“Because I have nothing without you.”
My eyes widen and I take a step back. I’m sure I’ve heard her wrong.
“What did you say?”
“Oh, come off it, Nate. You know as well as I do this relationship has been dead for longer than it was alive. You stay because of Macy, and that’s okay because it’s such a noble fucking thing to do. Well, I stay for the money. I have no family to turn to, no people to take care of me. Without you I have nothing.”
My blood boils. “All along I’ve been fighting for my daughter, and you’ve been fighting for . . . money?”
She shrugs. “I need a life too.”
“What about Macy? Where does she fall in all this?”
“I love our daughter, but you know I never wanted kids.”
Boiling point. I’ve reached boiling point. I knew Lena was money hungry—she always had been, it’s why she never wanted me to stop racing—but to think that I’ve lived through this hell all because she didn’t want her gravy train to end has everything inside me snapping.
“How. Dare. You?”
She laughs angrily. “How dare you? You disrespected me by fucking that . . . whore. You’re no better than me.”
“No,” I say. “You’re right, I’m not. But I stayed with you because I wanted the best for my daughter, when all along all you cared about was money. You don’t deserve her.”
“You’re not taking her, Nate. She’s my daughter and you know I’ll get the rights.”
I get up in her face. “Like fuck I’m not. She’s coming with me and so help me God, Lena, if you try to fight me I will take you down.”
“You’re not just going to leave me with nothing! I’ll fight you, Nate,” she screams.
“What is it you want?” I bellow. “Money? You want money to leave us the fuck alone? Fine, I’ll give you as much as you need. But you will not take my daughter and let her live the horrible life you choose to inflict on yourself.”
“Three hundred thousand.”
My mouth drops open at the cold, hard person I’m seeing before me. She didn’t even hesitate, didn’t even try . . .
“Nothing? Nothing at all?” I rasp. “She’s your daughter.”
“And all I’ve ever done is let her down; you make that clear daily. She’s better off with you, Nate. I care about her enough to know that.”
“You were going to use her, weren’t you? To get what you wanted.”
“I’m done here. Talking about this won’t change it. If it’s done, Nate, then end it and move on.”
I shake my head, sad and angry that the woman I once loved turned into this.
“When did you change into this?” I say, shaking my head sadly.
“When I married a man who didn’t really love me.”
I’m sad for that, because maybe she’s right. Maybe it was a marriage that should have never happened. We were young and crazy and lusty. But were we ever truly in love? I turn and walk to the kitchen, pulling out my checkbook. I write her out a check and hand it to her.
“Before I hand this to you, I want to know one thing. What did you say to Avery?”
She crosses her arms. “I told her I wasn’t sick. I told her if she didn’t leave I’d take Macy from you. The little bitch had no place here. None.”
My heart thumps with rage and I thrust the check towards her.
“Take it and leave. Don’t try and take Macy from me or I’ll make you pay, Lena. You clean yourself up, you make something of yourself, then you can come back and you can see her when you want, but I won’t lose her. I don’t trust you, and I don’t want my daughter’s life at risk.”
She tucks the check into her pocket. “Fine by me.”
“Pack your shit and leave. I’m taking Macy and when I come back, I want you gone.”
“Do I at least get to say goodbye?”
I nod and watch her disappear into Macy’s room. Breaks my fuckin’ heart when my daughter walks out, tears in her little eyes as she watches her momma pack a bag, not even shedding a tear for her little girl. She turns to me when she gets to the door. She blows a kiss to Macy, saying, “Momma will call you every day.”
Then she turns to me and mutters, “You know, I might actually thank you for this one day?”
I won’t hold my breath.
CHAPTER 36
NATE
Another month later.
“Where is she?” I demand, glaring at Kelly.
“I’m not telling you, Nate. She’s moved on and she doesn’t need any more drama in her life.”
“That ain’t your choice to make. Now tell me where the fuck she is.”