I hadn’t set foot back there since the day I left and took her out of there. I’d seen him only once, the day he’d come to the office and I’d had him escorted off the premises. He’d made noises about the company but we both knew they were just empty threats. He now lived only by my kindness, which would only last as long as he stayed away from me and mine.
* * *
“Did you have a nice visit with your dad?” It was later that evening and we’d just put my little terror to bed after haggling for half an hour. She was putting some gook on her face in the vanity mirror as I laid back on the bed and watched. Her eyes met mine in the mirror and she gave me one of her precious smiles.
“Yes I did.” She paused and I knew she had something else to say. “I did something today.”
“What would that be princess?” It was the tone in her voice that had me on high alert. And when she started fidgeting in the chair I knew it was going to be a doozy.
“I’m waiting.”
She set her little face up and I knew she was going to try to deflect by starting an argument, which made no sense because that shit never ends well for her.
“When dad left and I was trying to get Daniel to sleep the doorbell rang and it was your dad.” She said the whole thing in a rush but I was already off the bed making my way to her.
“Did you talk to him, did he see you?” There was no anger in my voice but she knew. The widening of her eyes told me she knew her ass was in trouble.
“I, well, kinda sorta.”
“What does that mean kinda sorta?” The thought that he was that close to her and I hadn’t known made my blood run cold.
“I closed the door once I knew it was him…”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you wait all this time?”
“Why are you getting so upset? It’s not like I invited him.”
‘Tone, watch your fucking tone.” I never swear at her, or at least I try not to, but when she scares me or pisses me off that shit goes out the window.
She flew up from the chair. I knew her game. She always does this shit when she knows she’s fucked up. “Look, I didn’t tell you while we were there because I didn’t want you doing anything stupid.”
“Oh, so you’re making decisions for me now. You’ve lost your fucking mind right.” She turned with hands on her hips. “I’m your wife I can…”
I cut her off before she could get her ass in even more trouble. I wasn’t just angry, I was also scared as shit, that he had been that close to my family.
“The fact that we’re married doesn’t change a damn thing. In this house the rules remain the same. I own you. The only difference is you now own me as well. But that’s where it ends. You disobey me, you still get your ass beat and if you say one more smart thing to me that spanking will be sooner than you think.”
“I don’t see why you’re so angry. I closed the door as soon as I knew it was him and that was the end of it.” I took her neck in my hand and brought her face to mine. “You should’ve told me right away.” Tomorrow I’ll deal with him. I didn’t even ask what he’d wanted because I didn’t care.
I should’ve cut him out of my life a long time ago there was no reason not to do that shit now. After tomorrow he won’t be a problem because I’m going to use all the shit I have on him to force him out of town. No way was he going to be a lurking shadow over my wife and kids, fuck that. But I needed to deal with this one first.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I told you. I didn’t want you to do something stupid. Look, I took care of it…”
“Did you have my son in your arms when you opened that door?” She swallowed hard and looked away.
I moved towards the punishment drawer and she panicked, as well she should. I’m about to heat her ass up.
“What’re you gonna do?” She moved from one leg to the other like she was nervous.
“You, don’t talk. Go ahead, run, I dare you.” I know her so well she was itching to make a break for it.
I started to pull her over to the bed and drag her over my knees. “No Braxton you can’t spank me, I’m pregnant.” That shit brought me up short and the mix of joy and anger fought for dominance.