“Faye is mine. You can’t have her or my child. I’ll make her life a living hell before I let that happen.”
I spin on my heels and walk away, ignoring his shouted insults. His time is coming. I won’t jeopardize everything we’ve worked so hard to set up to make myself feel good.
Chapter Five
Faye
This must be hell. I sit on the couch beside my mother and father as Preston charms them with talk about California. How lovely the weather is, and how much he thinks I’ll enjoy it. He canceled the lawsuit, but I know he’ll push for more. I need to figure out a way to get back from under his thumb. But first, I have to give birth. Sadness sweeps over me. My coach is gone, and I’m alone again most days. Except for the one person I don’t want to see. He’s here nearly every other week, asserting some misplaced dominance, like an overgrown dog pissing on things. The sound of the lock in the door is a relief. Warren is here. He walks in, and a second later, James follows. My jaw drops.
“What is he doing here?” Preston jumps up.
“Boy, sit your ass down,” my father booms.
Preston flinches.
“Now,” Warren growls.
“We have something we want to show you,” James says with a smile.
I drink in the sight of him. My heart speeds up, and Flora goes crazy. I’m not the only one who missed him.
“What is this? Why is he here, Jason?” he asks my father.
“That’ll be Mr. Ferguson from now on.” Dad turns on the television and presses play.
“Oh, God.” I immediately recognize the drug store.
Preston pales and sinks down onto the couch heavily.
“I wonder what the courts would think of this tape. Or the interviews of the customers who were literally afraid for Faye.”
“This is one instance.”
“Did I mention I have cameras taping outside the front of my office?”
I turn to Preston, furious. “You went to his job?”
“I wanted to let him know,” Preston mumbles.
“Let him know what?” I scream.
“That you’re his,” James says.
I shove Preston. “I belong to myself.”
“I don’t think any lawyer in their right mind would grant a misogynistic, raving lunatic full custody, do you?” Warren asks from where he’s leaning against the wall.
“Probably not even partial.” James shakes his head. “That’d be too bad.”
“What do you want? Money?”
“No. I want you to leave my sister alone. You will see Flora on her terms, and if you ever try to blackmail her into anything again, this will go viral.”
“N-No. We don’t have to let things come to that.” He shakes his head. “You’re not worth it.”
My hand is moving before I can think. His head snaps back. “Fuck you, Preston.”
Suddenly, James is between us. “Time for you to leave.”