“Sir, lower your weapon and put your hands on your head,” the one with blue eyes said in a firm voice. Both men had their hands on their guns, ready to draw if things escalated.
Russ dropped the gun, holding his hands up as the blond moved forward. He kicked the gun toward his partner and grabbed Russ by the arm. I looked at Rena and knew she was thinking the same thing. Who were these guys?
“I’m Detective Mark Mays, and this is my partner, Detective Jacob Holland. We were on surveillance nearby and saw the trouble. What’s going on?” the blond asked.
“Mrs.?” Detective Holland asked.
I was shocked as I stared at the gun. I never thought that Russ would ever have a gun in our home. This was a safe neighborhood. Now, all I could think about was what had been going on with this man to make him think he needed something like that.
“Mast. Jaqueline Mast,” I said. “I came home to find my husband having sex with another woman in our bed. I had suspected him of cheating and hired Mr. McAlpin to help me and my friend, Rena, get evidence and my things. He’s naked because we caught him mid-stroke, you could say. Russ followed us out when we were leaving and pulled a gun on us,” I said, giving Russ a glare.
Russ flinched at what I said. I don’t think I had ever seen him look so guilty and ashamed.
“None of this was supposed to happen,” Russ said quietly.
“Getting caught being a dumbass and cheating on your beautiful wife?” Detective Holland asked angrily.
Russ whipped his head around and looked at the detective with a shocked and hate-filled stare. He had always had a terrible jealous streak, and anyone complimenting me was one of his triggers.
“Shouldn’t you be doing your job instead of checking out my wife?” Russ said, standing straight and tense.
“Shouldn’t you be with your wife instead of slapping your receptionist’s ass?” I spat back.
“I am doing my job. It’s called protect and serve, and I damn well will protect and serve her anytime, anywhere,” Detective Holland answered walking closer to Russ. The men squared off. Detective Holland’s fists clenched at his sides.
“Jake, how about you help Mrs. Mast, and I’ll deal with Romeo over here?” Detective Mays said.
Detective Holland turned and looked at me. “Do you have some bags, Mrs. Mast?”
He carried my bag to Rena’s car. Rena stood back talking with Harris while Detective Mays walked Russ back into the house. I stood there still in shock.
“If I made you uncomfortable earlier, I apologize,” Detective Holland said, closing the trunk. “Just know, not every man is a piece of shit like him.”
“You didn’t,” I said with a self-deprecating smile. “It was nice to have someone notice me for a change. Russ always pretended I was made of stone. I guess that’s how I missed all the signs. I should have seen them.” I was looking down and felt a finger lift my chin. I looked into his eyes.
“You are not to blame for any of this. I’ve been there, and let me tell you, you’re worth more than him. I know it hurts, but don’t think for one second you are in the wrong.” I stared back into those deep-blue orbs and found resolve there. If this beautiful man could make it through something like this, then so could I.
“Here’s my card,” he said and gave me a soft smile. “When you’re ready to come and get the rest of your things, call me. I’ll be there. Or if you need to talk or anything. Sometimes it helps to have someone who has been through the same thing.”
I pocketed the card, smiling. “You guys were in the neighborhood on surveillance?” I asked.
Detective Holland glanced at the house and then back at me. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, Mrs. Mast, but we’ve been watching your husband. He’s under federal investigation for connections with the mob.”
The drive back to Rena’s was once again quiet. Both of us were lost in thought. Detective Holland’s words were running through my mind. Russ? Involved with the mob? The affair was shocking enough, but this? Had I ever really known my husband at all?
At Rena’s, I sat on the bed in the guest room. I thought I had prepared myself for this, but I had been so very wrong. Nothing could have prepared me for watching the man I loved have sex with someone else. My life as I knew it was over. Nothing would ever be the same.
“You can stay here as long as you want. Take the time to figure out what it is that you want out of all of this. You’ve lived your life for that man for years. Now, it’s time for you to live for yourself,” Rena said as she sat beside me.
“That’s the problem. I don’t have a clue what I want to do. I gave up all my dreams for him and look where that got me,” I said with a sob. “Rena, I don’t think I knew him at all. What is it about me that made him think I wouldn’t figure it out? Was it because I trusted him so much? Was I not paying enough attention?” I asked.
“Don’t blame yourself,” she said quickly.
“I just want to know what made him think he could get away with it. You heard him say it wasn’t supposed to happen like that. Did he think he could have his fun and I would never find out?” I asked.
