Page 62 of Wicked Oath
“I love him. That doesn’t just go away because of the truth.”
“I get it. But, Olivia, can you stand back and let James screw over your father’s business without doing anything? Could you live with yourself?”
My forehead drops to the steering wheel. “I don’t know what to do. I just wanted to know what James was keeping from me, but I didn’t know about all of this. Not for sure. But hearing it now …” I lift my head back up. “I made vows to stand by his side, Lucy. Whichever way I go, I’m turning my back on someone. Either my family or my husband. How is this fair? I didn’t ask to be in this position.”
She shrugs. “You kind of did when you sent me in there to listen in on your husband’s private conversation. There was always a chance you might hear something you didn’t want to hear.”
“I know,” I groan. “Maybe I can talk James out of it.”
“Olivia, he went after your father’s business before. He’s clearly going to do it again. For some reason, he wants to hurt your father, and I don’t think you can just talk him out of it.”
“I have to try.”
Lucy eyes me but doesn’t say another word.
I drive her home and then return to my house to wait for James to show up.
It takes hours for him to come home, and during that time, my worry is growing by the seconds.
When he walks through the door, I don’t waste a minute confronting him. “You sent Finian to destroy my father’s warehouse, didn’t you?”
He pauses before sighing. “We’ve gone over this, Olivia.”
“No. I know the truth now. And you’re planning another attack. Tomorrow night. That’s what you said.”
His eyes widen a fraction before he asks, “How do you know?” He waves a hand and leans against the front door, his head down. “It doesn’t matter. You know the truth.”
“How could you do it, James?”
“Because your dad fucked over my dad, that’s why. I wanted the good ol’ Patrick Donovan to know what it felt like to lose out on millions, just like he made my dad feel before he died. Your father left my father desolate on his deathbed without a penny to his name. Patrick might act like a good man, but he has a dark side to him. That’s why I did it.”
All I can do is look at him as I contemplate his words. “But how can I know you’re telling the truth now? You’ve been lying to me since the day we married. Has our entire marriage been a sham? Is that why you married me? To get in good with my dad and then fuck him over like he did to yours?”
He’s already shaking his head before I finish speaking. “No. No, Olivia. Yes, I had a plan to hurt your father’s business. But the minute I laid eyes on you, I knew you needed to be mine. I married you becauseIwanted you. I didn’t do it just to get close to your dad. Believe me on that. If you don’t believe anything else, fine. But believe that.”
I might be pathetic for it, but I believe him. No one can fabricate the kind of attention he’s shown me.
“James, why do you have to go after my dad?” My words come out choked as I fight back my tears. “Why can’t you let your revenge go?”
“Because life is fucking shitty and complicated. But, Olivia, listen.” He grabs my hands. “I called it off.”
“What?”
“I called off the second attack. I can’t make up for the first attack, but I decided I was done with my anger.”
“But I heard you tell your men you’re planning to go after my father’s shipment tomorrow night.”
“How did you …?” He nods. “Thegirl. I thought she looked familiar, but I didn’t think too hard about it. She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“Don’t let Lucy get in trouble for this. She was just helping me out.”
“Olivia, that was hours ago. I told my men what they wanted to hear. They’re the ones who don’t want to stop. But I’m directing them to a different stop to attack, and then I’m brushing my hands of them. They’re not going after your father. I’m sending them after one of my shipments, and they don’t even know.”
“But why do that?” My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my head.
“Because I made a choice. It was either go after your dad or keep you in my life. I decided to keep you in my life.” His hand cups my face. “You’re more important than revenge, Olivia.”
“Then why not just stop everything?”
