Chapter 51

When Serenity texted me, I was sitting in my office with Lance, doing damage control but suddenly finding myself having to fight the urge to run out the door.

He groaned. "What is it now? The florist got kidnapped?"

"It's nothing like that," I said, ignoring my hardening dick under my desk. "I just, uh, I told Serenity I'd drop by after work, but she saw the video so she wanted to check in."

"Is she okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

I blew out a breath, finally moving my eyes away from my screen and back to his. Knowing that she wanted to finish what we'd started in Vegas was making it difficult to concentrate on anything else, but what had happened earlier was serious.

"She says she's fine. Apparently, she's feeling much better and she's not pissed at me for getting rough with her ex, but I'll feel better once I see her instead of just reading the words."

Lance nodded, scratching the side of his neck as he thought it over. "Yeah. I get that. God, how was she married to that guy?"

"I have no idea, but I swear I wasn't trying to fuck with the company's reputation, bud. I know I'm going to have to put out a statement saying that I don't condone violence. You don't even need to go there."

He exhaled, seeming relieved. "You want to tell me what happened?"

"I know it looks bad, but I didn't just shove him out of nowhere," I explained patiently, even though it felt like there was a tornado wreaking havoc on my insides. "He called her a whore, Lance, among other things. I lost it. I couldn't stop myself. As soon as that word came out of his mouth, I saw red."

"I get it. I would've done the same thing, but you're right about having to come out with a statement about it. Without audio, it looks like he might've come here to talk and you lashed out at him. He didn't shove you or physically do anything else that might've provoked your response."

I let my head drop forward and rubbed my palm over my face. "He's an abusive asshole, Lance. We can finalize the statement today and put it out there in the morning. Whatever you think I should say, I'll say. I shouldn't have lost my cool, but he threatened me. Then he called her a whore. I just…"

"I get it, Dash," he reiterated firmly. "Seriously, I understand. I don't blame you. If there had been audio, then I wouldn't even suggest you make a statement, but without it, there's a possibility he'll turn the tables on you and we can't prove otherwise."

"Check our security footage. The way he was ranting, one of the cameras might've caught something. Just in case. I'll make the statement anyway, but you're right. We need to be prepared. He did say that he's going to become a problem for me if I don't leave her alone and I'm not going to do that."

"Nor should you," he said, leaning back in his chair as he stared at me. "He really said that, though? He'll become a problem for you if you don't leave her alone."

"Yep, she told me he was possessive and controlling, but this was the first time I saw his true nature for myself. They're divorced, but he still thinks he owns her. He seems to think it's only a matter of time before she goes back to him."

"Shit." Lance frowned. "You don't think he's dangerous, do you?"

"He's definitely dangerous. I just don't know in what sense. I doubt he'll show up at her apartment with a weapon, if that's what you're asking, but there are a lot of things he can do to hurt her that don't involve physical harm."

He grimaced. "What about you? He did say he'd become a problem for you if you didn't leave her alone. Do you think he'll show up at your apartment with a weapon? If he wants to hurt you now too, it's something you should consider."

"My building's security should be good enough," I said. "Hers, though, not so much. Maybe I should ask her to move in with me."

"Maybe, but that's a recipe for disaster. You guys are just starting out. You've come a long way, but moving in together will be permanent. It's not like there's a manhunt for Ethan and it's only until he's found. Legally, he's done nothing wrong. In fact, you could be arrested before he is."

"Fuck. That's true. If I get arrested, I'll sort it out. I'm not so worried about that, but I don't want to force her hand. If she ever moves in with me, I'd rather it be because she wants to than because we're afraid of what her ex will do."

"Exactly." He shot me a small smile. "I'm glad you understand. You really have grown since you've been with her. It's good. It's a good thing."

I nodded, but I hadn't told him everything that had happened out there earlier. If I had, he wouldn't have been smiling at me. It was between me and Ethan, though. It had nothing to do with Lance or anyone else, but I hadn't just shoved him.

"That whore may not?—"

That was as far as he'd gotten in his sentence before I had him against a wall, but while we were there, I whispered a threat of my own. "Don't say another word. If you want a war, we can do that, but I will ruin your perfect face if you ever say another word about her."

I shook off the memory, but I'd meant what I'd said. I'd go to war with him if that was what he wanted. Ethan was well off, but his family didn't come close to mine. I had more resources, more connections, and a better reputation.

His had taken a definite knock during the divorce, when Serenity had told the truth about what he'd done to her behind closed doors. While I knew she'd barely scratched the surface in those papers, what had come out had been enough to taint him.

