My husband’s family never knew I had once been an MMA champion. At my mother-in-law’s BBQ, my brother-in-law poured beer over my head. My

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Chapter 5

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“I was trying to keep the family together.”

Nicole nodded slowly.

“I know.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“That's what you always said.”

Tommy stepped closer to his mother.

“Mom?”

She immediately knelt beside him.

“Everything's okay, sweetheart.”

He looked toward his father.

“Are we still going to Aunt Claire's house?”

My heart stopped.

Derek turned sharply.

“What did he just say?”

Nicole closed her eyes.

I understood then.

She had been planning to leave.

And somehow, without telling me, she had already made me part of that plan.

Ryan looked at me.

I shook my head slightly.

I knew nothing about it.

Nicole stood.

“Tommy heard me talking to my attorney. He knows we're staying somewhere else for a while.”

Derek laughed bitterly.

“And you think Claire's going to take you in?”

I looked at Nicole.

She looked terrified.

Not because she expected me to refuse.

Because she was afraid to ask.

“Nicole,” I said, “you and Tommy can stay with us while we figure out what's safe and appropriate.”

Her face crumpled.

Derek pointed toward me.

“You don't get to interfere in my marriage!”

I looked at him steadily.

“Your wife is asking for help. That's not interference.”

“You think because you won some stupid fights ten years ago, you can tell everybody what to do?”

“No,” I replied. “I think everyone here has the right to make their own choices without being intimidated.”

Derek looked around for support.

Nobody spoke.

Not even Diane.

He grabbed his car keys.

“Fine. You all want to turn against me? Go ahead.”

He started toward the gate.

Then stopped.

And looked back at me.

“You know what, Claire? I looked you up.”

I felt Ryan tense.

Derek lifted his phone.

“Interesting career you had.”

I said nothing.

“Three national titles. Twenty-eight professional wins.”

He smiled unpleasantly.

“And one championship you never defended.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

My throat tightened.

Ryan stepped forward.

“Derek, don't.”

But Derek had found something he believed could hurt me.

“Oh, this is good.”

He scrolled.

“Retired at twenty-nine. Right after that big fight in Atlantic City.”

I stared at him.

“Stop.”

He grinned.

“Why? Afraid everybody will find out what happened?”

Ryan's voice turned sharp.

“That's enough.”

But Derek kept going.

“Looks like the great Quiet Storm wasn't so unstoppable after all.”

I closed my eyes.

For a moment, I wasn't standing in Diane's backyard anymore.

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