Jax helps me off the desk.
Why now?
Out of all times.
I want the floor to swallow me whole as I shift to stare at two people I swore to hate until the day I died.
Two people I’ve never been formally introduced to or said a word to, but still, I despise them.
Sandra and Mick Ruins.
Christopher’s mother and stepfather.
This is my third time seeing Sandra in person. The first time was when Christopher and I were at the movies and the two were there. She called out his name, but he ignored them. The second was just his mother at his funeral. Mick didn’t show because he is the biggest piece of shit out of the two of them.
I want to scream at them to get out, but I’m struggling to find words.
This is bad.
Real bad.
The first people to see Jax and me in a compromising position are the last people I wanted to.
Sandra and Mick exchange looks at the sight of Jax and me—no doubt vicious wheels turning in their heads.
“Well, I’ll be darned,” Mick says, slapping his thigh. “The best friend and fiancée?” He chomps on the toothpick in his mouth. “Now, that’s some messed up shit, and that’s saying a lot, coming from me.”
Sandra snickers.
Nolan shuffles to the corner of the room and shoves his hands into his pockets, watching the impending shitshow.
Mick motions toward Jax and me. “I bet you two were fuckin’ the entire time.” He bumps his shoulder against Sandra’s, and I swear to God, the demon laughs. “Probably why Chris killed himself.”
“Excuse me?” My heart sinks into my chest as I step around the desk and stare at them venomously.
Jax creeps to my side, as if he’s my bodyguard. “What in the living fuck are you doing here?”
“What do you mean, what are we doing here?” Mick raises his arms in greeting. “We own half this place.”
“You don’t own shit, except a one-way ticket to hell.” Jax points to the doorway. “Now, leave.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Mick steps forward, his stature as if he really does own the place. “We talked to an attorney.” His teeth are smoke-stained when he grins from ear to ear. “That attorney told us that since Chris never married or had any dependents, his side of the business goes to us.”
Jax shakes his head. “Your attorney is wrong.”
“Chris owned half of this business.” Sandra inches forward to stand next to Mick. “That half is now ours.”
I always knew Sandra was a damn lunatic, but this confirms it.
This chick is batshit crazy.
“Christopher left his half to me,” I tell them, gnawing at my lower lip to stop myself from telling them how repulsive they are.
“You stupid lying bitch,” Mick shouts, staring at me with such anger that if Jax wasn’t next to me, I’d either prepare to run or kick him in the balls.
This man is a predator to his core.
This man is the one who physically, mentally, and emotionally abused Christopher—who not only left bruises on his body, but every inch of him inside as well.
He is the guiltiest culprit and one of the main reasons why Christopher took his life.
He did the most damage.
I keep my voice as strong as I can. “He did.” I straighten my shoulders, proud of myself for not giving away the nausea in my stomach. “I can email you the attorney’s information Christopher consulted for his will. Nothing is yours. Now, leave.”
Sandra cackles. “No way am I letting this whore have anything of my son’s.” Her bloodshot eyes skim over to Jax. “Look at her, spreading her legs for you now that Chris is gone.”
I dart my hand out to catch Jax’s arm when he advances toward the monsters in front of us. “Like I said, he had a will. It doesn’t matter how you feel.”
“A will can easily be forged,” Mick says. “Chris would never leave anything to a whore who is screwing his best friend.”
“Call her a whore again, and I’m breaking your jaw,” Jax hisses, his gaze pinned to Mick, and his arms are shaking in anger. “That’s my final warning.”
“Why are you defending her?” Sandra asks. “She’s the reason Chris is dead.”
I whimper, my knees buckling, and I’m relieved that I’m gripping Jax’s arm, or I’d no doubt collapse to the floor.
“Everyone says it,” Sandra goes on, smoothing her hand over her greasy hair. “Don’t they, Mick?”
Mick repeatedly nods. “Sure do. What kind of woman leaves a man for his business partner? Now, my wife is here suffering ’cause he killed himself over it. We want what’s ours.”
“That’s right,” Sandra sneers. “It’s all this rich bitch’s fault that my son hung himself.”
They’ve hit the last link of Jax’s patience, and my arm drops to my side as he advances toward them.
“It’s not her fault Chris is gone,” Jax screams, the walls shaking at his roar, and he thrusts his finger toward Sandra. “It’s yours.” His finger swings to Mick. “And yours.” His stance widens, covering more of my body, as if he’ll stop anyone who comes my way. “Amelia gave him a longer life, a happier life, but you two killed him. You ruined him from the goddamn start.” He jerks his arm out toward me. “Maybe if you loved your son the way Amelia did, he’d still be here. Now, leave because you don’t deserve one goddamn thing from him.”
Jax sticking up for me says so much.
He doesn’t blame me.
He needed a reason to hate me, to stay away from me.
“Leave,” Jax demands. “Or I’m calling the police to escort you out.”
I’m running low on breaths, my hands sliding up and down my arms, and Nolan joins my side, his arm wrapping around my shoulders.
“The cops are already on their way,” Toby says, joining us in the office.
I glare at Sandra when panic crosses her face. I’m sure it won’t be her first run-in with the police and certainly not the last either.
But how could she think she deserves anything from Christopher?
I don’t want the brewery for the money. It means so much more to me than that. Mick and Sandra only see it as dollar signs.
Christopher told me he hated his mother more times than I could count. He’d comment that he wished he had parents like mine, like Jax’s, and didn’t understand why God had destined him to them.
I take Sandra in, her skinny body and sagging face, and wonder how she could let someone hurt her child. I want to lunge at her, scratch her eyes out, and tell her she ruined him. They’re the ones who deserve to be dead. Not him.
And I thank God that, even for the short time he was here, he experienced love from me and my family, Jax and his family. It was probably the only love he’d ever felt in his life.