Tommy was in a squat, wiping the floor with more paper towel, a bottle of spray cleaner in his hand.
I smiled at the domestic sight.
“You look mighty hot doing domestic chores, my husband.”
He didn’t smile back. His patience was low today.
He threw the paper towel in the trash bin outside and then went back to the kitchen. Me and Marley followed. Tommy was washing his hands.
“Gotta go to the office,” he muttered.
“I was thinkin’ maybe we’d have a little dinner tonight? Tessa, Lisa, Luc? Here?”
I wanted Lisa and Tessa in the same room. I wanted to put them in a place where their breach could be healed. Luc and I had talked on the phone and she was already spending the day with Tess. Sarah had called and Luc went right over. When we talked, Luc said she’d get her here if I wanted to organize that dinner.
“I don’t know what time I’ll be home.”
“Oh. Maybe tonight isn’t the best night then. Maybe when Dario and Angel get home. When’ll that be?”
“Couple days maybe. I’ll check. See ya later.” He kissed me quick while drying his hands and then he left. I didn’t want to leave it with Tess and Lisa. I decided maybe I should call Lisa and talk to her, tell her what was going on. She knew we were going to Vegas to get Tess back but she didn’t know, yet, about the rape.
Marley ran by me with a nearly full roll of paper towel in his mouth. Tommy must’ve left it on the floor.
I dashed after him.
Tommy
I stepped outside and got into my car, which Will had swapped out of the garage, since I’d left earlier to get back with the pup in Tia’s Jeep. I leaned over to plug my phone in to charge it when I saw a UPS truck pull in front of the gate.
Normally, my security staff took care of deliveries, but I wasn’t expecting anything here at my house, most shit went to the office, so this gave me pause.
With the state of things lately, I wanted to see what this was myself. I waited in my car while it pulled in. I’d grab whatever it was from Will after he signed for it.
Will stood by the driver’s door talking for a minute. Actually, it was longer than was typical. Will gave the guy his index finger and jogged over to me.
“He says Tia has to sign for it personally. Should I get her, or?”
“Courier trucks shouldn’t even be on this side of the gate, man. No reason.” I slammed my door and walked toward the UPS truck.
My eyes hit the driver and I nearly spit my fuckin’ teeth out in anger. Tia’s ex.
Nick Gordon, that fuckin’ punk, was in that driver’s seat, looking like he was about to shit himself at the sight of me.
The little shit who nosed around when we were in Costa Rica and who tried to get her to leave me? The beating I laid on him clearly hadn’t been enough. This punk was like a bad smell.
I picked up my pace, storming toward him. He tried to pull the door shut but I got there first.
“Shut the fuckin’ gate, Will. Now.” Will dashed toward the gate as the UPS truck started to reverse.
I was on the step that led to the driver’s seat, holding onto the door. I thrust the door back open, one of those sliding milk truck doors. I jumped in and grabbed the stupid fucker, my fist connecting with his mouth, and then I turned the thing off. Fuckin’ little shit backed into my gate.
Tia
I was cleaning up torn paper towel with the vacuum cleaner. I’d gotten it away from Marley pretty quickly but not before he’d sat down and attempted to make a chew toy of it.
I saw motion from the corner of my eye so turned and saw Tommy dragging someone in a brown shirt in by their brown collar.
A UPS delivery guy?