Page 1 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

Celeste

" W hat the fuck?" Walking from my garage into the kitchen, all I can hear is my sweet baby girl screaming.

I have no idea where Chad is, but it's no surprise he's left her crying. I knew I should've taken the kids to my parents instead of leaving my useless husband to watch them.

If Ezra hadn't needed me to go to a fundraiser with him tonight, there's no way I would've left the house. Post-partum depression is a bitch, and with a husband like Chadwick Fitzgerald III, it's a million times worse.

I know my marriage is a fucking disaster and that having Layla made that more apparent than ever, but for some reason, I keep hoping he'll be the man he was when we first fell in love.

At least then, he had been a functioning adult who actually showed up to work and didn't fuck off whenever he wanted.

Layla's screams grow louder, as does my anger with my worthless husband, as I make my way down the hall towards the kids' rooms. When I find her in her crib, her little cheeks are red and splotchy as fat tears roll down her face. Thankfully, my sweet girl calms as soon as I get her in my arms.

Checking her diaper, I find it full to the point it's almost leaking. I get her cleaned up, then snuggle her in the chair and feed her—the bottle with the formula I had measured out and was ready to go is still sitting on the dresser, untouched.

No wonder she was so worked up. Not only was she stuck in a soiled diaper, but she was also hungry.

Once I get her back to sleep, I check on my other two kids. Even though I'm utterly exhausted and pissed beyond belief, I can't help but smile when I peek my head into Talon's room and see him snuggling Calla. He may only be four to Calla's two, but he takes his big brother role seriously.

Knowing that my kids are safe—they sleep like the dead, and Layla's crying didn't wake them up—I head to the master suite on the opposite side of the house, in search of my husband.

Music is playing loudly in our room, in what I'm sure was an attempt to drown out Layla's crying. Chad doesn't hear me come in.

I'd like to say I'm shocked to find my husband balls deep in a leggy brunette, having the time of his life, but if I'm being honest with myself, I've had my suspicions that he's been cheating on me.

It's not like he's subtle when he comes home smelling of other women, reeking of sex, or with makeup smeared on his shirts.

Leaning against the door frame, I watch Chad jackrabbit who I assume is some bimbo from the bar, until she throws her head back and I realize it's Natalie.

She's supposedly one of my best friends.

Or at least, she was back when we used to book the same modeling gigs.

We drifted apart when I started "popping out kids", as she so eloquently put it one of the last times we hung out.

Good to see she couldn't manage to keep in touch with me now that I'm a mother but has no problem staying in touch with my husband. She can have his lousy lays, and at least I won't have to fake my orgasms anymore.

I can tell Chad is getting close—by the increase in his thrusts and his obnoxious, nasally "dirty talk"—so I decide to sit back and let him finish. Might as well get his rocks off one last time before he loses the cushy ride he's got going for him here.

I have to stifle my laugh when I see Natalie's bored expression and eye roll, before she fake cries out and tosses her head back as if she's having the best "O" of her life. Chad flops down on top of her and starts slobbering on her neck.

I step into the room and slow clap.

"What the fuck?" Natalia screeches as she shoves Chad.

"Fuck! Baby, it's not what it looks like."

"Oh, it's not? 'Cause from where I was standing, it looked like you were fucking Nat about as horribly as you fuck me, until you got off and she had to fake her orgasm. Sound about right, bestie?"

"Oh, fuck you, bitch," Chad snarls as Natalie, on the opposite side of the bed, tries to put her clothes on. "Just because you're frigid and those crotch goblins have ruined your cunt, it doesn't mean I can't fuck."

"There's the ego I've come to know so well.

Newsflash, Chad: you've never been a great fuck, maybe good at best when we first got together and you actually put some effort into our relationship, but that ship sailed a long fucking time ago.

I only kept sleeping with you to salvage our marriage and because I wanted a big family.

"Speaking of our family, you said you'd watch the kids. Layla was screaming when I got home. Her diaper was full. And you forgot to feed her, you worthless piece of shit."

"She was fine. You coddle those kids." He waves his hand at me and shoves his feet into a pair of designer sweats.

"She's fucking six months old, you asshole."

Natalia tries to leave.

I'm still blocking the door and slam my hand across it to stop her. "And you, the one who hated Chad and always talked shit about him, saying I could do so much better. Was that because you were jealous, or has he been telling you how he can get you the best contracts?"

