David
My first instinct was to search the city for Kevin Hughes, the man who’d married my sister and cheated on her once before already. My father had threatened the guy once, but I guess now that he was gone, Kevin thought he’d get up to his old tricks. Perhaps he never stopped.
I headed straight for Missy’s house, and she met me at the door with a glass of wine which she turned up. “He’s not here.”
She must have thought I’d come to kick his ass, and I’d have done it too if he’d been home. “You’re going to have to tell me everything that’s happened. Don’t leave shit out; your lawyer is going to ask the same of you.”
“I knew he’s been being weird since Daddy passed away, but I thought things were good, you know? I started getting a bit suspicious eight months ago when he had to work late a few nights. He’d never had to be gone that many nights in a row and it didn’t make sense him suddenly not wanting to commute.”
“Right. Did he say he’d stayed at work, or a hotel?”
“He said he’d slept in his office, which wasn’t a stretch, I mean, he has a couch. But I know he didn’t stay there. His phone lit up with a text a few times here and there, and I’d ask him who it was, and he’d get weird about it. So, I confronted him, and—
Tears filled her eyes again, and she closed them tight, downing the last sip of wine. “He grabbed me. He said I’d do best not to accuse him and I was so scared that I knew I’d never mention it again. Well, it seemed that he took that as his opportunity to start doing whatever he wanted because he didn’t come home two nights later. Last week, I dropped the girls off at a birthday party and went to hire a private detective.”
“You should have told me then. Why didn’t you?”
“You’re so busy, and I knew you had a lot on your mind with the Super Bowl ads and giving up the business to Greyson. Not to mention, you’ve got your own family to worry about.”
“Which you’re a part of. Seriously, Miss. You know I’m going to do whatever is needed to help you and protect you. I can’t believe Dad wanted you to stay with that asshole after the first time.
“The girls were little, they needed their father more than I needed a husband and I thought things would work themselves out. He was good for a while, we reconnected on a deeper level, and I really didn’t think he’d do me this way again.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“Yeah. It’s a different girl from the club. Daddy had gotten the last woman fired, and now this one is a manager there. Kevin’s been going to one of the rentals with her.” She walked to her purse and handed me an envelope. “He’s been getting sloppy.”
I opened it up to find a stack of pictures, and she wasn’t kidding. “There’s no denying this.” One of the pictures showed Kevin balls deep in the woman, who looked to be around Missy’s age but far less attractive.
Missy was a gorgeous woman, and I wasn’t just saying it because she was my sister. She had the prettiest brown eyes, long wavy hair, and a perfect cupid’s bow mouth that made her seem angelic.
“I don’t care if he tried to deny it. I want out. I don’t need this shit, David. I’ve given my whole life to him and the children. I’ve made our home everything it is while he did nothing but take up space and play golf.” Kevin had worked, but only so he didn’t look like he depended on the DeVant fortune to pay his way, which he was. Missy’s trust had bought their home, put the girls into the best school and paid the majority of the bills, while he barely paid for the expensive car he drove. She let out a long breath and met my eyes, hers full of ire. “I want a divorce.”
“You’ll get one, don’t worry. Don’t you cry another tear over that man.”
She laughed. “I’m not crying over that pig, David. I’m crying because it’s going to hurt the girls. Tiffany and Macy adore him for some reason. I don’t want them to hate me. And then he’ll have to have visitation rights; there’s no way around it.”
“You don’t want to keep the girls from him. As much as you think you do right now.”
“I will have to find myself something to do I suppose; for when he has them.”
“Like a hobby?” Missy already had many hobbies, but she shook her head.
“Hell no, I was thinking something a little more tall, dark, and handsome.” She gave me a wink.
“That a girl. Just make sure you’re not doing anything that will look bad to the courts. Wait to date until after the smoke clears. You’ll be glad you did. You don’t want to look like you’re the problem.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m a DeVant. I’ll land on my feet.” She wiped her eyes and then got up to pour another drink.
“Have you told Blaine?”
“No. I tried to call earlier, but he didn’t answer. I wanted you to both come.”
“I’ll call him. I think the two of us need to go pay Kevin a visit. Let him know he’s not coming back here with you and the girls and that we’ll have our lawyer be in touch.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, we do. Dad might not be here, but you’ve still got your brothers, and we’re not going to let this asshole think we’re not still a united front. Dad might have let you down by whatever bargain he struck, but Blaine and I will see to it that he knows who’s in control. He probably thinks he can get away with this shit. As for his manager girlfriend. I think the owners will understand the conflict of interest. I can’t exactly be expected to frequent a club that is run by the woman who ruined my sister’s marriage, now can I?”
“You think they’ll let her go?”
“Oh yeah. Who do you think paid for the golf course renovations last year?” I took out my phone and dialed Blaine’s number.
“What’s up, brother.”
“Meet me at the club; it’s family business; urgent.”
“Okay, but I’m with Katrina at the moment.”
“Give her a raincheck; this can’t wait.” I hung up the phone and Missy’s eyes widened.
“He was with a she?”
“Katrina. The two of them met at our house, and I am pretty sure they hooked up. They left together.”
“Our little brother is finally growing up.” She giggled and turned up her drink to gulp it down.
“Lay off the shots. You’ve already started with wine. You’ll end up sick.” I looked around and realized it was well after school had let out. “Where are the girls?”
“At their friend’s house. I wanted the evening to myself.”
“Stay in and get some rest.”
“I love you, brother.” She smiled up at me, and I could tell she was already three sheets to the wind.
I gave her a peck on the forehead and turned to head to the door. “I love you too. It’s all going to be all right.”
I met Blaine at the club a half an hour later. He didn’t look amused. “This had better be good. I haven’t come to this place since the last time Dad made me.”
“I haven’t been here often enough either apparently, but our brother-in-law Kevin, well, he likes it here a lot.”
“What’s this about? What did the asshole do now?”
I handed him the stack of pictures and his lip curled in disgust. “That bastard. I’m going to kill him.”
I clapped my hand on his back. “Don’t worry. He’ll get his, but we’re not going to get ourselves in trouble or do anything to jeopardize our sister or our nieces.”
“Then what are we doing here?”
“Sending a friendly message, and taking out the trash. This girl is a manager here. I don’t know about you, but I like my golf drama free.”
“I feel ya.”
“But first, we see if Kevin’s here. I’ve heard they’ve been using a rental. There are thirty of them, but only one is yellow with a blue door. You want to bet that asshole’s visiting after work?”
“Let’s do this.”