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“Oh my god, please don’t call me Miss, it makes me feel a hundred years old,” I said with a smile. “Just wait out here, and I’ll signal if things go sideways.”

Rome nodded. He posted up by the door in a way that was extremely obvious, but I didn’t mind. It was probably best if Blakely could see him.

The bell over the door chimed as I walked in. “Hi, Blakely. I see you already got a coffee. I was going to offer to buy one.”

“I don’t need your handouts,” Blakely hissed. She was holding a giant hot coffee drink with whipped cream, and there was some on her lip, which made the threat a little less scary.

I ordered a plain coffee, then turned back to Blakely. “Should we sit down?”

“I’m fine standing.”

Awkward, but fine. We stood at the end of the communal table.

“So, what the hell do you want? Got another smart plan to ruin my life? Or are you finally ready to admit that Ace is mine?” Blakely snapped.

“No. I want you to stop trying to ruin mine,” I shot back. “I know about your stupid plan to make it look like Steph was cheating on me.”

Blakely narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

“You’re acting like a child. You’re not the genius mastermind you think you are. You’re just a petulant little kid. You are way too old to be acting like we’re in middle school.”

“I’m just trying to take back what’s rightfully mine,” Blakely said with a sneer. “Life was perfect untilyoushowed up.”

“Was it really perfect? Because it sounds to me like you were just hanging around the clubhouse waiting for whichever shifter decided they wanted an easy fuck.”

Her face paled, and she stepped back like I’d slapped her.

“It’s pathetic,” I continued. “And it makes me sad. Truly. Because it shows me how little you value yourself. A woman who really valued herself and wanted a partner to value her wouldn’t be acting like this over a man who doesn’t want her. Steph has made it clear dozens of times that he doesn’t want a damn thing to do with you. So why do you keep trying to crawl back? It’s degrading.”

“You—” Blakely sputtered. “You—You don’t know anything about what Ace wants! You’ve done enough damage here, and it’s time for you to get the fuck out of Lakeview and go back to where?—”

“This isn’t a discussion,” I interrupted in a firm voice, like I was talking to a whiny child instead of a grown woman. “I’m not here to give you options. I’m here to tell you what’s happening.”

“You’re just another one of Ace’s flings. He’ll get bored of you and come back to me.”

Blakely’s arguments weren’t even threats. They were just pitiful delusions. It made me feel bad for her.

“Blakely, you need to move on. Steph hasn’t come back to you because he doesn’t want you. Whatever you two had is over. It’s been over for a long time, and you need to accept it.”

Blakely scowled fiercely at me, but she actually looked like she might be listening.

“I’ve been nice about it up until now, but that little stunt you pulled went way too far. Steph and I have a son. We’re moving forward. We have a future together, and you’re not a part of it. You understand? It’s time for you to go.”

Blakely lurched forward one stumbling step, and she half-raised her free hand like she wanted to slap me. I wasn’t fazed. I glanced over to the front window. Rome was glowering outside, watching us carefully. All I needed to do was one little motion, and he’d come in here and drag Blakely outside to kick her to the curb.

“I know Steph told you not to lay a finger on me,” I said. “Not that I need him or the enforcers to defend me. I could kick your ass myself. But you’ve got to see it now, Blakely. There’s no one left on your side. It’s over.”

After a long moment of fuming, Blakely slammed her coffee cup onto the counter so hard the drink sloshed over the paper edges of the cup. “Whatever. I’m better off without that liar, anyway. You can have him.”

I said nothing, just took a sip of my coffee and smiled. If getting the last word in would make her feel better, I’d let her have that. As long as she finally left us the hell alone.

“And he’s not my damn problem anymore. So when he screws you over, don’t come running to me.”

“I won’t,” I said. “I can promise you that.”

Blakely stormed out of the café, leaving the mess of her coffee all over the counter. Outside, she threw a dark look at Rome, spat at his feet, and stormed away.

“She seems nice,” the barista said as she cleaned up the mess on the counter.