"I've got it, stopworrying." Stevie nodded and helped her out.
Russ looked at hiswatch. Another couple of hours to go and he could go and deal with Paula.
***
"Darling, I wasbeginning to think you were never coming. You were supposed to come over theother night, remember?" Paula opened the door of the motel room and stoodaside to let him in.
Russ walked in, hisglance going around the room. Her clothing was strewn over the bed, makeupcovered the bathroom counter and a bottle of wine was opened on the small tablebeside the television.
"Can I offer you adrink before you join me for dinner?" She hovered close to him and heresisted the urge to push her away.
"No, thank you. Iwon't be staying. A word of advice, Paula. Alcohol isn't good for yourbaby."
"Our baby, Russ.It's ours." She simpered and tried to link her arm through his.
"It isn't mine andI can prove it. You've been banging your office manager and we have photos, soyou can't deny it."
"You bastard, youhad me followed?" She gaped at him with shocked eyes and an open mouth.
He looked down at herand wondered what he’d ever seen in her. "I gave you everything, Paula. Wehad a good life, yet you felt the need to stray. Was I not good enough foryou?"
"Not by a longshot. If you’d really cared about me, you wouldn't have left me alone for solong. You have no idea how lonely I got, Russ. All those late nights you did atthe hospital, the weekends you were on call when it could have been someoneelse. Is it any wonder I strayed and fell into the arms of another man?"She pouted and batted her eyelashes at him.
"You’re the onewho married me knowing what I had to do to get my MD. We agreed I would do whatI had to, to get where I am today. If you couldn't handle the workload, youshould have said so a long time ago."
"I was waiting tosee if it got any better. You can't blame me."
"But I do. Yousee, Paula, I've always been the soft guy, the one who lets everyone else walkall over him just to keep the peace. I think you’ve cured me of that. From nowon, I will take what I want. And what I want now is for you to sign the divorcepapers or those photos will find themselves in the wrong hands,understand?"
"Youbastard."
"I gave you everythingbar my car and my clothes. I think you've done very well out of the deal."
"But I wantedmore. I want to live in that big house with servants just as you did when youwere growing up. You can't take that away from me, I won't let you."
He laughed, a soundthat freed him from the tension this woman had caused him. "The funniestthing about this? I don't own it. My father saw to it that it remains in afamily trust forever. None of us can sell it or give it away. So you lose out,Paula. I suggest you take what you've already got and go. I want those paperssigned by tomorrow night or the photos go to interested parties. Your solicitorhas all the details of your infidelity too, just for your information."
He walked to the doorand left, slamming it behind him. Photos, good move, Russ. He had proofshe was playing around but nothing to back it up, not that she knew that.Relieved beyond measure, he got in his car and headed home.
Chapter Thirty-one
Cade stood outside withKate and watched Stevie drive around to the front of the house. He’d told Tamthe barest of details of how her mother had been hurt. She stood, holding ontohis hand as the car pulled up.
"Mummy." Shelet go of his hand and raced over to the police car grabbing at the doorhandle.
Rooney opened the doorand reached for her daughter. "Hey, Tam. I'm okay, don't worry."
"I know. UncleCade told me Daddy saved you and Uncle Russ sewed you up all good as new."She looked at the bandage covering the stitches on Rooney's throat. "Doesit hurt?"
"Not really. It'sa little bit numb still. Have you done your homework?"
Stevie came around andhelped her from the car and Cade marvelled at the connection they still had afterall the years apart and the pain from the secret they hadn’t shared. Tamskipped ahead of them. "Yes, Uncle Cade made me read my books tohim."
"Thanks, Iappreciate it, brother." Rooney winced when she turned her head.
"Is there anythingI can do?" He followed them through the house and into the front roomwhere Stevie set her on a chair with her feet up before heading into thekitchen to make her a cup of tea.
"Not now, thanks.I need to rest up for a couple of days or Russ will have my hide." She triedto smile and Cade saw the anguish behind her pale blue eyes. "I'll go andhelp make you a drink. Stay here, Squirt and look after you mother."
He half-walkedhalf-hobbled, into the kitchen where Stevie was relaying the story to Essie.She stood with her hand over her lips and tears running down her cheeks.
"Essie, comehere." Cade wrapped her in his arms and rocked her. "Tell me whathappened, Stevie, before Tam comes in looking for us."
Stevie retold the storyfrom the beginning. Cade was sure he left out plenty of details so he didn'tupset the housekeeper any more than necessary. "So what happens nowthen?"
"An inquiry, Iguess. They always have one when there is a death with the police involved. Idon't have any reason to be worried though. He was going to kill her. There wasno other option. I had one chance and I took it."
"The guy was acreep. Seriously, I don't think he was all there, if you know what Imean."
"He did have someissues. There is no doubt about it, but the main thing is, Rooney is safe. Nowshe has to deal with what happened and she’ll need all of you to keep hergrounded and carry on."
"And you,Stevie," Essie said as she wiped her tears. "That little girl needsher father and Rooney might not know it, but she needs you too."
He smiled. "I haveno intention of letting her
