9. Marcus

Ikept an eye on her out the window while her family and I brainstormed our next moves. I'd called them when I did because I knew once the adrenaline wore off and reality kicks in, she's going to crash and crash hard, and at the end of the day, she and I were strangers; she was going to want her mama and her daddy.

I'm moving fast because when I agreed to come home and take over things, the last thing on my mind was meeting my future bride. I wasn't prepared because I didn't know that I needed to be, but I pride myself on always hitting the ground running in any given situation.

To me, this was small change; to her, it was a life-changing experience. She had more than herself to think about, which I appreciate, but I'm not the kind of man who could find what belongs to him and leave it out there like a bird without wings, especially not after the hurt she'd endured.

I don't plan to rush her into anything, but I'd already made up my mind to use the time between now and the divorce to woo her. I won't date her, not in the conventional sense. I want our beginning to be free of anything to do with her marriage and that whole mess. Her ex is lucky I'm feeling magnanimous, and that's only because he's the father of her children.

I'll wait and see what she wants to do about him going forward because that's her duck to pluck. That doesn't mean I'm not going to fuck with him in the process.

I know, I know, all of that happened before we met, and I didn't even know her when it was going down, but that's never stopped me before. I don't like to see anyone harmed in this way; I have too many raw memories and have seen firsthand what that kind of betrayal can do to someone.

The thought of her feeling that pain fucks with my head, so I'm doing all this, moving at warped speed so she doesn't have time to dwell. That would give me time to find a therapist for her and the kids so that once she really does crash, there'd be someone there to help soften the fall.

I came up with the idea of having her work with me for two reasons. One, it would fuck with her ex and Melanie, seeing her at the office all day, and two, since I don't plan on dating her until after the divorce is final, I need a way to keep her close to me, and that's the only thing I could come up with.

I know if I don't see her for long periods of time going forward that I'd lose my damn mind, so it's for kind of a selfish reason, but I've never claimed sainthood.

I'd already laid everything out for her father and brothers, who didn't seem to believe that I was who I said I was until they got on the plane, I'd sent them, and even though they've been assured they don't give a damn about my name or money, they only cared about her. We'll keep them.

If they had shown more interest in me and my money than they did in her and her situation, I'd have paid them off to fuck off somewhere. That damn Monique is always claiming that I'm more Machiavellian than Tupac, whatever the hell that means, but sometimes that's the only way to be.

* * *

"Whose shityou planning to fuck up now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've got that mean mug on."

"Oh, I didn't know when I invited her family; they were going to steal her away from me."

"You invited them? I thought this was their place?"

"Yeah, but if I hadn't called them, they wouldn't be here now."

"Stop pouting, you overgrown man-child. This is what you wanted, isn't it? For her to be surrounded by her loved ones."

"I guess."

I kicked at the sand with my foot and pouted some more. Yes, I pout. I haven't done it since I was about five, but this situation seemed to warrant it. Bunch of woman stealing hogs. I heard the door slam and perked up when I saw her coming towards us.

Act like you got some damn sense and put your tongue back in your mouth, you ingrate." Monique walked away after scolding me but I wasn't listening. I was fixated on my girl, who had changed into another one of the outfits I'd bought her.

This time, it was a cute pre-summer dress that was perfect for this weather, and I'd remembered to pair it with a shawl to help stave off the ocean breeze, which could get pretty cool in the evenings this time of year.

"Hi, baby, what's up? You okay?" She just stood there staring at me before nodding her head.

"Wanna go for a walk on the beach?"

"Sure, that sounds good."

"You warm enough, right." I reached out and pulled the shawl a little snugger around her shoulders and neck and caught her looking at me with an odd look on her face.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm trying to figure out why you're so good at this. Why, you seem to know all the right moves."

"Beats me; I've never gone to these lengths for a love interest before. I guess it comes easily when it's your person. You don't have to second guess or overthink; you just go with your gut."

"I'm your person?"

"Damn straight." It's been a long time since something as simple as holding hands made me smile inside. But when she slipped her hand in mine, I could've sworn the moon got brighter.

* * *

JUSTINE

* * *

This isunbelievable and unlike anything that's ever happened to me before. Even my Dad, the person I trust most in my life, has been sold. I guess I should take his word for it since he was the only one who saw through Paul years ago and never liked him.

Everyone else saw what a good catch he was and pushed for the wedding, but my Dad always kept a bit of distance between them. I remember the night before our wedding, he'd offered to ship me off somewhere, which I'd brushed off as a joke, but I know now that he was only partly playing.

So, for this man to now tell me that he had a good feeling about Marcus, then asked what did Justice have to say, I knew I was in trouble. It just seems so damn preposterous. I mean, my divorce hasn't even been started yet and I'm already here.

It almost feels wrong not to be wallowing in self-pity, but I haven't had the chance because Marcus was just there. I keep trying to make myself feel all the things I know I should be feeling, going so far as to try to force it, but it's just not happening.

I won't pretend to be happy and skipping for joy, but I don't feel that heart-wrenching loss that you'd expect when faced with a situation like this. I think part of it is because whatever I felt for Paul died as soon as I confirmed that he was having an affair, especially after reading some of the disparaging things he'd said to her about me.

But this is nuts. ‘You just keep walking and holding his hand and keep your mouth shut. You ain't fixing to mess this up for me. How long does a divorce take in this state anyway?'

It depends; why?

‘I got an appointment with some dick. What do you mean why?'

"You and your twin at it again? You're squeezing my hand." He explained how he knew before I could ask since he wasn't even looking at me that time. I tried pulling away, but he tightened his grip on my hand, and we kept walking.

"You know none of this is normal, right?"

"People get too hung up on normal. What the hell is normal anyway? Everyone's norm is different. The problem starts when you try to be like everyone else, giving up on who you really are. That leads to unhappiness and dissatisfaction. You don't ever have to live by anyone else's rules again. I give you permission."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I have a lot of what makes this world tick. Money talks, bullshit walks. I also happen to know that the things money can't buy are the only things worth having. But since people like your ex and Melanie worship money, I'm going to use it to hurt them. And it's all at your disposal."

"Whatever you wanna do from this day forward, do it. I have Carl working on getting you a phone that we will use to stay in touch with each other when you're not with me. It'll have a direct line to Carl and Monique as well. Don't overthink things. Anything happens you call one of us no matter day or night. I'd prefer you called me all the time but there might be times you want one of them instead, that's fine. As long as you call."

‘Oh lawd, just lay me out here on this sand and take it. Take it all, Daddy. You can have it; it's yours.' Where in the world did you learn to talk like that, Justice?

‘What do you mean? Like your slutty ass wasn't thinking the same. The man just told you he's giving you access to his billions while ordering his people to protect you, and you think, what? That my panties ain't gonna get wet? Head down ass in the air; that's how we roll. Ruff, ruff, awhoo.'

What the hell are you doing now?

‘That's my DMX, stop, drop, shut ‘em down, open up shop. Oh, no, that's how ruff ryders roll. What the fuck you gon" do when we run up on you?

Fuckin" with the wrong crew

Don"t know what we"re goin" through.'

"Oh, is he playing music in your head?"

What the fuck, Justice? I didn't even realize I was dancing to that shit.