The Favor

Heather shook her head. “You wouldn’t contact his wife. No, you’re bluffing.”

“I never bluff. I made sure Thad’s wife knew about her cheating husband. Why would you think I wouldn’t do the same for Rowan’s wife?”

Heather’s lips trembled. “Bastard,” she spat.

“There’s a lesson to be learned here. You leave me and Vienna be, and we’ll leave you be. But if you dare fuck with either of us again, I will turn your world upside fucking down.”

Breathing hard and fast, she looked from me to him. “You both deserve each other.” With that, she spun on her heel and stalked off. Moments later, her car sped out of the gates.

Feeling a little dazed, I turned to Dane. “How did you find out she was blackmailing Junior’s father?” I asked, struggling to get my head around it.

“I have my ways,” he replied.

“Why didn’t you tell me about any of this?”

“I didn’t want you wasting emotional energy on her. Every time you think of, speak of, or talk to Heather, you get this tired look on your face. Like she drains you and brings you down. You’re wearing it right now. I don’t like it. I wasn’t going to put that look on your face unless I had to, so I decided to put a pin in this. It wasn’t something you urgently needed to know.”

I bristled. “I’m not as fragile as you seem to think I am, Dane.”

He closed the space between us. “I don’t think you’re fragile. You’re far from it. In fact, you’re stronger than I originally gave you credit for. It’s a quiet strength. One Heather sees and resents, because she doesn’t possess it. That’s why she tries to crush it. I think she’ll heed our warning, though. It’ll kill her to swallow her pride and back down, but she’ll want to keep her cashflow nice and steady.”

“And she won’t want us to tell Melinda and Wyatt she’s been blackmailing Junior’s father. I still can’t quite believe she stooped so low. I knew she purposely got pregnant to milk the father for money—she proudly admitted it; thought it made her clever.” I raked a hand through my hair. “She’s got fewer ethics than I thought. I don’t get it. I don’t get why she’s like this. She’s had a good life, Dane. Parents who love and support her. Shelter and food and stability. And yet …”

“Some people can only appreciate the good in their lives when they’ve had a taste of what it’s like to suffer,” Dane pointed out. “You had a shit start to life, so when Melinda and Wyatt entered it, you recognized how fortunate you were to have them and the safety that they gave you. Heather’s had it good since day one, but she isn’t a person who’s learned to appreciate it. She doesn’t see what she has; she only sees what she doesn’t have.”

“I almost feel sorry for her. I’d hate to never be able to feel content.” I cocked my head. “Is it hard to live a life where you never feel fully satisfied? You’re nothing like Heather, I know. But you have that drive to keep seeking more and better. You keep moving the marker. You never seem to feel that you have enough.”

“You think I’m unhappy?”

“Not unhappy. Just … not completely fulfilled.”

“Neither are you.”

“I know. I haven’t yet gotten the things I really want from life.”

“Ah, yes, the family and the cat.”

I gave him a stony glare. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“No. You want to create the very thing you wish you’d had—a strong family unit. You want people who’ll love you unconditionally, and people who you can love freely without others hating you for it; people who make you feel safe and secure and accepted. It’s not wrong to seek the solid, normal family you never had.”

“You’ve gone the opposite way from me, haven’t you? You’ve decided you don’t need the solid family you never had; you’ve decided that you don’t need anyone and that you’re better off alone. That’s not wrong either. We just want different things.” But I couldn’t try to make my plans a reality until I was no longer Mrs. Davenport. “At what point next July are you going to want me to sign divorce papers? The day after our anniversary might seem odd, but I guess it won’t matter at that point—you’ll have access to your trust fund, which is all you want.”

He hiked up a brow. “So eager to go through with the divorce, Vienna?”

“No, I was just asking.”

The corner of his mouth curved into a mocking smile. “One day, you’ll no doubt have the devoted husband you want.”

I narrowed my eyes at his sardonic tone.

“But for now,” he added, pitching his voice lower, “you’re here with me, wearing my rings, living in my home, using my surname.” The note of possession in his tone made my nape prickle. “Essentially, you’re mine for the time being, Vienna. And I’ll let you go when I’m good and ready.”