Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Jade tore open the envelope with trembling hands. Her face drained of color as she unfolded the papers inside. I watched her eyes scan the first page, growing wider with each line. Her breathing became shallow and quick even as her face hardened.
“Jade.” I kept my voice low. “What is it?”
She looked up at me, her mouth opening and closing without sound. When I reached her side, she wordlessly handed me the stack of papers. I took them from her shaking fingers. The letterhead belonged to one of those downtown law firms with three names strung together that specialized in making problems go away for the right price.
The contents made my blood turn to ice before burning with rage. Eric was threatening to sue her. For defamation. For making “false allegations” about his character and conduct. The sum at the bottom of the page had enough zeroes to financially destroy anyone, let alone a woman trying to rebuild her life. The language was deliberately intimidating, full of legal threats and thinly veiled warnings about what would happen if she continued pursuing charges against him.
“But the judge already ruled in my favor.” Her soft words belied the tension continuing to build inside her.
“This motherfucker.” I spoke through clenched teeth. “Give me a minute, honey.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Ethan. My brother answered on the second ring.
“Ethan.” I kept my eyes on Jade as I spoke. “Eric just had his lawyer send legal threats to Jade at Haven. I need you here. Now.”
“I’ll swing by and pick up Ms. Thompson and be right there.” Even though my brother tried to contact me when I went to prison, when I got out he’d been the first person to meet me. He’d also been the man to introduce me to Knuckles.
“Thanks, Ethan. I owe you.”
He snorted. “Yeah. You do. Rain check.” I ended the call and turned back to Jade. She stood frozen, arms wrapped around herself.
“My brother and Lana Thompson are on their way.” I guided her to the couch and sat beside her. “This is nothing but intimidation. Ethan and Lana will take care of it.”
Jade nodded but said nothing. I wanted to pull her into my arms, but I knew from experience that sometimes after a shock like this, she needed space before accepting physical comfort. Instead, I sat beside her as a solid presence, letting her process. My thigh rested firmly against hers.
Thirty minutes later, the door to Haven buzzed. Violet led Ethan and Lana into the common room. My brother wore his courtroom face. He looked nothing like me in his court get-up. Underneath his perfectly tailored suit and precisely knotted tie, Ethan wore his own ink. He also had the same morally gray scruples I did. Lana Thompson wore a crisp blazer over dark jeans, her red hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. They both carried leather portfolios and wore identical expressions of controlled anger.
“Let me see the papers.” Ethan held out his hand. I passed them over. He flipped through them quickly, his jaw tightening with each page. Lana read over his shoulder. “This is a violation of the restraining order.” Ethan looked up at Jade. “Him contacting you through his attorney constitutes contact. The order specifically prohibits third party contact intended to intimidate or threaten.”
Jade blinked. “It does?”
“Yes.” Lana nodded firmly. “Judge Morgan was very specific. No direct or indirect contact whatsoever. This counts.”
“I thought I remembered something about any communication going to my lawyer, but I didn’t realize you’d be continuing to represent me.” Jade sounded shocked, but also like she’d slowly retreated into herself. Probably a defense mechanism when she got overloaded.
Ethan pulled out his phone and stepped away from our small group. His voice dropped into the clipped legal language I never quite followed.
Lana sat next to Jade. “This is good news in a way. He just handed us grounds for arrest.”
“Really?” Jade looked up, confusion crossing her features.
“Absolutely.” Lana nodded. “We can file for contempt of court immediately. And this demonstrates a pattern of continued harassment that strengthens our case.”
Ethan returned, tucking his phone away. “They’re picking him up now. Officers are on their way to his office.” He looked down at Jade. “This will get him booked and potentially held overnight. The hearing will be expedited given the circumstances, which works to his advantage, but I didn’t expect any different. I will get you an interview at the DA’s office first thing in the morning. Bastard waited until end of day to have it delivered for this very reason.”
Jade nodded slowly. “Thank you. Both of you.”
I watched her face carefully. The initial shock had faded, replaced by something harder to read. Not quite determination yet. But no longer frozen in fear either.
Ethan and Lana stayed for another hour, going through preparation for the next steps with Jade. I sat beside Jade through all of it, occasionally touching her hand when her anxiety visibly spiked. By the time they left the initial crisis had passed, but I could tell Jade had reached her end. I walked her to her door, and she retreated into her room with barely a word. I stayed with her, waiting for her to invite me in, but she didn’t. Just smiled up at me and closed her door. I wanted to step in and take over the situation, to hold Jade and help her through her shock and frustration, but even though we’d had sex she still wasn’t all in with me. I’d get her there.