Page 56 of Truth
“I apologize… I, uh, I’m sorry. I’m the new associate here. Nick Taylor.”
“You can refer to my wife by her married name, Mr. Taylor.”
Nick’s shock is written all over his face, and his eyes burn into my half grin with anger.
“Your wife? Is this some kind of joke? Forgive me, Mr. King, but I am familiar, very familiar, with your wife. Before she was your wife, she wasmygirlfriend.”
His smug face makes me sick. I hate the look of him even now.Bastard.
King tips his fingers to my chin, drawing it to his face, and mine softens when I look at him. “There she is…” He kisses my forehead. “What would you like, gorgeous? Would you like me to make him disappear?” He tilts his head, looking deep into my eyes. It takes me a moment to answer because I keep searching his face for validation that I’m misunderstanding him. It sounds as if King is asking me if I want Nick to disappear—as in the kind of disappear that has your face on a milk carton.
“No.” I let out a tiny laugh. He’s a psychopath, and I married him. I don’t care. Even more disturbing, I love him so much more in this moment. “He lives another day. I’m sure there is someone out there that wants him alive.”
King’s face contorts to convey a “maybe.” “Just bring me the papers for my beauty to sign, and let’s pretend none of this ever happened.” His eyes on me, always on me, as if nobody else exists.
“Gladly.” Nick mumbles something to himself as he grabs a file from the desk and begins to walk it over.
“Stop.” King breaks from his assessment of me to look at Nick and peels his hands from my waist. I can feel his anger, the rage always lying in wait. It’s calculating, strategic, and possibly cruel, and it’s found an opportunity to show itself. I should stop him. Instead, I look past my vicious husband and straight at Nick’s face. He looks terrified. He should be.
King’s voice is smooth, deadly. “You’ll have to forgive my manners, but since you seem to know my wife, we should properly meet.” Extending his hand, he approaches Nick. It’s funny; I always considered Nick a big guy, but King makes him look like a boy. Not just in his physical size but in demeanor. Dominic is all male, testosterone, and sex appeal. Nick looks like a college frat guy. Goddamn, I love my husband.
I wait for King to speak, but the two men stand in silence, just shaking hands, not even really shaking. I crane my neck to look closer because it’s going on for longer than expected, and then I notice Nick’s face is tense, red, and he’s letting out small breaths as King leans in and whispers something in his ear. King’s hand is strained and white; he’s crushing Nick’s with force. When he lets go, Nick pulls back, his breath coming out in a rush, and his other hand grabs the wrist of his injured one. Nick’s eyes dart to mine, and I can’t help the look of satisfaction that grows on my face.Try pinching me now, dick.
King leans back, half sitting on the desk, grabbing the file we are to sign. He extends it to Nick and nods. “Go on, give this to my wife.”
Nick’s face looks pleading as King crosses his arms, jaw tensed. Nick stands for a moment and then reaches out to take the file with his good hand. Turning his body to face me, he keeps his face to the ground and puts the file in his mouth, slowly kneeling down on one knee, then both. My eyes give away my shock as he begins to crawl using his good hand.
My eyes shoot to King, who just gives me a wink, and back down to Nick in this pathetic position. One word and all of this stops; one word and I can put a stop to the most humiliating scene I’ve ever witnessed. It’s so different—I remember crawling to King, but it never felt embarrassing or degrading because our intention was tied to our love. King has a singular intention: cruelty. I could stop it. One fucking word. But none come to mind; in fact, all I can think of are all the times I was made to feel this low, this disrespected. I was the one forced to beg for his approval. I was his bitch, and now he’s mine. I watch him struggle all the way to my feet.
Emboldened by my power trip, I squat down and pull the file from his mouth, pausing for a moment to take in the mix of fear and disgust on his face. “Good puppy,” I say, patting his head. I stand to look at my husband, who holds up an index finger, letting me know he’ll be a minute. I nod and walk out the door and through the offices out of the building, straight to the waiting car.
WATCHINGDREW DEBASE THIS LITTLEfucker might go on my highlight reel for the rest of my life. If I thought for a moment she didn’t want this, I would have just taken out my vengeance in private, but my dark angel exceeds even my own expectations. She’s ruthless. She’ll need that grit. I know she has her questions about why people seem afraid or why they know me before we meet. But I need to explain when the time is right. However, after tonight I know she won’t scare easily.
My attention drops back to Nick, watching him stand and brush off the knees of his trousers.
“You’ve gotten what you want, Mr. King. I hope we can just forget this. Please just forget my name. I’ll stay away and make sure to never be involved with any of your business here at the firm. I swear.”
Pushing to stand, I grab a steel letter opener off the desk, turning it around on my hand, testing the sharp point against my finger. “I prayed we’d meet the moment she told me about you.” I walk toward him using my size to intimidate him. “Does that frighten you, Nick? Knowing that I know all the cruel moments she lived through with you?”
“Yes.” The fear in his voice is satisfying. He should be afraid; I would do anything for her.
“And you know what I can do to you. More importantly, you should know I would do anything for her. Including take your life.” His body begins to shake with the tears that start.
“Please don’t kill me.” His pleas are met with my satisfied smile. In another life, he would already be dead.
“I’m glad we understand each other. Lucky for you, she wants you alive. That’s why you’re still standing here. Be a better guy, Nick. Don’t be the kind of little prick that draws my attention again.” I reach up and pat his cheek as he starts to cry, still holding the letter opener in my hand. “This is a new lease on life for you. Dry your tears. Nobody likes a crier.” He nods pathetically before I add, “But if you become a problem for her, if you look in her direction, I won’t just kill you.” I grab his hand, placing the opener in it, and forcefully close his hand around it, feeling the pop in the skin when it pierces his palm, making his cries grow louder. “I will make you suffer before I do. I’ll take everything and everyone from you until you do the dirty work for me. Do you understand?” My words aren’t just a threat—they’re a promise.
His sobs grow louder, and he looks to the large wet stain spreading over the front of his pants.
Looking down, I shake my head. “Clean yourself up,” I say as I walk out of the room.
I need to calm myself down before I get to the car. She doesn’t deserve this life, but she’s my wife, my love, and I won’t let her go. We need this conversation to happen now. When I reach the car, I jump in, trying for nonchalance when I’m assaulted by slaps against my shoulder.
“Ow, shit, stop it.” Grabbing her wrists, I try and settle her. “What the fuck is that for?”
“You were gone for forever. I was worried and about two seconds from coming back or sending George, who, by the way, carries a damn gun. You’ve got some things to explain. Now, King.”
I hate keeping this from her. She needs to know.