If it came down to it being my word against his, I was pretty sure mine would carry more weight. Sighing as I turned to my computer, I opened a new document and glanced at Lance. "Right. Let's get this statement written."

He inched forward on the chair, nodding as I started by noting down the facts. I recited them to him as I typed, explaining what had happened after I'd arrived at the office.

"Be specific," he advised. "Everyone knows you're dating his ex-wife. They're going to want answers. Obviously, he came to you looking for something and it's clear from the video that the altercation started with both of you pretty hostile. No one is going to buy that he came here to give you his blessing, so you've got the upper hand. He was waiting for you at your place of work."

"Got it," I said. "How specific do you think I need to be? I'd rather not repeat everything he said verbatim."

"Don't," he said slowly, tilting his head. "Shit, I don't have any experience with this kind of thing. We could bring in a pro?"

"No, I don't want someone to come in and put a spin on this. The asshole was waiting for me here, at my place of work like you said, to warn me to stay away from his ex who has no intention of going back to him. The whole point of this statement is simply to apologize that I lost my cool and to make it clear that I don't believe violence is the answer. Even if I do think it might be in a situation like this."

"Yeah, don't say that." He chuckled. "Even if I agree with you."

I smirked as I glanced at him. "Everyone is going to agree with me, except for the people who are like him, and they should know that us sane people will break their faces if it comes down to that."

He snorted, shaking his head at me. "Don't say that either. Just stick to the facts, make your apologies, and get it over with."

Turning back to my computer, I laid it all out exactly like we'd discussed, ending strong with a sincere apology. I also made sure to include words like ambush and provoke just to cover my own ass. Then I hit Save and turned the screen toward Lance.

"There. I think I'm done. Read it over and tell me if it's good enough."

He leaned forward, squinting his eyes as they moved across the screen a few times. When he was done, he grinned at me. "Yeah, I think that covers it. Are you sure you don't want me to get a PR person in here to read it, though? It might help to get some outside eyes on it."

"Nah. Any pro will tear that thing to shreds and I need to get out of here. I'll call a press conference tomorrow but right now I just need to see Serenity. I don't think he went over to her place after he left, but you never know, and besides, I need to be with her. Now."

All of her promises about picking up where we'd left off aside, coming face to face with the real Ethan had set me on edge. I couldn't believe she'd lived with him for so long and that no one had known what he was like.

Protective instincts reared up in me like beasts rattling their cages. I hadn't even known her when she'd been married to him and I still wanted to go back and rip his head off his body for treating her the way he had.

"Go," Lance said. "We'll deal with the rest tomorrow. You should be with her. And if Ethan confronts you again, call the police like an adult. Or at least get audio."

I shot up out of my chair, grabbed my stuff, and left him in my office as I raced out. Wasting no time leaving, I told my driver to take me to her address and he stepped on it, clearly sensing my eagerness. I texted her that I was on my way and she told me to come up when I arrived.

All the way to her place, my knees bounced. As soon as he pulled up at the curb outside her building, I was out of the car like a bullet. As always, reporters camped out on the sidewalk, wielding their cameras and training them on me as they hurled their questions about the incident earlier.

Too eager to see her to stop and chat, I waved at them and even tried for a friendly smile, but I'd say what I needed to say at the press conference tomorrow. For now, I just needed to see that she was okay with my own two eyes.

Striding past the reporters like it was a normal thing, I pushed open the main door into the building and took the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator, needing to work off all the agitation and nervous energy coursing through me.

My muscles were burning by the time I made it to her floor, but I jogged to her door and knocked, surprised when she texted me instead of just answering.

Serenity: The door is open. Lock it behind you.

I frowned, but when I tried the handle, it turned. My heart started pounding in my chest as I pushed it open. "Serenity! Are you okay? Where are you?"

"In the bedroom," she replied. "I'm fine, but remember to lock the door."

For just a second, I paused and let the relief wash over me. She was here. She was fine. The door being open hadn't meant that Ethan had muscled his way in. And she was in her bedroom. Waiting for me.

A slow grin spread across my face as I turned to lock the door. Sliding the deadbolt into place just to be sure, I wondered what she was doing in her bedroom. All alone while she'd waited for me to arrive. My grin got bigger as I started toward her bedroom, taking my time to build the anticipation now that I knew she was safe and she knew I was here.

The worries of the day melted out of me, the tension finally leaving my shoulders. I'd deal with Ethan, the altercation, the press, and my work tomorrow. For the rest of the day, the only person who would be getting any of my attention was my girlfriend and I could hardly fucking wait.