That’s when Declan’s phone, lying abandoned on the coffee table, begins to ring. I took it from him earlier, using the facial recognition to unlock the screen and change his passcode.
I tilt my head toward the sound, still bouncing Emmett while I shift my gaze to the screen.
Of course it’s her. Relentless cow.
I let the call ring out, not bothering to answer. But she calls again and then a third time. The woman simply doesn’t know when to quit.
The texts begin flooding in next, lighting up the screen in a blur of panic.
Call me back immediately!!!
Get the kids away from Chelsea
Get her out of the house
She’s not who she says she is
Nowthatmakes me laugh.
After her fourth call, I decide I’ve had enough of her nonsense. It’s time we stop pretending this can go on forever. I’m trying to start over with my new family. They’ll never move on if she’s still alive.
Time to finally end this, once and for all.
I call her back.
“Declan, did you get my messages? You have to get that bitch?—”
“Hello, Amerie,” I say brightly. “Feeling better, I hope?”
She pauses, her shock palpable. Then her tone chills, turning adversarial. “Put Declan on the phone.”
“I’m afraid not. He’s a bit… preoccupied, see. We’ve been having such a lovely time together.”
“You fucking crazy-ass bitch. Put my husband on the phone now!”
“Tsk-tsk,” I chide. “That mouth of yours. No wonder he’s come running to me.”
“In your dreams, you delusional psycho!”
“If you want to see him, you’ll need to come home. Alone. No police. No little tricks. If you try anything… well… I don’t think you’ll like what happens to your precious family. I have Emmett right here in my arms. He’s such a sweet boy. You can hear him for yourself.”
I hold the phone closer to Emmett so she can hear the little coos he makes.
“Don’t you dare hurt him!”
“I wouldn’t want to,” I say, returning the phone to my ear. “But if you make me, I will.”
“When I see you, I’m going to?—”
“You’re not listening, Amerie. You don’t make the rules, I do. Come home. We’ll get this sorted like women. But come alone… or I hurt one of the littlies. That’s a promise.”
I hang up on her with satisfaction flooding me like warm honey through my veins. Soon she’ll walk through the door and this whole charade ends. Just like I ended Gareth; just like I handled my sister when she got in the way and I had to teach her a lesson she’s still suffering for to this day.
And then, finally, I can have what I want. Finally, my happy ending can begin.
Chapter 18
Amerie
