Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. What happened between Pierce and me is none of your business.”

“You’re right; it’s none of my business. The only reason I’m telling you this is because, sometime today or tomorrow, I’ll be making a formal statement as a character witness on his behalf. You chose to bring me into your custody fight, painting me as the reason he should lose his children. I can’t let that happen. After today, it may not be necessary, but I’m hoping the judge will see your bitter battle started as a honeytrap.”

At the term honeytrap, Mr. Webber bolts to attention, his eyes swinging between Connie and me. “That’s a very farfetched accusation. Not to mention, now is not the time to sling insults after what we’ve all been through today. We’ve accepted the fact that Pierce is making life changes and settling down, even if he chose you over the mother of his children,” he sneers as if the thought alone is repulsive.

“What we went through today could have been avoided if Connie would let go of her vindictive jealousy and accept the only thing she will ever get from me is my love for our children. And, yes, the timing fucking sucks, but it’s time you both stop living in denial and accept the truth,” Pierce snaps at them. “I know you expected me to marry Connie and make a home with her, and I know you’ve always been disappointed in my decisions. But Connie and I didn’t have a relationship.”

“But you have children together!” Mrs. Webber looks appalled. “Certainly, you had some sort of relationship!”

“Connie, you want to step in here and explain this?” The already thick tension in the room grows heavier as Pierce gives Connie the chance to explain in her own words.

Every eye in the room is glued to her. She looks between her parents and slumps deeper. She knows she’s been beat. Pierce is about to expose her charade to everyone. “Pierce and I never had a relationship, but I thought getting pregnant would change his mind.”

I blow out the breath I’m holding, hearing the same behind me. A low growl rumbles from him, but my focus is on the Webbers. They are horrified.

Pierce’s suspicions are finally confirmed. She carefully orchestrated getting pregnant to trap him.

“The one thing you can’t deny or question is my dedication to Maya and Cole. You were kept in the dark, but Connie always knew the score. She did try to trap me by using our kids as emotional blackmail. Out of respect for you, I’ve never spoken harshly about your daughter, always taking responsibility for my actions. She has her version of how things happened with us, and she’s made me out to be a villain. But now you’ve seen firsthand how she’s been behaving. She tried to take my kids from me because I’m marrying another woman, for fuck’s sake.”

With each word, his voice goes colder and sharper, his anger blistering through to them. I take his hand and bring it to my lap, squeezing gently. This conversation took a different turn than I intended, but he needs to get this out in the open and set the Webbers straight.

“Darby is a beautiful, kind, hardworking woman who loves with all her heart. Maya and Cole felt safer going to hide out in her house today than they did coming to either of our families. They heard their mother saying vast lies as she rehearsed for a performance in front of a judge. They heard her LIE, time after time, about the woman I’ve been in love with most of my life. She smeared her name through the mud any chance she got. My twelve- and almost ten-year-old kids have been manipulated to the point of danger. I lost a child once, and it almost killed me. Today, I went through the fear of thinking I’d lost two more. She’s not going to get away with that.”

The reality comes crashing down on everyone with the pain radiating in his words. Tears spring to my eyes. I’ve never been a violent person, but right now, I’d like to leap across the living room and bitch slap Connie’s face.

“It’s time for you to leave.” Miller walks to the door and opens it, making a sweeping motion with his arm. “My family has gone through hell and dealt with your bullshit for the last time.”

All of the Webbers jerk in disbelief, not moving from their spots. Connie opens her mouth, then snaps it shut when Miller lasers in on her. I’ve seen that look, the fire of righteousness that blazes right before he loses his temper. It’s the same look that seared me the night at Rosen’s, and right now, it’s flaming ten times hotter. I take a sip of my wine, lean into Pierce’s side, and prepare for the verbal lashing about to explode.