Total pages in book: 227
Estimated words: 220940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1105(@200wpm)___ 884(@250wpm)___ 736(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 220940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1105(@200wpm)___ 884(@250wpm)___ 736(@300wpm)
I couldn’t hide where I was going—Daniel’s not stupid. Where else would I go with Lennox? So the pressure is on to fix this and get Daniel back into school, but more importantly, get his sparkle back.
Sid pulls up. “You can wait here,” Lennox says, slipping out and opening the door for me before I’ve had a chance to unclip my belt.
“Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
I look up at the impressive building as we walk side by side up the well-kept lawn . . . that’s been cut with the new ride-on lawnmower Danny paid for. I press the buzzer and announce myself, and, to my surprise, I’m let straight in. The kids have all gone, so I enter the reception and see Mrs. Carnaby. She looks a little pale today. “I’m here to see Principal Tucker.”
Without even looking at me, she points to the door, offering us to go straight in, as if she was expecting us. I frown at Lennox. He shrugs. Then I wander to Principal Tucker’s door, knocking before pushing it open.
And stutter to a stop, my mouth dropping open, when I see my husband perched on the desk.
Holding a gun to the temple of a terrified-looking Principal Tucker.
30
DANNY
* * *
I look up and see my wife on the threshold of the office. “Well, this isn’t ideal,” I say quietly.
“Oh hell,” James murmurs.
“She’s gonna fucking raise it,” Brad adds.
“What the fuck?” Rose yells, eyes bouncing between me and the end of my gun.
What the fuck? Yes, what the fucking fuck?
I slowly relieve Tucker of my gun and just as slowly rise from the desk, feeling my blood beginning to burn. “What the hell are you—” I lose my line of thought when someone appears behind her. Lose my breath. Lose my fucking mind.
Benson stops and takes one step back. One step? He’d better get his fucking arse on a rocket and fuck off to the moon.
“Are . . . what . . . ” I can’t even form a sentence. But my mind can think, and it’s telling me to kill the fucker. I aim my gun at him, though the damn thing shakes, meaning Benson could strike it lucky when I might miss his forehead.
“Danny.” His hands come up.
Kill him.
I can’t fucking kill him. Daniel will never forgive me for popping off his best mate’s dad. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
Rose flies around and pushes her palms into Benson’s chest, trying to push him out. “You should go.”
“And you touch him?” I shriek.
“Oh Jesus,” Brad breathes. “Danny, come on.”
I re-aim my gun at him. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Danny,” James warns quietly.
I turn my gun onto him. “And you. Both of you shut the fuck up.” Wisely, they raise their hands in surrender, sinking into their chairs. I point my gun back at Benson.
Kill him.
Can’t.
Can.
Rose turns as I pace slowly toward them. “Danny,” she implores gently, appeasing me. She’s got more chance of her husband cheating on her. Zero possibility.
“Move.”
Kill him.
She remains between Benson and me, blocking my path to him. I sneer at her. She comes here against everything I’ve told her, and she brings him? Him to help fix a family issue? Him at all? “I’ll deal with you later.”
“Excuse me?” Rose coughs, instantly outraged. I haven’t even got the energy or inclination to apologize for my manner toward her. She’s bang out of line, and Benson here is going to pay for it. I physically pick her up and place her to the side.
“Danny, calm down,” Benson says, hands up.
“Calm down?”
Kill him.
Can.
Can’t.
Fuck!
I drop my gun and swing at Benson, my fist sinking into his face on a satisfying punch, sending him staggering back into the reception area.
“Danny!” Rose yells. Fair played, he remains on his feet. So I go again, an upper cut this time, snapping his head back. And just as I’m about to deliver a left hook, he surprises me with a shot that catches me on my recovering nose, knocking me back. I still, shocked, my nose throbbing. Then I feel the warm sensation of blood trickling. I sniff, dragging the back of my hand across my upper lip, tasting the coppery flavor. I look at Benson. My bleeding nostrils flare. He did not just do that. On a bellow, I dive at him, tackling him at the waist and taking him down to the carpeted floor. We both grunt, Rose screams, Brad and James curse.
“You sly fucking snake.” I straddle him and punch him repeatedly in the face, but once again he catches me off guard, spinning and reversing the roles, slamming me down on my back and returning the favor.
“You need to calm the fuck down,” he yells, breathless.
Says he who’s currently delivering punches to my face like a machine gun delivers bullets. And calm down? I roar, lifting my upper body and nutting him. His nose explodes, Rose yells some more, and we roll around, punching, kicking, headbutting.