Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Nope.” I answered.
We were out the door by ten o’clock, which meant I could still make it to McDonald’s before they stopped serving breakfast.
Score!
“I want an Egg McMuffin.” I informed Max.
He nodded but didn’t answer, just pulled up into the nearest McDonald’s. He ordered me a number one with a sweet tea, and himself a number one with two extra sandwiches. The boy probably could down about two more, but he had a rule that he didn’t eat unhealthy if he could help it. I on the other hand had a rule that I didn’t eat healthy if I could help it.
We’d just pulled up in front of the car when I noticed the Audi. It seemed vaguely familiar, but didn’t register who exactly it was until I heard her obnoxious voice. It reminded me of nails on a chalkboard. Just one of those voices that made you want to cringe. She was standing toe to toe with Gabe while Sam, James, and Elliott looked on. It was apparent she’d been going at it for a while because all of the guys had beers in their hands that were half full.
“You need to withdraw the suit. Cora may be yours by blood, but you’re not her father. Never were.”
Uh-oh. Them’s fighting words.
Gabe’s face remained blank, but his words were anything but because they shot out of him like a whip.
“You better pray that your lawyer’s good. I guaran-damn-tee you I’ll get her. If you’re nice, you’ll still get to see her. Have a nice day, Mrs. Moran.” Gabe said coldly.
Her face paled, and I was glad he’d never spoken to me like that or I would have broken down and cried. Pulling my Egg McMuffin out of the bag, I sat down at Sam’s desk, propped my feet up, and started eating my food. I watched, head turning back and forth like a cartoon listening to Gabe and Sidney argue.
“You can’t do this!” She screeched.
“I can and will. You cost me a year and a half of her life. I don’t even know her fucking birthday. I missed her first steps. Her first tooth. Her first time to crawl. I’ve missed all of her firsts thanks to you. How do you even live with yourself?” He seethed.
“You were never even home. How was I supposed to know you’d want her?”
“I didn’t want her? I bought a fucking cradle for her before I even deployed the last time! How does that say that I’m not interested?” He yelled.
“You’re going to ruin everything if you pursue this. He’ll leave me, and I won’t have any way to put a roof over your baby’s head.” She sneered.
“Good, because I have a roof. She won’t even need you anymore. She’s gonna have my wife. You’re gonna be nothing to her. Do you hear me? Nothing.”
“You can’t take her away from me! I’ll leave the country before I allow you to have her.”
“Try it. I dare you.”
Chills slithered like a snake down my spine when I heard Gabe’s tone of voice. He was one scary motherfucker when he wanted to be. She took two large steps back, so she was closer to my chair, and I heard what she probably meant for nobody to hear.
“I fucking told him this wouldn’t work. You have ways of ruining everything. That stupid prick.” Sidney muttered under her breath.
My brows slashed down in question. What they heck did she mean that? Who was this, her husband, or someone else?
“I think it’s time for you to leave. We’re supposed to have the results from the DNA test in a few hours. My lawyer’s drawn up papers to put into motion my visitation rights. I’ll be having Cora with me by the weekend.”
That was news to me, but it also excited me. I did feel that maybe he needed to spend some alone time with her, and I went through my plans for the weekend in my head. I didn’t have anything planned. Maybe Max and I could go and stay at the cabin.
The cabin was my parent’s favorite getaway. When they needed some time to unwind, they would all go up to Hainseville, and stay in the cabin. It was primitive. There was no running water, nor working lights unless you had the generator running. There were some 4-wheelers there last time I checked, but I hadn’t been on them in well over eight years. The weekend before my parents died.
Deciding that would be a good plan, I typed up a text on my phone asking Max if he would go with me.
Me: Can we go to the cabin and stay for the weekend?
Max: Sure. I just got some lights and indoor plumbing installed.
Me: Since when?
Max: Why are we talking like this when we are sitting next to each other?
Me: Because we’re awesome.
Me: You aren’t talking.
I saw Max glance at his phone, roll his eyes, and then lay the phone back in his lap.
Me: Max
Me: Maxie Poo.
Me: Maximilian Horatio Tremaine.
Max: Where did you get Horatio? That’s not my middle name.
Me: This is getting good. What do you think he’s gonna do?
It was getting good too. So good, I decided to tape it. Good thing I did too, because she used that moment in time to slap the shit out of Gabe. I was so stunned that she’d done it that it took me a few seconds to react. One second I was leaning back in the chair and watching the drama unfold, and the next, I was grabbing the bitch by the hair. I pulled my arm back, and propelled it forward, knocking her square in the eye. She crumpled to the ground on her hands and knees.
Yanking her by the hair, I very nearly dragged her until she got back on her feet and followed me out the door. I let my grip on her hair loosen as I got to her car. Leaning away from her, I watched as she straightened.
“I don’t care how upset you are. You do not ever hit him again. I swear to God, if I see or hear that you did that again you won’t eat solid food for a month. Got it?”