35. Blake

CHAPTER 35

Blake

“ I ’m sorry, sir, but Mr. Zaleski can’t see you today. You need to make an appointment and come back another time.” This secretary has no idea that she’s playing with fire. But she’s beginning to catch on. Her gaze nervously flits back and forth between me and Gin.

I didn’t want to bring my wife to this encounter, but she insisted. I think she’s attempting to face her fears, her abuser, in a relatively safe and controlled environment. With me by her side, I’ll never let anyone touch her again.

The stupid fucker in that office should have run far, far away instead of hiding behind his secretary. That decision alone tells me how arrogant he is, and I can’t wait to break him.

I pull out the knife I keep on me at all times. It’s not impressive to look at, but I know how to use it. “You can either buzz open that door, or this is about to get bloody. If I have to come behind your desk and?—”

Her skin pales and she pushes the button. Apparently threats of bodily harm are still effective. I’m sure she doesn’t get paid enough to deal with this kind of shit.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” I don’t wait for an answer to my rhetorical question. My hand in Gin’s, we enter Oz’s office, where the smug fucker sits behind his desk, Italian leather loafers resting on top.

“What a pleasant surprise,” he greets us, a wide grin on his lips. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I snarl at him.

Releasing Gin’s hand, I round the desk and punch that smirk off Oz’s face. The blow tips his chair backwards and he crashes to the floor with a satisfying thud. I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks.

I kick his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. He blocks my next strike by curling into a ball.

Fucking pathetic.

“Please,” he begs. “Stop.”

“Get up and fight me like a man, you piece of shit!” With a swipe of my arm, I clear the top of his desk. Its contents rain down on him. Everything Gin told me about their time together, about everything that’s happened to her, replays in my memory and it’s all I can do to hold myself back from slitting his throat here and now.

How was I so blind when she hinted that her ex was abusive, that I didn’t see it? Why didn’t I look into it? I need to do better by her and stop being such a self-absorbed prick all the time.

“You can’t hurt me,” Oz wheezes. “I haven’t signed the paperwork yet.”

I seethe at him. “Then get up and sign it. Now.”

Slowly, he gets to his feet, hugging his midsection and rubbing the bruise forming on the side of his jaw.

“No. As soon as I sign that you’ll kill me, won’t you? If you want that property, get the fuck out of my office. I’ll sign it when I’m good and ready.” Oz cocks his head. “Or are you going to play that bitch’s white knight, and throw everything away for one stupid whore? Is she worth it?”

I freeze, my fingers curling into fists again. He doesn’t know it, but he’s forcing me to choose between my brother’s future and avenging my wife. I’m between a rock and a hard place. Fuck!

Glancing over my shoulder, I take in Gin’s stricken expression. Her gaze meets mine and the resignation, and hurt, I find in it twists my gut. Guilt settles like a stone in my stomach. She already knows the decision I have to make. And I already hate myself for it.

I turn back to Oz. “That deal will go through. Sign it.”

“Given this turn of events, I’ll be in touch to continue our negotiations. You don’t think I’m stupid enough to sign that contract without any assurances, do you?” When he sees my expression, he says, “You don’t have to answer that.”

“Don’t ever go near my wife again,” I warn him. Defeat drags me down like riptide. I should be cutting pieces from his flesh, not giving in to his demands. How did this go so wrong?

I acted impulsively. That’s how. For once in my life, I didn’t wait and collect all the necessary information before striking, all because this is too personal. Now I’m fucking regretting my brashness.

Taking Gin’s hand in mine, I storm out of his office. Frustration vibrates through my bones. That’s not how that interaction was supposed to happen. Oz should be strapped to a chair, begging for his life while I flay him for every ounce of pain he caused Gin.

Instead, I’m standing in an elevator with her and unable to meet her eye.

“Are you going to make a deal with him?” she asks in a small voice.

I nod. “But this time, I won’t be keeping my word. He’ll pay, eventually. I’m sorry it can’t be right now.” When she doesn’t say anything, I try to explain. “Liam’s entire future’s on the line with that deal.”

“I know. I understand.”

Finally, I glance at her. “You do?”

“Of course I do.” Her words contrast the pain in her eyes. She can say she understands, that everything’s all right, but I know it’s not. She slips her hand out of mine.

I’m beginning to feel like I was put in an impossible position and I just made the wrong decision. Logically, I can get the paperwork signed, secure Liam’s inheritance, and then go after Oz for what he did to Gin. That sequence of events checks out. It’s a rational plan.

So why do I feel like I’m losing my wife?