Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Oh, I don’t know.” The man shrugged as several people dispersed. “Maybe a good eight to ten years. I heard he was pushing out a few hundred a week, just enough to slip under the radar during biweekly evaluations. That probably accumulated to the thousands.”
“Wow. What an idiot,” I said.
“I try not to call people names, but . . .” The man held up a hand, smirked, then dismissed himself.
I neared the curb just as the police cruiser Luther was in drove away. As it rolled by, Luther turned his head a bit, looking through the corner of his eyes out the window. He did a double take when he noticed me. His eyes became bigger, and his jaw dropped. Shame settled on his shoulders.
I lifted a hand and waved him off with my middle finger.
Good fucking riddance.
When I returned to my car, I sat for a moment. It felt wrong to smile about someone’s demise, but I did. I smiled because I had been worried for weeks that Luther would show up, despite the restraining order I’d filed on him.
Every time I pulled up to the house, I was afraid that he would be waiting there. Or worse, that he would get through the gates somehow, like Rafael had, and corner me.
But now, I would be the least of his worries. And if he did get eight or ten years under his belt, a lot could change for me.
For the first time in a long time, I felt nothing but pure relief knowing those fears I carried could rest.
At least for now.
Forty-Two
Javier
Three weeks later, and it was time for the hearing.
I stood in my bathroom, fixing my tie and doing my best not to feel irritated. I still could not believe this was even happening but was glad it was sooner rather than later.
I could hear Octavia talking to Aleesa downstairs. It was clear she was giving Octavia a hard time, so I finished up and joined them.
Octavia was sitting on the floor next to Aleesa, who was pouting, with shiny eyes. When she caught sight of me, she ran my way from the living room and closed her arms around one of my legs.
“What is going on?” I asked, picking her up.
“She wants to go with you.” Octavia blew a mildly frustrated breath as she stood up.
“I see.” I focused on my daughter. “Lo siento, princesa. I have to go, but I will be back very soon.”
Aleesa placed her head on my shoulder and began to cry.
Damn. I did not want her to cry. Not on this day. It was already going to be hard enough.
Octavia smoothed her dress down. “I can take her to the park,” she offered. “One of the smaller ones with less people. I think she’s getting tired of the pool and bubbles.”
“Yes. That will be good. I’m sure she will like that.”
“Okay.” Octavia reached for Aleesa, but my daughter was not having it. She kept her head glued to my chest instead, now whining.
“Go on, amor,” I murmured, handing her over to Octavia.
Aleesa cried harder.
“It’s okay. You’re okay, love. I’ve got you. We’ll get on the swings. How does that sound?”
Aleesa’s cry weakened, but her eyes never left me. Guilt ate at my heart. I hated this. I would have done anything to stay and console her. Clearly this custody battle was affecting her too.
“I don’t want swing. I want slide,” Aleesa demanded.
“All right.” Octavia couldn’t help laughing at her mini protest. “We’ll go down the biggest slide, then, my love.”
At that, Aleesa calmed down and closed her arms around Octavia’s neck. I couldn’t help smiling at the interaction.
Octavia shifted her attention my way while rubbing soothing circles on Aleesa’s back. “Good luck today, okay?”
“Thanks.” I leaned down to kiss her.
“Ew,” Aleesa quipped.
Hilarious considering she wasn’t even looking at either of us. My girl was too smart for her own good.
Octavia blushed while fighting a smile.
“See you later, okay?” I told her.
“’Kay.”
If I stood around any longer, I would break. I knew I would. Knowing I had to go to this court and prove my case—prove that I was a good father—was destroying me inside. I was losing sleep to the thought of Aleesa spending time with Rafael.
I was not a selfish person, but if he spent time with her, I did not see how that would benefit her at all. Not only that, but he had slept with a married woman. He had tried to take my wife, and he likely would have succeeded if Eloise had not felt so guilty about what she’d done.
I could only imagine what it would have been like if Eloise had chosen him. What would I have been like? Would I have been angry? Depressed? Would I have even continued playing basketball so passionately? I most certainly would not have Aleesa, and after spending the last four years with her, I could not imagine living the rest of my life without her.