“With my parents. He doesn’t need to be part of this conversation.”
Now Violet looks like the one enraged. “If you can’t spend time with him, then by all means let’s make a new custody plan. Brayden doesn’t need or ask for much from you, yet you pawn him off on your parents when you feel like something is more important than him.”
“We’re not talking about custody right now. We’re talking about the fact that you lied to me.”
“When did I lie?”
“I asked you where you were working now after leaving Pinklettes, and you clearly were hiding something. Now I know why.”
“Yeah, because this is how you get when you don’t like the choices I make. You don’t get to control me anymore.”
Trevor makes a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “After Brayden mentioned you two were staying here, I put two and two together and figured this was where your new job was. You just couldn’t stay away, could you, Vi? It didn’t work out between us, so you had to run back to the man who never wanted you.”
No amount of restraint can keep me from wanting to murder Trevor. “I loved her,” I roar, breaking past Anderson’s hold and getting right in Trevor’s face. We’ve always been the same build, the same height, and that’s no different today. “You knew I loved her. You were the only one I confided in about my feelings for Violet, and you still went behind my back and took advantage of her when you knew I couldn’t be there, you motherfucker.” I plant my palms on his chest and shove him, causing him to stumble backward into the nearest table.
Trevor takes a second to stand back up and then barrels toward me at full speed. He puts his head down and rams my chest, pushing me back onto the table where Anderson and I were just sitting. Drinks slide off the table and crash to the ground. The folder of papers I prepared gets tossed to the floor.
Trevor grabs me by the collar and yanks me back off the table and brings his arm back like he’s ready to throw a punch. I duck before his fist makes contact, reel back, and clock him right in the nose.
I hear the crunch before his nose begins to drip with blood.
“Stop it, both of you,” Vi screams.
Trevor swings another fist, but before he can reach me, Anderson has him in a bear hug and pushes him away. Benson, who came out of nowhere, wraps his arm around Trevor’s neck and tightens it in a chokehold. Together, they carry Trevor outside while everyone inside the restaurant is completely silent from the chaos that just ensued.
I start forward, wanting nothing more than to join my brothers and finish the fight with Trevor, but Violet steps in front of me. Her gaze—filled with hurt and anger—stops me in my tracks. “Don’t you dare go out there.” Her seething words are enough to make me listen. She grabs my hand and pulls me into the staff room but doesn’t stop until we’re behind my office door.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Jami?”
I’m so confused by her response, my chest squeezes with pain from the fact that she seems to be blaming me. “He was saying terrible things to you.”
“And you don’t think I can handle him? You don’t need to fight my battles.”
“You’re right, I don’t. But you’ve dealt with that asshole for far too long.”
“And I’ll need to deal with him for at least thirteen more years. Like it or not, he’s Brayden’s father.”
I understand what she’s saying, but her words still hurt. How can she still feel like she owes that asshole anything? “This isn’t just about you, Vi. I haven’t seen the guy since he delivered the worst news of my fucking life, and he stormed in here acting like he can control your every move. Excuse me for reacting.”
Violet’s glare doesn’t let up. “You didn’t just react. You were throwing punches. What if he tells Brayden what the mean man at camp did to his father? Trevor might act like a piece of shit sometimes, and he might ignore Brayden and make him so fucking sad that I want to kill him, but Brayden would never forgive you for causing his father pain. This isn’t about you anymore, Jami. It’s about Brayden. Grown-ass men don’t go around throwing punches. At least not any man I want to be with.”
With that, Violet removes her apron, levels one final glare at me, and slams the office door behind her.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
VIOLET
There’s a soft knock on my door later in the evening. I climb out of bed and pad across to the wood door and pull it open, not surprised to see Jami. His head is lowered, his expression sullen, and his hands are shoved into his pockets. One look at him and I instantly regret walking out of his office as heatedly as I had.
“I already fucked this up.” He can’t even look at me, but I can hear the broken tone in his voice.
A sigh rushes from my chest, and I step forward to wrap my arms around his waist. “No, Jami. That’s impossible.”
His chin sets on top of my head, and his hands leave his pockets so his arms can wrap around me. He breathes so deeply that I can feel it in my soul.
“You were so angry, but you were right. I didn’t think about Brayden, and I should have. As much as I hate Trevor for what he did, I love you more. And I swear, I will never get angry with him again, Violet. I promise. I’m so sorry.”
I release another breath and shake my head while pulling back slightly to look into Jami’s eyes. “Don’t be.” I tilt my head. “Trevor deserved that punch. The only reason I freaked out was because of Brayden and the fact that Trevor already has the upper hand. I can’t afford to piss him off, which is why I hadn’t told him about living and working here yet. I was going to. I just knew I had to be delicate broaching the subject or he’d…”
Jami lifts his brows. “Storm into the saloon and throw a raging fit?”
I smile and nod. “Yes. That. I’m just glad Bray wasn’t here to see it. But you have nothing to apologize for. I know why you did it, and I can’t be mad at you for that. Trevor brought it on himself. The way he thinks he can control me…” I shake my head, frustrated with myself more than anyone else. “I’m going to the bank tomorrow, and I’m going to see what it will take for me to buy that studio from him. Maybe now that I’m salaried, they’ll give me some kind of loan. It’s not like I can’t afford the payments.”
Jami cups my chin and stares into my eyes. “Is that what you think it will take?”
There’s no doubt in my mind. “If I own that studio and I can show that I am running my own company plus working full time here, there’s no way the state can deny my right to equal custody. I want Brayden with me more. This three-day bullshit feels like a juggling act.”
The crease in his brow reveals his concern, but I also know he’s trying to hold back. It’s not his place, but he wants to help. That’s my Jami. Always my hero, even when I don’t need one.
“You happen to be talking to someone with impressive financial connections. I know you want to do this on your own, but you don’t have to, Vi. I can get you out of this, if that’s what you want. Just say the word.”