Page 26 of Worship
Shelby’s voice is laced with threat.
“Don’t do this; you may not like what I do. I know what you love, and I’ll take it from you.”There she is, the snake I know.
“You would use Ella? You barely know your daughter, Shelby.” I’m amused that she thinks I would ever feel threatened by her. “But you would try and take her? That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I have options, men who would be happy to house me and my poor abandoned daughter.”
I would bury her if she ever tried to take my child. I would put her six deep-ass feet under, and it looks as if Shelby’s forgotten who she’s married to.
“Be careful who you go to war with, Shelby. I never make empty promises,” I warn.
“Neither does he, so I guess you’ll know how to play his game. Bye, Luca. You pushed me to do this.”
So, she has a powerful friend.Shelby’s got a plan B.
She hangs up and I pull around the corner, tires screeching. I jerk the car into park in front of the house and barrel out through the doors, calling her name.
“Shelby!”
Rose comes from around the corner with Ella on her hip, looking at me in surprise.
“Where’s Shelby?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm, not wanting to scare Ella.
Rose points upstairs, and I take two steps at a time until I reach the top and walk down the hall only to stop in the doorway of my bedroom.
Shelby is speaking on her cell phone in hushed tones. Her eyes widen the moment she sees me.
“I have to go. I know. I know,” she says before hanging up the call. That must be her savior. I hope he’s ready for what will happen to them.
She swallows, nervous that we’re face-to-face now.
“Not happy to see me, wife?”
She starts to back away, as if she is afraid I’ll hurt her, but I walk past and into the closet, grabbing the nearest bag, unzipping it, and pulling it wide open. I go to her side of my closet and begin to rip her clothes off the hangers, throwing them and stuffing them inside.
I walk back out and toss her the bag, watching her stumble back a few steps as she catches it. I didn’t get everything, but a girl like Shelby spends most of her time on her back, so she won’t need much.
“Get the fuck out of my house.”
My jaw tenses from the need for my restraint.
“Luca! How can you throw me out onto the streets—I’m your wife!”
She sounds sincere, as if she didn’t think I would do this. I want her to cry. I want to hear her beg just so I can say no. Say that I hate her again and again.
“Scared your fuck toy won’t have a spare room?”
“Please, Luca. I’m sorry.” Her voice is a measured lie. She knows it and I know it.
“You aren’t anything, Shelby.” I walk toward her slowly. “You aren’t mine, you aren’t his…” I reach a finger under her chin and tilt it up to my face. “You’re just an empty fucking space that men fill when they have nothing better to do.”
Her expression changes from contrite to contempt, and I smile.
Shelby spits in my face.
“I hate you.”
I step back and wipe away her hatred, laughing.
