Free The Last Time by E. L. Todd Page A

you.”
    “What if I talk to your ex-girlfriend?”
    “And say what?” I scoffed. “Interrogate her until she tells the truth?”
    “No.” Her eyes looked lost, like she was in thought. “If what you’re saying is true, she wouldn’t be very happy if you hooked up with someone else.”
    “Not gonna happen,” I said immediately. “I’m Hazel’s even if she isn’t mine.”
    “But what if you pretended? What if I acted like I was seeing you? I could get her alone and pull it out of her somehow. If she thinks I’m just a bimbo to you, then she probably wouldn’t hide anything from me. In fact, she would use the truth to intimidate me. ”
    This plan sounded stupid, but I was desperate. “I think this is a waste of time, but I’m willing to do anything and everything to get my girl back. Honestly, I’m pissed she doesn’t trust me. She should see through all this bullshit and know something isn’t adding up. If she were any other girlfriend, I wouldn’t chase her. But I love her so damn much that I’ll go to the ends of the earth to get her back.”
    Scarlet nodded. “Okay. We can do this.”
    I knew she was sticking her neck out for me. She didn’t owe me a damn thing but she was still willing to help me. “Thank you so much.”
    She nodded.
    “Sean’s a lucky guy.”
    She smiled. “I’m a lucky lady too.”
    “Thank you for helping me. You have no idea how much I’m drowning right now…” I didn’t want to break down in front of Scarlet so I held back my emotions.
    She placed her hand on top of mine. “If you’re telling the truth, it will work out. Love always finds away.”
    I nodded. “Thanks.”
    The door burst open with a loud slam.
    We both flinched, and Scarlet released a small scream. Unsure what was going on, I moved in front of Scarlet to protect her from whatever the hell was going on.
    Sean came around the corner, a look of bloodlust in his eyes. “Get. Away. From. Her.”
    I raised my hands and backed away.
    “You come to my office and ask for help then you come to my home? Where my wife is alone?” His nostrils flared like his head would explode. “You fucking piece of shit.  You just made an enemy you can’t afford.”
    I kept backing away. “I just came to talk.”
    “I hardly even know you! Who do you think you are?” Sean was totally out of his mind. “How dare you come to my house and harass my wife!”
    “I’m not harassing her.”
    Sean charged me and threw me to the ground. My body slammed into the tile. I wanted to fight back but I knew that would make it worse.
    “Sean, knock it off!” Scarlet voice cut through the air.
    Sean gripped my neck and squeezed, choking me.
    “Sean!” Scarlet’s voice was louder. “Release him or I will divorce you.”
    His hand relaxed immediately.
    I sat up and cough ed, trying to get air into my lungs. I’d attack Sean with everything I had if he weren’t important to Hazel.
    “He wasn’t bothering me,” Scarlet said.
    “He didn’t ask my permission to come here,” Sean yelled.
    “Permission?” Scarlet snapped. “I was the one who opened the door.”
    “He still had no right coming here. Only the gang can come here, and as far as I’m concerned, he isn’t a member of it.” Sean’s vein was popping in his forehead.
    I sat up and leaned against the cabinet, not want to rise from the floor just in case he saw me as a threat.
    He looked back at me. “My wife needs to relax and rest. She doesn’t need any drama right now.” If he had a gun, I knew he would shoot me.
    “And you’re aren’t helping with that,” Scarlet snapped.
    Sean still held his gaze to me. “Come here again and I’ll kill you. I’m not kidding.”
    I knew he meant it.
    “Sean, calm down,” Scarlet demanded.
    He turned to his wife then cupped her face. “You’re okay?”
    “I’m fine, Sean. The only thing that stressed me out was when you barged in here like a maniac.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m very protective of you.”
    “I