"I-I don't k-know what you're talking about."

"So it's the latter. Hate to break it to you, but he has zero connections to get you gigs because he's burned too many bridges in the industry.

Even his dear old dad can't salvage his reputation.

Nobody wants to work with Chad. His dad keeps him on the payroll but won't give him actual talent or big contracts, for fear that Chad's going to lose him that business.

He's been coasting off his menial salary and the trust fund his grandparents set up for him.

Everything you see here"—I point around the room—"is mine.

His name isn't on any of it, and he doesn't have the right to a single penny of mine, thanks to the prenup he signed before we got married. "

"You fucking cunt!" Chad yells as he storms across the room to confront me.

"Are you kidding me? Is she telling the truth?" Natalia's nostrils flare as she turns on Chad, who now has two angry women staring him down.

"You know I am." I glare at both of them.

"Don't listen to her, babe. I can get you those deals. You know I'm good for it." Chad smooths a hand down Natalia's arm right fucking in front of me.

I've finally seen enough. "Believe what you want. Hell, do whatever you want. I don't care. Just get the fuck out of my house. Both of you."

"You can't kick me out, Celeste. This is my house too," Chad whines like the petulant child that he is.

"Were you not fucking listening to a word I said?

This is not your house. Your name is not on the deed.

Actually, your name is not on anything. You don't have a right to anything in this house or any of my assets, according to our signed prenup.

You can take your clothes and your car and get lost." I wave my hand dramatically towards the door, encouraging him to make his exit.

Turning to Natalia I add, "And you can lose my fucking number.

I know it sucks getting older in our industry, and booking gigs against the younger girls seems impossible sometimes, but this is not how you go about doing it. "

With a gentle push to their backs, I usher them both out of my room and follow them to the garage.

Natalia is quiet, her arms across her body, and folded in on herself. She looks defeated, and for a minute, I feel bad for her. Then I remember she was willing to fuck my husband to get ahead in her career.

Chad is running at the mouth, but in his typical fashion, he's all hot air.

As soon as they climb into his car and leave together, I head to the kitchen, where I sink to the floor.

I reach my hand into my pocket and pull out my phone. Taking a deep breath, I slowly release it before hitting call.

"Hey, Cel. What's up? I figured you'd be passed out by now."

"I fucking wish. I came home to Layla screaming her lungs out and Chad plowing Natalia in our room."

"I'm going to fucking kill him," Ezra growls out as a door slams in the background.

"As tempting as that is, he's not worth it. I kicked them both out. You think you can come over and reprogram all the security so he can't get on the property?"

"I'm already on my way. We'll make sure that sniveling weasel-dick doesn't step foot near you all, unless you permit it."

"Thanks, Ez. Do you know any good lawyers I can call about a divorce and custody of the kids?"

"Fuck yeah, I do. I already have one lined up."

"You do?"

"Yeah, Cel, I do. I've just been waiting for you to be done with his bullshit before I brought it up."

I attempt to fight the tears that I've kept at bay since getting home, but it's impossible when my big brother comes in on his white horse and saves my day.

"You still with me, sis?"

"Y-yeah." I sniffle as I push myself to my feet, then rummage in the fridge for some wine.

"Fuck. Are those sad tears because you still love the douche canoe or something else?"

"Umm, probably a million things compiling into a perfect shitstorm, but you being the best big brother finally broke me."

"Gotcha. You know I've always got your back, Celeste. I'm just happy that, this time, I'll be able to help rid you of 175 pounds of dead fucking weight in the process."

"There's so much to do. We can't let him get any time with the kids, Ez."

"We won't let that happen. My lawyer is the best out there, and you have a good relationship with his dad still, right?"

"Yeah, but why does that matter? I'm the one who will be divorcing Chad."

"It matters because his father knows how fucking useless his kid is and that you and your babies deserve so much better. You can also let the old man know that you're willing to maintain a relationship with him for the kids. I'm sure he'll be very supportive of your decision."

"Maybe…"

"Definitely. But let's not worry about that right now. I'll be there in about five minutes. Go get some wine and curl up on the couch. We'll get the locks switched out tonight and tackle the next steps tomorrow."

"Okay. Thanks, Ezra. Love you."

"Love you too, Celly. See you in a few."