Page 80 of Keep Your Guard Up
“You have no proof,” I gritted through my teeth.
She smirked and raised her eyebrows in challenge. “Mywordis proof enough. Why would anyone believe you—a UFL fighter—over me, your poor, innocent wife who spoke when she was told not to.”
“You’re disgusting.” My heart thundered in my chest, echoing through the hollow cavity as it sank.
I’d been stupid—so fucking stupid—to think I could escape her so easily. To think she wouldn’t retaliate.
‘If you ever leave me, I will make your life a living hell,’ she’d always said.
And here she was, here to fulfill that promise.
“Oh, boo-boo, don’t be so hurtful,” she cooed, one of her signature cruel smirks on her blown-up lips.
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you, baby.Allof you.” She stepped closer.
Her sweet perfume was so strong I bit down hard on my tongue to force my gag back. A manicured hand ran claws up my forearm. Her fake nails were so long they might as well have been fucking claws.
“Name your price, Talia,” I ground out, stepping back. “Name your price so I can be rid of you.”
“Is this all about that little skank who was here earlier?” Her face scrunched, all of the botox in her face fighting the movement.
“No, Talia,” I replied, forcing exasperation into my tone in attempt to steer her away from Sunny. “This is about me being done with the beatdowns. The … the … theabuseandshitI’ve put up with for the last six years. It’s about me being done with you thinking you fucking own me; my choices; my money; my life. This is aboutmebeing done withyou.”
My heart was thundering a million miles an hour, but it eased slightly after getting the words I’d never said out.
She rolled her eyes.
“Get in the car, Chance. We’ll go back to JJ’s and get your things,” she said, brushing off my words as if they’d simply never been said.
“Not happening. I’d rather walk the five kilometres than get in a car with you,” I replied over my shoulder and stalked off.
Her car pulled away and sped off after her third attempt at getting me to turn around. Once the black Mercedes of doom that reminded me all too much of a bond villain’s car was out of sight, I swung around and ran. I ran down the street, past the old flower shop and Marilyn’s beloved bookshop. I passed the towering eucalyptus tree that took up an entire empty lot of land. I passed the clock shop, where old Lucky Rollins was flipping over his ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’. I kept running and running.
All the way to Sunny’s front door.
Chapter 43
Mari
“He’s still out there. Poor thing must be freezing,” Nan mumbled, staring out of the front room windows. Gus lay majestically on the window seat, fixated on where I presumed Chance was sitting. His tail would wag every now and again, presumably in anticipation whenever the man outside would move.
“Yeah, well … he can go snuggle up in hiswife’sarms,” I spat, the words twisting up my mouth and my insides. The green-eyed monster was here, well and truly hating the idea of Chance running back into that tall blonde’s arms. But heartbreak was here too, and boy was shepissed.
“Mari, dear …” Nan started, face filled with sympathy when she padded back over to the dining table where I was currently drinking my coffee at. Gus followed her with his big brown eyes until she sat and then turned back to his Chance watch post.
“Don’t, Nan. You of all people should understand why I don’t even want to hear him out.”
She pursed her lips, telling me something I’d said had struck a nerve somewhere.
“Sure, but Gerry certainly never camped out on my front lawn for three days in protest of me giving him the silent treatment,” she tried.
“He’s married, Nan.Married. He’s lucky the silent treatment is all I’m giving him,” I snapped.
“If him being here really bothers you that much then I’ll go outside myself and tell him to leave,” she said.
“Thank you—”
