Chadwick lunges toward me. “What the hell did you tell them? That I was harassing you? Because that’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“Calm yourself, Chadwick,” my father says, in a tone I’ve always considered patronizing as hell, before meeting my gaze. “Scarlett, if you’re upset about how your relationship ended, then you should’ve stayed in counseling. Telling the police you think Chadwick is bothering you is not how we handle things in this family.”
I blink at both of them for at least thirty seconds because I’m utterly stunned. “Excuse me? You think I’m upset about how our relationship ended, and that’s why I went to the police? Did you just come from a five-martini lunch?”
“I’m not drunk,” Chadwick snaps with his lip curled. “And I do not appreciate being treated like a criminal. The police can save that for your trashy new fuck boy. I’m sure he’s used to it.”
It never hit me until this very moment that Chadwick looks a bit like an irritated opossum when he’s angry.
From behind them both, Hal speaks up again. “Mr. Legend is on his way. You should clear out, gentlemen.”
Based on his emphasis on gentlemen, it’s clear Hal thinks they’re nothing of the sort. I feel the same way about them confronting me like this without any concern for the threat I reported to the police.
Chadwick whips around to glare daggers at Hal. “Fuck him, and fuck you.”
My father comes closer to me, and I step back out of instinct.
His eyes narrow. “What in the world is going on with you? Is this his influence? You’re looking at me like I’m a stranger and not your father.”
I choke on the audacity of his words and let out a cough-laugh. “Are you serious right now? You . . . you may be my sperm donor, but you’ve never been a real father. God, why didn’t I see it before? You don’t give a damn about me if it doesn’t directly impact your life or your bank account. If you were really a father, you would’ve been at the hospital when I was having surgery—”
“I was busy,” he says with a sharp tilt of his head. “And it was just your appendix. Stop trying to make a big deal out of something so inconsequential.”
I blink at him again. “Do you even hear yourself right now? What is wrong with you? You haven’t even asked me what I reported to the police, or why I feel like I’m unsafe enough that I had to report anything to the police. Have you ever cared about me, Dad? Or does that only happen when it’s convenient for you or to your benefit?”
“Are we going to play twenty questions then, Scarlett?” Chadwick says, interrupting. “Or maybe you should just tell us and stop acting like a spoiled brat with a secret. Did someone hurt your poor feelings?”
His mocking tone makes me want to slam the door in their faces and never open it again. Acting like a child? Oh, I could show them immature.
“Go fuck yourself, Chadwick. If you’re the troll who has been harassing me and stalking me, then I hope they catch you red-handed so it’s easier for me to press charges. Because I won’t let you try to crush me with your threats.”
From Chadwick’s wide-eyed expression, it’s clear I’ve shocked him. “That’s why the police questioned me? Because someone’s threatening you, and you think it’s me?”
I lift my chin another inch. “I dumped you, and you didn’t take it well. That’s what the police call motive.”
“This is ridiculous,” my father says. “Chadwick doesn’t have time to threaten you. He’s busy working, Scarlett. I can’t believe you’d waste our time with some petty little matter.”
My lower lip trembles. Petty little matter. My father thinks my safety is a petty little matter.
I look over his shoulder to Hal, who has one hand tucked underneath his suit jacket. I’d be willing to bet that his fingers are resting on the grip of a gun.
But I don’t have time to say anything because the roar of an engine fills the air, just before Gabriel’s Bronco charges down the street and screeches to a halt in front of my building.
When he jumps out, he’s shirtless, shiny with sweat, and running toward us.
Fifteen
Legend
Both men spin around, staring at me like I’m Tarzan, about to beat my fists against my chest. Good, because that’s exactly how I fucking feel right now seeing them standing between me and my woman.
I was exhausted after training, but as soon as I got that text from Hal, it was like mainlining adrenaline.
These two assholes, two men who should have protected Scarlett, are standing on her doorstep, and according to Hal, yelling at her.
Not on my fucking watch.
“Hey!” I yell as I point to the younger one. “You got no reason to ever come near this building or Scarlett again. Get the fuck out of here while you’re still able to walk, or I’ll remove you in a way that ensures you never will again.”
At least the shithead has the sense to step away from her and throw his hands in the air. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t touch her. I swear.”
The older man, Scarlett’s father, steps in front of Chadwick. “I don’t know who you think you are, but this is a family matter, and you are not family.”
Oh, this motherfucker.
“Family? Family shows up when your girl is in the hospital getting cut open and sewn back up. Family is there to make sure she gets home safe and is taken care of. Family is there for her every fucking day while she’s recovering, making sure she takes her meds and isn’t in pain. I don’t remember seeing you here while I was doing all that, old man. So step the fuck down and don’t tell me any goddamned thing that has to do with Scarlett isn’t my business. She’s my woman, and if you so much as make her shed another fucking tear, so help me God, I will make you regret that decision for the rest of your life.”
A cold, calculating gleam comes to life in his gray eyes, which are the only damn thing he gave his daughter. “If you touch me, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your worthless life as a guest of the State of New York. I hear Rikers is lovely this time of year. Don’t test me, because I will bury you.”
“Dad!” Scarlett comes forward a step, but I don’t need her to shield me from her father or his threats.
I open my mouth, about to tell him exactly how things are about to go, when I notice the wet spot on the front of Chadwick’s tan suit pants that’s growing larger by the second.
Instead of yelling, laughter booms from my lips.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You pissed yourself? Jesus Christ, I knew you were a piece of shit, but I didn’t realize you were a gutless coward too. Makes sense how you could stoop to harassing her online. Too big of a pussy to say a goddamned word to her face.”
Scarlett sucks in a breath as Hal laughs beside me. Chadwick’s face turns a mottled red as Lawrence Priest whips his head to the side to look at his crotch.
An expression of complete and total disgust crosses his face. “Whatever Chadwick is, he is not harassing my daughter. I provided his alibi to the police for the time periods in question.”
“Was he even with you, Dad?” This comes from Scarlett, her words rife with betrayal. “Or did you just cover for him because that’s what you do for your buddies? Even when it’s your daughter who is being threatened?”