Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Stay, Blakely,” Tate says. “Renn will fix this. You gotta stay.”
“Tate … I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” He steps closer. “We’re family. Families work their shit out. Come back with me and let us … well, we’ll probably have to clean up Dad’s blood first. Then we can talk.”
“We’re family. Families work their shit out.”
I wish that were true. I wish I really was a member of their family. But this whole marriage is a farce. And they don’t know. If they did, they’d want me gone as well.
Renn and I never chose to be husband and wife. Not really.
My shoulders fall.
At the end of the day, when it’s all boiled down—that’s the truth.
This marriage was built on a lie.
Lies always fall apart.
“Foxx, I’m ready,” I say. “Tate, thank you for coming here. I’m … sorry for tonight.”
He pulls me into a hug. “No, don’t be sorry. This isn’t on you.” He pulls back and looks me in the eye. “If you need to go think, go think. But take Foxx because I can’t deal with Renn if I tell him you left alone.” He grins. “But think and then come back. Come home. I need someone to team up with me. You seem cool. It can be us against Renn and Bianca.”
My cheeks are damp again, and my heart burns.
I just want to go home.
Except … I don’t have one.
“Let’s go,” I say, heading for the garage. “Goodbye, Tate.”
“No.”
I stop and look at him.
He smiles. “I’ll see you soon.”
My tears fall harder as I enter the garage, climb into Foxx’s SUV, and am whisked to the airport.
CHAPTER 26
Renn
“Why can’t anyone answer their fucking phones?” As I try Tate again, Foxx’s name flashes across the dash. I click a button on my steering wheel. “Talk to me, Foxx. What’s going on?”
My heart pounds, aching for Blakely. I need to get to her. Need to see her. I need to hold my wife and ensure she’s okay—that she knows I love her.
“We’re sitting on the tarmac at the airport,” he says.
“What?”
“I know you’re going to be pissed, Renn. But it was me taking her on your family’s plane or watching her call a car service and fly domestic.”
“You couldn’t stop her?”
He laughs. “Yeah. I could’ve. But you don’t pay me enough for that.”
I want to smile. I want to see the humor in it. I just can’t.
“We’re going to Vegas,” he says. “I have—”
“Vegas! Why the hell is she going to Vegas?”
“I have a doctor on board now, putting her hand in a soft cast. She has a boxer’s fracture, I think. Someone needs to show her how to punch.”
“You really think that’s a good idea?”
“Fair point.”
I sigh. What the fuck is going on? Why is she going to Vegas? “She’s okay, right? It’s just her hand?”
“Physically, she’s fine.”
My heart breaks. “Can I talk to her?”
“She’s with the doc. I think she talked to Brock and Ella on the way here and then turned it off.”
“I’ll come to the airport and fly out with her.”
He groans. “Look, I’m no relationship expert. But experience tells me she probably needs to process tonight.”
This is not what I want to hear. I want him to tell me to hurry. That they’ll wait. That she wants to see me, and I need to hustle to the airport. But no.
Fuck. Fuck my fucking father. Fuck the fucking Royals.
Just … fuck.
“Will you stay with her?” I ask. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Got it.”
“And thanks, Foxx, for taking care of her.” When I didn’t.
I should’ve left with her. I should’ve cared for her and said to hell with my dad. But if I had done that, God knows what Ripley would’ve done. I had to stand up for my wife.
Let Dad know hell is coming his way.
I’ve known he’s an asshole for years, but this … I cannot get over this.
My jaw pulses at the thought.
I can’t deny I was glad to see Mom put the bastard in his place. My stomach clenches. What if Dad had hit Blakely or Mom?
Thank God Ripley was there.
“It’s no problem,” Foxx says. “My phone will be on if you need anything or want to check on her. I think the doc is giving her a little pain medicine so she might be drowsy afterward.”
I nod. “Okay. I have some things to do tomorrow, but I’ll check in.”
“You got it. Talk later.”
“Goodbye.”
I fly up my street and slide into my driveway. Tate’s car sits off to the side. I’m happy to see Tate at my house for the first time ever.
The garage door lifts, and I pull in. But before I get out, I take out my phone.
Me: I’m worried about you. I know you want space, and I understand. I can’t imagine how you feel, and it kills me that I don’t know. I’m trying to balance honoring your wishes and following my heart. I need to hold you. Please, call me.