Page 97 of Resist

“YOU GAVE ME TWO BROKEN RIBS, A DEPRESSED CHEEKBONE, AND NUMEROUS CONCUSSIONS. THAT’S WHAT YOU GAVE ME.”

He dipped his head and scanned the room. “Helena, lower your voice.”

“Why? Because people will hear what you’re really like?”

“You’d be wise not to forget the terms of our divorce.”

“And you’d be wise not to forget I still have video evidence.”

Colin’s lip curled, and his nostrils flared. “I want to see Jason.”

“That’s not my call. It’s his.”

“You realise I can find where you live.”

My stomach retched. “Is that a threat? Because if it is, I’m sure the judge would like to hear all ‘bout it.”

“No, it’s not a threat at all.” He smiled and steepled his fingers. “It’s merely an explanation of how resourceful I can be.”

“Then how ‘bout you put all your resources into leaving us alone and living the lifeIallow you to have, because you seem to forget that, at any moment, I can take it all away from you and have you locked up for a very long time.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you would lose everything as well. Your nice house, your fancy clothes … your precious revue”

Glancing over his shoulder at Lucas, I smiled, Lucas smiling back albeit wary and full of concern.

“You’re wrong,” I said, continuing to look at Lucas. “I wouldn’t, because you can’t take from me what truly matters.” Standing up, I skolled my drink then slammed the glass down. “You havenopower over me, not anymore.”

* * *

I’d felt soalive afterleaving Colin to lick his wounds in the restaurant. Having never stood up to him that way, I felt as if a cloak of fear I’d been wearing for as long as I could remember had lifted, and I could finally float, fly, and dance without restraint.

I’d become completely unshackled for the first time in my life, and it was invigorating.

“Let’s do something crazy today,” I panted, bent over as I tried to regain my breath after jogging along the sand.

Lucas scooped a handful of water from the sea and splashed it over his face. “Like what?”

“Like skydive or bungee jump.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Have you ever done it?”

“I bungeed in New Zealand.”

“What’s it like?”

“Scary as shit but fun as fuck.”

I laughed. “Perfect. That’s exactly what I need.”

So not even an hour later, I’d arranged with the concierge to have myself and my entire Wild Nights crew driven to a bungee tower situated on the outskirts of the Daintree Rainforest. We were then to hop on a chartered flight over the Great Barrier Reef to Lizard Island. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to reveal my surprise.

“I’ve never seen her smile so much,” Brad muttered to Matt.