Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
When we pull away, Jerry has confusion written all over his face, and Robert’s face is beet red. Before they can respond, I pull the wedding certificate from my back pocket. Making a spectacle out of it, I slowly unfold it, then hold it up like I found the golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
“What the fuck is this?” Robert grits, reading it. “Is this a damn joke?”
Gemma holds out her hand and grins. “It’s our marriage certificate.”
Robert looks as if he’s solving the hardest Sudoku puzzle. “Whose?”
“I’m so glad you asked. It’s Tyler’s and my marriage certificate,” Gemma tells him.
Robert growls as though he’s ready to attack, and Jerry still looks lost.
I clear my throat. “Right. And it’s dated seventeen days ago, which means when you filed Gemma’s and your certificate, we were already legally married.” I study her, so damn happy that she’s my wife. Not caring, I lean forward and kiss her sweetly. “Which also means, your marriage isn’t actually legal, because you can’t legally be married to two people at the same time.”
“But the deed in my name certainly is,” Gemma quips. “Oh, and just in case you haven’t figured it out by now, I won’t be going anywhere with you tomorrow. I guess what I’m saying is you can fuck off.”
Robert looks about to explode as Jerry smiles wide. The only thing that takes my mind off this is Gemma hysterical laughter. The sound is so contagious that I pull her close to me and chuckle too.
“You stupid bitch! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Robert screams, moving his plate, then stands.
“Beat you at your own fucking game. When I ended things, I told you I wasn’t marrying you, Robert. I meant every single word,” Gemma gloats.
“I need an explanation right this goddamn minute!” Robert demands. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll keep his feet planted where they are.
“Sure thing.” Gemma shoots him a wink as I trail my fingers across her arm. “Eric, your eight-figure client was completely fake. I needed you out of town so I could move all of my shit out of your house. Locks are changed, and a new security system has been installed in my cottage. Also, Eric was on your dime. His car, suit, hotel, all of it. Thought you could use some more business expenses.”
“Bullshit,” Robert seethes. “You’re not smart enough to pull something like that off.”
She rolls her eyes, and the urge to knock him on his ass gets stronger with every dumbass word he says. “I told him what to say to make it believable. All those times you thought I wasn’t paying attention at your business dinner? I was, and I learned a thing or two about you as well. Forcing someone’s hand in marriage isn’t right, Robert, but you gave me no fucking choice. You made this bed, and now you’ll sleep in it…alone.”
“You fucking cunt!” Within seconds, Robert charges toward Gemma. Jerry stands, and I move her behind me as Robert sloppily swings his fist. I throw one punch right into his big ass nose, something I’ve wanted to do since the moment I met him. Robert stumbles backward, but his rage is too much. He growls and makes me his new target as blood runs down his face and splashes on his white button-up shirt.
As he throws punches and misses, Jerry shouts, “That’s enough!”
Robert turns, and that’s when I see Jerry holding a long-barreled shotgun in his hand. He racks it, putting a shell into the chamber. All I can do is cross my arms over my chest and smirk. He’d be a dumb motherfucker to try to cross Jerry Reid.
“Get the fuck outta my house.” Jerry points the shotgun at Robert. “I’m a crack shot, so I wouldn’t press your luck, boy.”
Robert straightens his stance, then glares at Gemma. “This isn’t over,” he threatens, pointing a finger at her.
Gemma walks to the living room and grabs a stack of papers. When she returns, she slaps them down on the table. Robert snatches them up and flips through them. His eyes bug out of his head as he continues to read the bank statements that could destroy him and his business.
“If you don’t want that getting reported to the district attorney, the papers, and the local news, I’d suggest you drop it. Considering the amount of money laundering and fraudulent activity that’s in that stack, I believe it is over, Robert. Don’t make me ruin you because I will. Oh, and don’t worry, I have plenty of copies, so feel free to keep those as a reminder.” Gemma stands firm, showing no mercy toward the man who made her life miserable.
Robert snarls before walking out, slamming the door behind him. When we hear his car start and speed off, Jerry lets out a sigh. “Oh thank God, you didn’t marry that asshole.”