“She’s had enough, you fucking maggot, and so have I.” His voice is all war, so intense it scares me. “Listen. You may have gotten away with disrespecting her when she was yours. That’s over now because she’s mine. So I’m going to give you one chance—and only one—to walk the fuck out of this park politely. Exit her life with your face intact. Comprehend?”
I’m not sure who goes more pale—Jay or me.
It’s devilishly satisfying to see him stunned speechless for once in his life. He’s the kind of man who always talked too much.
“Are...are you threatening me, man? Dude, you don’t own her!” Jay spits, drawing up, his face a hurt, frightened sneer. Even though he’s shorter, and probably sixty pounds lighter, he holds his ground.
“I never claimed to, asshole. You weren’t listening. However, I do know you’re a selfish, brain-dead prick who threw her away like she was fucking trash, and you couldn’t even spare her a second glance until you came crawling like the worm you are. You shouldn’t have shown up here. I may not own her, but she’s mine as long as she’ll have me. She’s appreciated. She’s cherished. What’s very not appreciated is some little college shit—”
“I graduated two years ago!” Jay squeaks miserably.
Lincoln snorts, baring his teeth.
“Oh, my bad. Post-college shit, I mean, poking around our business. Dakota needs a man in her life. Not a chickenshit little boy who already ran out on her once. And if you thought you’d come here just to rip her heart out all over again, I will fracture your shoulder.”
Jay gasps, trembling with ugly, impotent rage.
“Y-you can’t say that shit! Who the hell do you think you are? She’s supposed to be my wife!” His voice cracks horribly on that last note.
My stomach heaves. I feel sick.
Lincoln lets out a vicious chuckle.
“Is that what you think? You really are delusional. You left her, dude.” He snarls that last word.
“Nah, I just...I needed to get my head together. I had to figure things out.”
“That’s something men do before they propose, Einstein.” Lincoln’s hands ball into fists at his sides, more like rocks than human appendages anymore.
“You should talk! You’re taking fucking advantage of her. She’s screwed up in the head and she’s just sleeping with you because you’re the boss. That’s the only reason. She still loves me. She always will. So if you have any sense you’ll—”
I’m too paralyzed to even scream as Jay cuts off.
Lincoln flies forward, plowing into his chest with one massive hand outstretched. Jay falls back and hits the ground, fumbling around in his pocket as he slowly pulls himself up.
“I told you, watch your fucking step around my girl. Last warning.” Lincoln is fearless, his eyes pinning him down. “Here’s your chance. Show me you’re not totally stupid. I’ll kill you before I let you trash her in public again.”
Jay stares like an angry dog.
I open my mouth to yell a warning just as he springs up, something metallic glinting in his hand. The two men collide in chaos.
A few bystanders scream.
“Don’t hurt him, you lunatic!” I scream at Jay. “For the love of God, don’t—”
I throw myself between them just in time, just as Lincoln plants his fist into Jay’s nose. There’s a sickening crunch and he goes down with a howl, the knife he was holding clattering into the grass next to him.
I’m panting with my heart lodged in my throat, clutching Lincoln’s arm.
Holy shit.
Holy shit!
“Fuck,” Lincoln mutters, staring down at the broken mess on the ground before he looks at me. “Are you okay, Dakota?”
I bury my face in his chest, the sobs coming harsh and broken and free.
One big arm closes around me. His other hand strokes my hair.
“I’m...I’m...I’m fine!” I manage on the third try.
He holds me tighter, his eyes shifting back to Jay like judgment incarnate.
“You’re lucky as hell I didn’t do worse. Stay the fuck down until the cops arrive,” he orders, taking a stride forward to plant his foot on Jay’s chest.
His jaw is clenched like an angry god, chewing on the urge to slaughter my ex like it’s bubblegum.
I take half a step back. Just enough to see what’s going on around us.
Anna, Cheryl, and the rest of the crew are either rushing in or already surrounding us, staring at the scene with their mouths open.
Jay coughs and moans miserably under Lincoln’s foot.
I can’t even stand to look at him.
Something tells me whether he pulled a knife or not, Lincoln would’ve busted his nose anyway, and...I don’t even know what to think about this.
Another nightmare begins when I notice all the horrified faces around us.
So much for faking anything.
The awkward HR conversations Lincoln wasn’t ready to have are coming, fast and furious. And I know this is so not the way he wanted it to happen.