Chapter 53

Erica

"So, what, is she living with you guys now?"

Erica scoffed and rolled her eyes. "No, Lottie. My boyfriend's ex-wife is not living with us."

"You mean your ex-husband's mistress, right?" Lottie's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Okay, sorry, I'll behave. But seriously, how long has she been staying with you?"

"Four nights so far," Erica said. "It's honestly not been as bad as you'd expect."

"I don't understand that," Lottie admitted. "I'd be going crazy."

Erica shrugged and took a drink.

She didn't enjoy Sophie staying with them. But after the hotel debacle and Sophie refusing to seek help, Erica felt somewhat obligated to help her. Even Marcus questioned her sanity.

"I don't know, Lottie. It's not quite as easy as giving her the boot." She took another drink, letting the warmth of the coffee spread through her frozen body. "If she wasn't pregnant, maybe I'd tell her to fuck off. But she is, so…" She trailed off, shrugging again.

"You know, there's such a thing as being too nice, sis."

Erica was more than aware of that. She'd gone over and over the same arguments the past few days. Why did she owe this woman anything? Never mind opening her home to her and keeping her safe. Winter had hit the city hard this year. The winds were biting, and they carried with them the kind of coldness that made bones ache in protest. When Sophie annoyed her, and Erica wanted her gone, all she had to imagine was a poor baby born on those streets. The guilt placated her long enough to get over her irritation .

"She's only twenty-five. Maybe twenty-six," Erica continued. "I feel bad, I guess."

" I'm twenty-four, Eri. That's no excuse."

"I know," she agreed. "But she's a young twenty-six. You just have to listen to her for five minutes and you realise what a fucking idiot she is."

"How vicious!" Lottie laughed. "I didn't realise you had such a mean streak."

"That's the thing, Lottie. I'm not even trying to be mean. The girl just does not have a grip on reality. I remember Alex telling me she was certifiable. I see why he thought so, but honestly, it's just immaturity. She lives with her head in the clouds."

"I wonder why she's that way," Lottie asked, swirling her cinnamon stick.

"Oh, who fucking cares?" Erica shrugged. "I'm not interested in why. It's just the reason I have a bit more empathy for her than I should. She's so clearly out of her depth with the pregnancy and everything. It's pitiful. Didn't I tell you about the hotel?"

"No? When was this?"

"The day after she arrived at our place," Erica said, rolling her eyes. They'd come downstairs the next morning to find Sophie sitting on the sofa, hands clasped in her lap. She had thrown her blankets on the floor in a messy pile, and the sofa cushion lay on the coffee table. "She went on this big rant about how she was going to be independent now and didn't need anyone."

"I'm sure that went well," Lottie said.

"She tried to put the hotel on Alex's business card. They basically told her to fuck off."

"Her first act of independence was to use someone else's money to fund her life?" Lottie raised an eyebrow and exhaled a slow breath. "Yeah, okay. She's an idiot."

"We got a call from the hotel management," Erica continued. "God knows why she asked them to contact us. But I went to collect her myself and brought her back. Marcus wanted nothing to do with it."

"I can't blame him." Lottie wrinkled her nose distastefully. "It's really fucking weird. "

"I know!" Erica ran her hand through her hair, sighing heavily. "Look, you, Marcus, Mum and Dad... You all say the same thing - throw her out on her home-wrecking ass. And you're all right! But something inside me tells me I cannot do that.

"Haven't you been watching the news? Call it a gut feeling or sheer stupidity, but I cannot, in good conscience, leave her alone."

"Okay, Eri. I get it. You're too nice for your own good, though." Finishing her coffee, Lottie sighed. "What did Marcus ever see in her?"

"Come on, Lottie, you've seen the girl."

"Yeah?" She shrugged. "And?"

"And she's stunningly beautiful." Erica laughed, hearing the bell above the door of the coffee shop. "We don't have to pretend otherwise because we don't like her."

"Fine. But beauty is only skin deep. A pretty face can't hide an ugly heart."

"I agree, but—" Widening her eyes, Erica's words escaped her. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Don't cause a scene," Alex begged, running his hand through his hair. "Charlotte, nice to see you."

"Bite me. What the fuck are you doing here?" Lottie spat. "Seriously. Are you stalking her? How are you here?"

"Erica, I need to talk to you." Alex took a seat, ignoring their protests. "I'm not leaving until you hear me out."

"We'll leave then," Erica said. "Lottie, get your coat."

"Just..." Alex slammed his fist down on the table. "Sit the fuck down. Please."

Erica scoffed, pulling Lottie up by her arm. Grabbing their bags, she practically dragged her sister out of there. Pulling her phone out, she dialled Marcus' number, ignoring the scrape of the chair as Alex followed them.

"Erica!" His tone was angry and desperate, making her heart leap. She shoved her phone inside her bra and hoped Marcus would answer. Angry men were dangerous men, and she had her younger sister to think about.

"Keep walking," she commanded, holding Lottie close. "Don't engage him at all, you hear me?" Lottie nodded, keeping her head held high. She didn't fool Erica though, she could see the nerves in her eyes.

"Erica, will you stop? "

Grabbing her arm, Alex pulled them to a stop, forcing her to face him. Inches away from his face, Erica released Lottie and, in one clean movement, slapped him with as much force as she could muster. "Get your fucking hands off me!"

"Calm down," Alex growled, grabbing her wrist. "Christ, I just want to talk ."

"And I've told you no." She tugged on his hold, her heart racing. Please, Marcus. Please hear this.

"Let her go!"

Alex snapped his gaze to Lottie and rolled his eyes, pulling Erica further away from her. "Shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch," he spat. "God, I never could stand you."

