“Newlyweds are supposed to be disgustingly in love.”
“Sorry,” says Eva, with a groan. “You don’t wanna be talking about this.”
“It’s fine. Riggs said he was seeing Raven, or fucking her, I’m not sure which.”
Eva gasps. “No way. No fucking way. I’ll ask Leia, Chains would have told her,” she says.
I shake my head. “No. I don’t want him to think I’m checking up on him. I’ll be fine. I’ve got my kids and college. Things will work out. Besides, he can’t stay single forever, can he? It was just sooner than I expected, and then I tortured myself all night wondering if they’d been together for ages, behind my back even. I told you she was in his office in the early hours that time.”
“I hate the way he’s been treating you. And it makes no sense, he went from being obsessed with you to behaving like he hates you!”
“One day, my prince will come,” I say, laughing. We used to use that line a lot when we were younger. “But until then, I don’t need a man.”
At seven o'clock prompt, there’s a knock. Riggs fills the doorway. Eva takes Ziggy to the car, eyeing Riggs as she passes him. “What's up with her?” he asks, and I shrug.
“Can I pop my head in to see Willow?” he asks. I nod, opening the door wider for him to step inside. Willow smiles when she spots him, wriggling her legs and making her bouncer wobble. He picks her up and smothers her in kisses.
“Did you get an appointment to see a solicitor?” I ask casually and he stares at me blankly. “About a divorce,” I prompt.
“No, not yet. We should talk and decide how we’re gonna do shit,” he says.
“Get the papers drawn up and I’ll sign. There’s nothing to discuss.”
“We gotta talk money, Anna.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need anything from you. I won’t take you to the cleaners. Just pay towards Willow.”
“You’re entitled to half of everything I own,” he mutters.
“I don’t want it. I don’t want anything,” I say.
“You say that now because you’re angry, but down the line, you’ll need money for your future.”
“That’s why I’m at college, to better my future for me and the kids. I’m looking for a job. I can pay my own way. I’ve dipped into the money Reggie left in my account.”
Riggs glares at me. “You used Reggie’s money rather than asking me?”
“Technically, it’s my money. It’s wasted just sitting in the account, and besides, I’m raising his daughter. He should pay.”
“I can give you money. I can provide for my wife and kid,” snaps Riggs.
“I never said you couldn’t. We’re going around in circles. Anyway, we’re separated. You don’t need to pay for me anymore.”
“We’re still married,” he sighs.
“Hopefully not for much longer,” I say, adding a sarcastic smile.
Leia waits for me to reach her before wrapping me in her arms. “I miss you so much,” she cries.
“You’re so dramatic.”
She called me to meet for coffee. We find a table and take a seat, then a waitress takes our order. “I have something so exciting to ask you,” she says, practically jumping up and down in her seat. “Vinn’s opening a microbar,” she says. “He needs a manager.”
“Okay,” I say, confused as to why this is so exciting.
“He wants you, Anna. He wants you to run it.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yes!” she says, grinning. “It’s a great little place on Queen’s Road. You’ll fall in love with it. He’s done an amazing job on the place. Mum and Esther said they’d help with the kids when you need it, and of course, you have me, Eva, and anyone else who wants to help.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes!” she laughs.
“Yes! A hundred times yes!”
“Have you spoken to Riggs?” she asks, her smile fading.
“A little. He’s talking divorce and splitting money,” I mutter. “It’s all a bit real.”
“He’s really sad. Locks himself away in his office all the time. Chains is worried, said he’s never seen Riggs so crazy. He’s making snappy decisions and getting his hands dirty instead of asking the brothers. It ain’t like him.”
“He told me he’s sleeping with Raven,” I say, and her eyes bug out of her head.
“Chains hasn’t mentioned it and we all know he and Raven are as thick as thieves. Maybe Riggs is trying to make you jealous?” she suggests. I shake my head. If he’s saying stuff like that, then he’s thinking about doing it. “He’s seeing a counsellor,” she adds quietly. “Mum wasn’t meant to tell me, but you know what she’s like. It’s clearly not helping if he’s talking about divorce. We thought it’d help.”
“Well, maybe it is. Maybe it’s what he wants deep down and the counsellor made him see that.”
“No,” says Leia. “He loves you. He does. Something’s happened to make him like this. We just have to figure it out.”
RIGGS
I wait for my brothers to file into the room. Slamming the gavel onto the table, I finally get their attention. “Vinn has a shipment coming in tonight. I need you guys on the ball. No wandering off for a piss,” I say, my eyes falling to the prospect. “No clowning around. This needs to be unloaded and reloaded in quick time.”
“What we dealing with, Pres?” asks Brick.
“Glocks. But triple what we usually shift,” I say.
“We expecting a war?” asks Blade, laughing.
“Who the fuck knows. All I know is Vinn has already sold over half the cases. We’re gonna make some good money on this provided we can keep to our end of the deal.” I turn to Brick. “Any news, treasurer?”
He shrugs, opening a large book. Most shit’s done on the computer these days, but Brick prefers to write
