Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 70185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Everyone else saw what a good catch he was and pushed for the wedding, but my Dad always kept a bit of distance between them. I remember the night before our wedding, he’d offered to ship me off somewhere, which I’d brushed off as a joke, but I know now that he was only partly playing.
So, for this man to now tell me that he had a good feeling about Marcus, then asked what did Justice have to say, I knew I was in trouble. It just seems so damn preposterous. I mean, my divorce hasn’t even been started yet and I’m already here.
It almost feels wrong not to be wallowing in self-pity, but I haven’t had the chance because Marcus was just there. I keep trying to make myself feel all the things I know I should be feeling, going so far as to try to force it, but it’s just not happening.
I won’t pretend to be happy and skipping for joy, but I don’t feel that heart-wrenching loss that you’d expect when faced with a situation like this. I think part of it is because whatever I felt for Paul died as soon as I confirmed that he was having an affair, especially after reading some of the disparaging things he’d said to her about me.
But this is nuts. ‘You just keep walking and holding his hand and keep your mouth shut. You ain’t fixing to mess this up for me. How long does a divorce take in this state anyway?’
It depends; why?
‘I got an appointment with some dick. What do you mean why?’
“You and your twin at it again? You’re squeezing my hand.” He explained how he knew before I could ask since he wasn’t even looking at me that time. I tried pulling away, but he tightened his grip on my hand, and we kept walking.
“You know none of this is normal, right?”
“People get too hung up on normal. What the hell is normal anyway? Everyone’s norm is different. The problem starts when you try to be like everyone else, giving up on who you really are. That leads to unhappiness and dissatisfaction. You don’t ever have to live by anyone else’s rules again. I give you permission.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I have a lot of what makes this world tick. Money talks, bullshit walks. I also happen to know that the things money can’t buy are the only things worth having. But since people like your ex and Melanie worship money, I’m going to use it to hurt them. And it’s all at your disposal.”
“Whatever you wanna do from this day forward, do it. I have Carl working on getting you a phone that we will use to stay in touch with each other when you’re not with me. It’ll have a direct line to Carl and Monique as well. Don’t overthink things. Anything happens you call one of us no matter day or night. I’d prefer you called me all the time but there might be times you want one of them instead, that’s fine. As long as you call.”
‘Oh lawd, just lay me out here on this sand and take it. Take it all, Daddy. You can have it; it’s yours.’ Where in the world did you learn to talk like that, Justice?
‘What do you mean? Like your slutty ass wasn’t thinking the same. The man just told you he’s giving you access to his billions while ordering his people to protect you, and you think, what? That my panties ain’t gonna get wet? Head down ass in the air; that’s how we roll. Ruff, ruff, awhoo.’
What the hell are you doing now?
‘That’s my DMX, stop, drop, shut ‘em down, open up shop. Oh, no, that’s how ruff ryders roll. What the fuck you gon' do when we run up on you?
Fuckin' with the wrong crew
Don't know what we're goin' through.’
“Oh, is he playing music in your head?”
What the fuck, Justice? I didn’t even realize I was dancing to that shit.
MARCUS
We stayed on the beach for a while, leaving her family, Carl and Monique, back at the house. I’d originally brought them here as sort of chaperones just in case anyone found out she was here with a man and tried to make something of it in her divorce.
That’s how my mind works, always ten steps ahead of the enemy. It’s the only thing that has kept me alive all this time. We hadn’t talked much as we walked; we were both lost in our thoughts, but we never let go of each other’s hands, and that was more than enough for me.
She’s not the only one who had to think about where this was going. I, too, have to think of the best way to navigate our budding relationship without scaring her off. I know I can come off a bit strong.