As we walked away from his mother, he muttered, “I’ve just been played by you and my mother, haven’t I?”
I smiled sweetly. “Your mother seems too nice to do something like that.”
“None of the women in my life are too nice to do something like that, you included.” Warmth settled in my stomach at his words, and I laughed at what he’d said. “Something tells me I’m going to love your family.”
“God fuckin’ help me.”
Chapter 15
Can’t Stand The Rain ~ Lady Antebellum
Nash
I pulled up outside Velvet’s house and killed the engine of her car. I’d fixed it, and it’d been the first time in ages that I’d enjoyed working on a car. Now, I was returning it and hoping she had the time to drive me back to my house. Eyeing her driveway, I realised she might not because she had a visitor. Someone who drove a very expensive car.
A couple of minutes later, I knocked on her front door. I could hear shouting coming from inside; a male was yelling at Velvet. Without hesitation, I pushed the door open and stalked towards the voices. I found Velvet and a guy I’d never laid eyes on before in her kitchen. The suit he wore screamed money and I wondered who the hell he was. Regardless of who he was though, I didn’t like the way he was treating Velvet.
She was rattled, I could tell that straight away. When she looked at me with eyes that begged me to help her, I didn’t hesitate. “What the fuck’s going on here?” I demanded while moving in between them, putting Velvet behind me.
The guy glared at me. “This is none of your business so I suggest you leave us to it.” He looked me up and down with a ‘you’re a piece of worthless shit’ look.
“Not fuckin’ likely,” I growled.
“Velvet, kindly tell your friend that we’re just concluding a business deal and that there’s no need for his help.”
“No need, Velvet. But what you can tell me is who the hell he is to you.”
She moved so that she was standing next to me. I didn’t fail to notice that she positioned herself right next to me so that our bodies were touching; she didn’t feel safe with this dickhead. “James is my ex-husband.” She supplied the information I was after.
Shit. I wouldn’t have picked that; they seemed so different. “You do business deals with all your ex-wives?” I asked him.
“Just the ones who are a little unpredictable.”
I’d heard enough. Turning to Velvet, I asked, “What do you want to happen here, babe? You want to finish your discussion with me present or do you want him to leave?”
“I want him to leave.” It was almost like she was begging me to get rid of him the way she said it; damn, he’d really shaken her up.
I nodded, and then directed at him, “You heard the lady.”
He was fuming; his face was a wild mess of anger, and I didn’t want to think about what had gone on between these two during their marriage. I could see what kind of man he was just from five minutes with him. “This isn’t finished, Velvet. Not by a long shot. I want that agreement signed and I want it signed in the next week.”
I stepped closer to him, and snarled, “That’ll be the last time you threaten Velvet. You come near her again and you’ll have me to deal with, and that’s the last fuckin’ thing you want. We clear?”
He played a good game but I didn’t miss the flicker of hesitation before he said, “You have no idea who you’re dealing with here. Your threats mean nothing to me.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck who I’m dealing with here. All I care about is Velvet, and I’d suggest you take in what I just told you. I don’t fuck around and I don’t think twice before I look after those who are mine.”
He gave Velvet one last menacing look and then he took my advice and left. I watched him go and after I heard the front door slam shut, I gave my attention back to Velvet. She looked like she was about to break down so I pulled her to me and wrapped her in my arms. A moment later, her body shuddered and she began sobbing. Christ, I’d never seen her like this. Velvet was a tough bitch; nothing ever seemed to get to her, and she didn’t take shit from anyone.
I smoothed my hand over her hair and held her tight, letting her get it out. Eventually, she let me go and wiped the tears off her face. “I’m sorry,” she stuttered.
“Fuck, you’ve got nothing to be sorry about, sweet thing.”
“I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
“I’m not.”
“Well you might be once I tell you who he is and what he’s capable of.”