"Don't talk to her like that!" Without thinking, Erica raised her leg, aiming straight for Alex's balls with the point of her heels. Unfortunately for her, he braced himself, moving out of the way just in time.

"You're acting like I'm a crazy psycho," he growled. "I'm your fucking husband—"

"Ex-husband."

" Husband. " He tightened his grip on her wrist. "I didn't sign the fucking papers. They're not worth shit."

Nice try.

Hell, even if someone had forged them, they were good enough for the judge, so they were good enough for her.

"Just let it go, Alex. It's over."

"No, it's not." Alex tugged her closer, closing his arms around her until it looked as though they were embracing. "It's not over because you never let me explain. You never gave me a chance."

"Get off her!" This time, Lottie rushed forward, clawing at Alex's arm. Their bags littered the surrounding pavement, items from their shopping trip rolling across the ground. "Get off he—"

With a yell, Alex shoved Lottie away, sending her sprawling to the floor. The sight of her sister sprawled across the concrete, the heel on her shoe snapped, sent Erica into a blind rage. She swung for Alex, snarling as he dodged of the way. The second punch didn't miss, her fist connecting with his nose and making him curse.

"Fucking hell, Erica. Will you calm the fuck down!" He pulled her closer, restraining her against his chest.

"Let me go!" She screeched, fighting him with all her strength, ignoring the way his grip burned her skin. "I swear to God, Alex, Let me—"

"Get your fucking hands off my girl."

Tires screeched. Then, the booming voice. Like something from a movie, Marcus stepped out of a car that hadn't fully stopped. Out of the driver's side came Josh, his face like thunder as he rushed to Lottie's aid.

"I said, get your hands off her before I break every fucking bone in your body."

With Alex distracted, his face pale and sweaty, Erica brought her heel down on his foot, slamming down with as much force as she could muster. Her heel snapped, and Alex released her with a yell of pain. She would have fallen if Marcus had not caught her, his powerful arms holding her close to him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his hands roaming her body, his eyes taking every detail of her dishevelled appearance. "Did he hurt you?" She shook her head, the concern in his voice making tears prickle in her eyes.

"Lottie?" She asked, forcing her gaze from his and searching for her sister. "Josh? Is she okay?"

"She's okay," he assured her. " He won't be, though. I'm going to fucking kill him."

"Oh, no," Marcus said, his eyes never leaving Erica's face. "He's mine." Kissing her forehead, he pulled her into a tight but all too brief hug. "Stay right here."

A smarter man than Alex would have left while he had the chance.

But Alex was not a smart man. Leaning against a wall, he nursed his foot as Marcus approached him. He didn't have time to dodge the first punch, grabbing his face as blood spilt from his nose. The second punch to his stomach winded him enough that there was no chance of an escape.

Erica had never seen this side of Marcus .

Anger rolled off him in waves as his hand closed around Alex's throat, pinning him against the wall. For a moment, she worried he'd take things too far. She took a step towards him, only for Josh to pull her back.

"I didn't hit you when you slept with my wife," Marcus said, venom lacing his tone. "I left you alone when you came for my business. And when you abandoned your pregnant girlfriend, I didn't say a word."

Tightening his grip until his biceps bulged, Marcus narrowed his eyes. "But you made a mistake daring to put your hand on my girl. If you ever, and I mean ever even so much as look in her direction again, I'll fucking kill you."

Hearing the distant sound of sirens, and noting the colour of Alex's skin, Erica cleared her throat. "Marcus… The police."

She wasn't sure who called them or when, but the last thing she needed was for them to arrest the wrong person. Glancing at Erica, Marcus nodded, shoving Alex away with a scoff.

Pulling Erica back into his arms, he held her close to his chest, while he buried his head in her hair. She closed her eyes, drowning in the security of him as his scent washed over her.

"Lottie okay?" He asked once again. Erica couldn't move from his grip as he held on to her. His entire body shook, only making her want to hold him tighter.

"I'm okay," Lottie said, her tone thick with emotion. Relief flooded Erica's body just hearing her voice. If anything would have happened…

"This isn't over..." This time, Marcus released her, moving an arm around her shoulder while Alex, still popped against the wall, stared them down. "I've taken a woman from you before. I can do it again."

Erica scoffed as Marcus kissed her head. "Dream on."

"And now I'm going to fuck up your entire world," Marcus said. "I've been holding on to that video of you punching the shit out of me. I figured making you work for me on the show was punishment enough. Now I can't wait to show the guys at the London Group just what kind of man you are."

"You wouldn't dare. "

Marcus laughed, smirking darkly. "You haven't been paying attention if you believe that's true. Face it, I won, Alex."

"You haven't won shit."

"Oh yeah? Let's take a tally. I got your girl, I took your biggest client, and I got the life you always dreamed of with the woman you never wanted to lose. I'm going to do everything in my power to destroy you. Shagging employees of the London Group? Laying your hands on a woman? God, you don't see how fucked you are. You're going to lose everything.

"You'll be completely broke, stuck with a kid you don't want, to a woman you don't love. Even if you had a chance with Erica, you'd be so busy fixing your life that you won't have time to ‘take her from me'."

Marcus spread a slow and dangerous smirk as the cop car pulled up, two officers rushing over to them. "And now you're about to get thrown in jail with absolutely no one on your side. You're out of moves, mate. I won."

Erica couldn't help but grin as Alex took a step towards them, only for an officer to grab him from behind. Marcus was right, he'd won the game without even trying.

"Checkmate, motherfucker," she said. She gave him a finger wave as handcuffs clasped his wrists. "Checkmate."