Crouching down next to him, I made sure I had his attention before talking to him in in a tone so low, only he could hear.
“Control your wife and daughter. If you come back here again, if anyone in your family comes back again, I will kill you and make it look like your heart simply stopped beating. Child’s play for a doctor. You do remember that I’m a doctor, right? That’s how serious I am about protecting Zinnie and our daughter from you assholes.”
“You wouldn’t dare —”
“I will do anything to protect Zinnie’s peace,” I warned him. I’d killed a man to protect a motherfucking llama; I’d do no less for my wife. “If you want to try me, make sure your will and insurance beneficiaries are up to date before you put me to the test because I’ve had it with you showing up here and upsetting Zinnie.”
I let him see the coldness in my eyes before he swallowed audibly and nodded slowly.
“Now get up and get everyone out of here. You have thirty seconds. The police are probably two minutes out at the most, so unless you want a repeat of sitting in a jail cell, I suggest you get out
fast.”
“Time to leave,” Zinnie’s father called out as he struggled to his feet.
“We’re not leaving until I see that baby,” Zin’s mother protested.
“We’re leaving right this damn minute,” he snapped at his wife, fear underlying his tone.
Before she could open her mouth again, he grabbed his wife by the arm and literally dragged her down the porch steps, her knees banging on each step as she cried out in pain, trying to loosen his death grip on her. My parents followed behind, shooting bewildered glances at me.
Iris lingered at the top of the steps.
“Dash
you
can’t really mean to cut all of us out of your lives.”
“I not only mean it, I’m doing it.”
“Dash
She reached for me, and Zinnie stepped forward to stop her, and for some odd reason
Chapter44
maybe a
44.44%
screw head sticking up from the porch or something — my wife stumbled clumsily, knocking into Iris. That was my story, and I was sticking to it because my sweet wife would never shoulder check anyone, no matter how much she despised her. I caught Zinnie around the waist after she’d tripped, but Iris tumbled backwards down the steps, landing on her arm with a horrible crack.
Iris had broken her arm and was howling in pain.
“Are you OK?” I asked, concerned.
“No, I hurt my arm,” Iris cried. “I think my elbow’s broken.”
“I wasn’t asking you; I was talking to my wife,” I said, winking at Zinnie.
Zinnie said she was fine, so I hurried down the steps to Iris.
“Let me help you up,” I said to her, grasping her elbow where it was broken and pulling her up sharply as she screamed loudly in pain, looking ready to pass out. “And just so we’re clear, Zinnie didn’t push you. She stumbled, and I’m a witness. I will bury you if you try to say otherwise. Understand?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face as she choked on the pain. Deciding she’d gotten the message, I let go of her elbow.
“Don’t ever come back or threaten my wife again unless you want to leave here with a broken neck,” I whispered to her.
Then, I turned and went back up the steps to Zinnie as Iris stumbled to the SUV where everyone else was waiting for her.
“Oh, Iris,” I called after her, just before she got into the car, her mother trying to help her, “when
you get to the hospital, insist on seeing either Dr. Schwanz or Dr. Carajo. They’re the best
orthopedists there, and I wouldn’t settle for anyone else.”
“Are those really doctors?” Zinnie asked as we walked inside and shut the door.
“No,” I said. “But I can just imagine your family pitching a fit and insisting they see these
nonexistent doctors.”
That made her smile a bit.
“Dash, I wish I’d stood up to them years ago like I did today. It felt good telling them how awful they were, and I wouldn’t be putting up with it anymore.”
Chapter44
44.44%
“You were awesome, Zinnie,” I praised her, giving her a hug. “I definitely think they got the
message.”
And a couple of death threats to help reinforce the message.
Juniper came out into the living room. “Melitta’s asleep in her bassinette. If those weirdos are gone, can we make cookies now?”
Zinnie and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.