Page 72 of Hell Yes

Jeers and hollers rang out. In the car, and on Xander’s comm.

“All right, enough joking around. Let’s get to work.”

The motorcade of SUV’s headed down their driveway towards their front entrance. The closer Xander got, the more nervous he became.

Until he spotted Simeon’s car by the side of their road. Waiting.

Xander pulled to a stop and punched in the code to open the gate. When they got to the other side, Simeon stepped out of his car and walked up to the SUV, bold as fuck.

Xander got out of the SUV and strode up to him. “Who the fuck are you and what are you doing on our property?”

“I’m here to see Val Renn.”

Xander shook his head. “She ain’t up for visitors. Now get gone.”

“No. I need to see her,” Simeon insisted, his eyes cold and flat. “She’s my wife.”

Xander scoffed at that. “Sure, she is. Look, I don’t know how you found this place, but I’m telling you, you need to leave. And Val? She ain’t yours. She belongs to us.”

“I have cash. Five thousand dollars if you’ll give me the woman.”

Simeon was sweating, and fidgeting, like he was high on something. Or just nervous.

“Five grand? Is that a joke?”

Simeon ran a hand through his gray hair and pulled on it, agitated. “Ten thousand. I got ten grand. In cash. Just let me see her.”

Xander pulled out his phone and tapped away. “Are you really Val’s husband?”

“Yes. She has problems. She ran away and changed her name. I know she’s here, please just let me see her.”

“Let’s call her out and see if she recognizes you. If she don’t, you better haul ass before I fill it full of buckshot.”

A minute or so ticked by as Xander waited. Simeon hadn’t budged from his position just outside the gate. And Xander knew, from everything he’d just seen, that the man wasn’t leaving until he got Val.

Then Val’s voice echoed in his ear.

“I’m nearing the front gate.”

There was a pause and silence. Val was still walking.

He turned and watched as she stopped short when she spotted Simeon, her face pale, eyes wide.

“What are you doing here?”

CHAPTER 26

VAL

Knowing that Simeon was here in town looking for her and confronting him, face to face, were two entirely different things. As much as she’d prepared herself, the shock of seeing him in person still sent her reeling.

She hovered at the edge of the gate, taking comfort in Xander’s presence, until Simeon lunged at her.

But not before Xander punched him in the face, sending Simeon tumbling to the ground.

“You fucking whore!” Simeon spat out, blood dripping down his chin. “Did you think I would never find you? Do you know what happens to those who disobey me? You behave like a whore, and you will live the rest of your life as one.”

“Shut your mouth,” Xander warned.