, due to his prison sentence, he’s unemployable. But I know he was getting cash under the table while working for his brother. By getting paid in cash?—”
“They can’t garnish his fuckin’ wages.”Un-fuckin’-believable.
“Yes. He claims I destroyed his life by divorcing him, fighting for sole custody of Wren, asking for child support, and for getting him arrested, like that was my fault. His list of grievances against me is long. He wanted to destroy me financially in retaliation and I’m sure that won’t change when he gets out.”
“Petty motherfucker.”
“That’s putting it mildly. The divorce brought out a mean streak I never knew he had.”
“Babe, everyone’s got a mean streak. The only difference is what it takes for it to come out.”
“Well, I feel like a fool for not recognizing the signs. If I would’ve seen the red flags before I got pregnant…”
“Then you wouldn’t have your boy. If I would’ve pulled the fuck out, I wouldn’t have my girl. Sometimes mistakes are worth it.”
She stared at him like she was finallyseeinghim. Was she actually considering his offer? If so, he needed to close the deal. As fast as fucking possible.
“So, got an easy solution for your house. Let it go.”
She bugged out her blue eyes at him. “Let it go? Then where will we live?”
Did he fuck up what little strides he already made with her? “Offered you a place. All free. Free house, free food, free utilities. Your Honda needs work, got it covered. Got everythin’ fuckin’ covered.”
“Hold on. You want me tolivewith you?”
“How else you gonna take care of Sunny? How else am I gonna protect you?”
If she shook her head any harder, she might get whiplash. “I’m not. You’re not.”
“Yeah, you are.”
Chapter Five
“Yeah, you are.”
Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong.
