“What the hell kind of friends did you make after we divorced? And how much did these hitmen cost you?"
Charmaine didn't answer at first, and for a while, I didn't think she was going to. When she finally did, I nearly fell over. "It was supposed to be five million. Half up front, half when the job was complete. But after they crashed the plane, they told me it would cost more."
I sat back on my haunches and just stared at her. I couldn't believe what she was saying.
"You were willing to pay five million dollars to get rid of me? Why?" It made no sense. She was a cheap bitch. Why the hell would she pay so much money?
"Your combined life insurance policies are worth five times that much. It was an easy decision."
I didn't think it was possible to be stunned silent, but here I was, unable to form the words needed to give her a response.
"But now you tell me it was all for naught. That you planned to leave me with nothing!"
Anger like I've never felt before raced through my veins and I lost it. "Of course I left you fucking nothing! Youcheatedon me. Youliedto me. You destroyed my view of women and love. Why the hell would I leave you anything?"
"Because you destroyed my life!" Her entire body vibrated with rage. "You gave me a son who is just like you, instead of the daughter I wanted. You couldn't give me the life I deserved while we were married, but had the nerve to find a job after you left the military that paid handsomely. You cheated me out of the life I deserved to have!"
I was stunned stupid once again. I couldn't believe the arrogance and hatred flying out of her mouth towards her own flesh and blood. I knew she wanted a girl when she was pregnant, but I honestly didn't think she hated Andrew this much.
"Andrew deserves better than you."
I left the room in search of my phone. It wasn't in my pocket anymore, so it had to be somewhere else in the house. I needed to call the cops and get them here to take Charmaine away before I accidentally killed her for speaking like that about our son.
I made it as far as the kitchen before I heard the sound of glass shattering from somewhere at the front of the house.
Forgetting all about my phone, I moved back the way I came and found a man standing over Charmaine as she begged for her life.
"Please, no! I'll get you your money!"
I snorted to myself. The woman didn't have a pot to piss in now that her husband had left her and yet she couldn't help but lie.
Typical.
If I didn't love my son so much, I would've just walked away and let the man deal with Charmaine. Alas, I didn't want him to grow up with only one parent, so instead I whistled.
"Hey, asshole. Looking for me?"
I recognized the man as soon as he turned around as one of the guys who beat the shit out of me while on the ship. Now I was glad I got his attention.
Without any warning, the man charged at me. I managed to sidestep him in time, but after that, it was game on. Punches were thrown by both sides. Some of mine connected but so did some of his.
There were times where I was convinced I had the upper hand. Especially when I smashed him through the glass coffee table.
Charmaine screamed bloody murder at that one. I wasn't sure if she was pissed we broke it or worried about the blood flying around her precious living room.
But then I was tossed so hard against the couch that it flipped over, barely breaking my fall onto the hardwood floor.
The fight continued that way; wood splintered, glass smashed, and small pieces of furniture were used as weapons.
There came a point when I was no longer sure if I was winning or losing until the sound of car doors slamming caught my attention.
I had only a moment to pray that it was my team coming to my rescue and not someone from this asshole's camp.
Sure enough, it was Matthew who broke down the door and entered first. He came at my attacker like a linebacker. Shoulder dropped and head tucked, he took the guy out with one solid hit.
"I wore him down for you," I said as I tried to stand on wobbly legs. They didn't hold me up for long though. One second I was standing and the next I was on my ass on the floor.
"Shit." Parker stood over me. "Do you need an ambulance?"