“Probably. You’ve been an angel helping take care of his mother while she went through that awful illness. He and his father were able to keep working because of you. I think he thought you’d be too busy to notice,” Rena said.
Rena held me close for a moment before I felt her laugh. I pulled back and looked at her questionably. She smiled.
“Plus side is that you have a very hot cop who likes you!” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her.
“Stop. He doesn’t. He was just being nice. He knows what I’m going through,” I said, laughing.
“Girl, don’t think I didn’t see the way you two were looking at each other behind my car. That man looked at you like he wanted to eat you alive. And I saw that twinkle in your eye. I know it’s too soon for you to be thinking about things like that, but remember, this isn’t the end of your life. There will be a man that is worthy of you.”
“God, what if I hadn’t found out? I would still live with a man that was cheating on me. I would have never known if I hadn’t driven his car. I could really rip his eyes out right now. I’m not a violent person, but right now I really could.”
Rena burst out laughing, and I followed. I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt and tears streamed down my face. It felt good to let loose all the emotions I had pent up.
“What time is your appointment with the lawyer tomorrow?” she asked.
“It’s at ten in the morning,” I said.
“Bring a change of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty in. After the appointment, I have somewhere I want to take you. It will help you relieve some of your stress. I’ve done it a few times with people from work,” Rena said with a smile. “Get some rest. If you need me, I’m just down the hall. I love you, Jack,” she said and gave me a hug.
The detective grabbed my arm and started leading me back toward the house. I wanted nothing more than to fight his grip and make Jack listen to what I had to say. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to know about Casey or anything else that had been going on. The plan wouldn’t work if she did.
“Mr. Mast, I would suggest that you stay in the house and not come back out until after your wife has gone. The bigger the scene you cause, the more it’s going to come back to bite you in the ass,” Detective Mays said as he closed the door behind me.
I leaned back against the door and banged my head against it a few times. How could I have been so stupid? I knew bringing Casey here was a mistake, but she had whined and whined about it to the point I couldn’t take it anymore. Plus, I needed to keep her happy so that her dad, Vito Morelli, was happy.
I had rules for a reason. Never bring them to the house or anywhere that we could be seen. Now, one slipup may have cost me more than I was willing to let go.
The only thing that I could think of to help dull the pain was sitting in a decanter on the bar. The amber liquid filled my glass. I could smell it and it started to take me back to a place of calm. If I could calm myself down, I could think straight and come up with a plan of how to handle all this.
I walked back up the stairs, sipping my drink and trying to get myself focused on what to do next. All my plans had just been blown up. For what? A moment of pleasure? That’s all it had been. Casey was my in with her father, and that was it. All I had to do was keep her happy for a little longer.
I walked in to see Casey sitting on the edge of my bed, still dressed in Jack’s wedding gown. She looked up at me and smiled. It turned my stomach.
Jack had been so beautiful in that dress the day we married. It was exactly what I had wanted for her. Her long hair had been down in soft curls, and she had looked like an angel coming down to Earth just for me.
“You need to take that shit off! You should have never put it on in the first place!” I growled.
The look on her face told me instantly that I had messed up talking to her like that. This was like walking on a freakin’ tightrope. One wrong move and I’d fall. I couldn’t let that happen or all of this would be for nothing.
“Case, I’m sorry. Baby, don’t cry,” I said, walking over and wrapping her up in my arms. I had to fix this shit before it got out of hand.
“You yelled at me!” she wailed as she clung to me.
God, whatever had possessed me to find this girl attractive?
“I know, baby. And I’m sorry that I did that. I was just upset because they interrupted us. Plus, you are going to have a much nicer gown for our wedding,” I cooed.
“Really? Do you mean it? I love you so much more than she ever could, Russ! I will be the perfect wife for you, and our baby will be so beautiful!” Casey said with her eyes full of tears.
I nodded and pulled her close just so I didn’t have to look at her. Guilt was starting to nudge its way in, but I shut it down immediately. I was doing the best thing for myself, and no one could tell me any different.
The only regret I had was that Jack wasn’t the one having my baby. I had kept putting off having kids because of this deal, and now I wondered if I shouldn’t have. A child would have made Jack stay with me no matter what I did. She would have been permanently tied to me.
But it was too late for me to be thinking about what-ifs. I couldn’t let one mistake ruin all the hard work I’d put in. Jack would have to learn to get over all this. She’d see that I was still the best man for her, and she’d come running back.
