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Calvin’s jaw dropped for a fraction of a second before his entire body hardened with anger. “Howfuckingdare you.”
“Yeah, she hated you because yousuck. She’s the one person you couldn’t make like you. You’re fake, Calvin. You’re fake and you’re sad. People are gonna leave you because you’re a shallow, self-absorbed asshole who only lives for revenge! And I bet you’re terrified of the people who see you for what you are. Just like Gram did. And just like I do.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
“And I’m not scared of you either.” That was a lie. I was terrified, but I could be thatandannoy the hell out of him.
“You should be,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, what are you gonna do? Try and take my job again? Try and take my husband or my house? Youcan’t.”
I turned away with one last smirk, but his hand clasped my arm, pulling me back to him. His hand raised when I faced him again, and I saw it coming for me. I closed my eyes, knowing this was going to hurt.
And it fucking did. My ears rang. My vision went dark. And I was pretty sure I heard a chorus of gasps.
When I opened my eyes, I expected to see Calvin about to deliver another blow, but instead, he was pinned on the ground by the last person I expected.
“What did I fucking say about not touching my wife?”
Levi waspissed. More so than I’d ever seen him, and I knew he was about to undo my plan.
“Levi!” I said.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Calvin ground out. “I had you busy.”
“Because you sent a woman to try and seduce me?” he yelled. “Your little manipulation tactic was never gonna work. At first, I was mad, but now I think I’m gonna actually kill you.”
Calvin struggled. It did nothing.
“Levi,” I said as I tried to stand, but I was unsteady on my feet.
“Shit, darling.” He was off of my brother and by my side in half a heartbeat. “Are you okay? I should have gotten here sooner, I?—”
“It’s fine.”
Calvin laughed and got to his knees. “Is it? I finally got to land that hit on you that I’ve wanted to this whole time. You deserved that, Amy.”
Levi growled and was about to go back to Calvin, but my grip on him tightened. “Stop,” I said. “He wants you to fight him.”
“But he?—”
“He hit me.” I leaned closer. “In front of everyone.”
Levi finally turned to see a crowd had gathered in the yard. A few people were recording. Many had their jaws on the ground.
“Come on!” Calvin said as he got onto his feet. “I hit your wife! Aren’t you gonna retaliate?”
“So you can spin yourself as a victim?” I asked. “I don’t think so. For the first time, I defended myself and you showed your true colors. You don’t get to tell a different story. All my life, you’ve threatened me, and now that I don’t give a shit, you hit me for it.” I wiped my nose and saw it was bleeding. “Fuck. You.”
“You’re never coming near her again,” Levi said. “The next time I’ll see you will be in court when I get a restraining order.”
“It won’t be your first,” I added.
“Fuck you!” Calvin yelled. “I wish those stupid headaches you got killed you so I didn’t have to deal with you anymore!”
The words were brutal. But so were the reactions around him.
“Oh my God!” a woman yelled. “That’s yoursister.”