CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

HAYDEN

Tonight, I set a plan in motion. I was going dark. Lydia’s stripping career ends tonight. There was a sense of calm in the night air. You know what they say ‘the calm before the storm.’ Friday nights, in Buckhead are always crawling with locals and tourists. I watched their jovial faces through my spy spectacles from the roof top of my condo. I wished Lydia and I were mixed into the crowd tonight. I would have enjoyed taking her to the clubs a few blocks over and dancing the night away. I dropped my head against my arms, resting against the balcony’s banister. What the fuck am I doing? Am I about to blow up my marriage?

I’ve claimed my woman’s body. I’m tired of standing on the sidelines while men violate her. Sharing my wife with a multitude of men was never my fucking intention. This shit ends, now. I tried to honor my wife’s wishes. Or shall I say I pretended to try. I knew once she was my wife, I was putting an end to the stripping, shit. Yeah, it was my plan all along. Lydia is my mine, my woman, my wife, my love, my heart.

My men waited for me inside. The three men were ready to move. I was dressed in a black t-shirt, black khakis, and Gore-Tex leather boots. Gathered before the elevator we stood in silence loading our Glocks. I tapped the ear piece in my ear. “Sebastian, we are moving out.”

“Let me know when you and your team are in position.”

“Got it.”

I glanced at my men. “Everyone clear on what to do?”

“Yes, boss.”

“Valen, remember stay with Lydia no matter what. Do not let her leave there without you if things go south.”

“I’ve got your back Hayden.”

Valen called me by my first name reminding me he is not only my employee, but a loyal friend. My thoughts ran deep about tonight. There was no turning back. I patted Valen’s shoulder a couple of times.

“Let’s go.”

~

My two body guards followed behind us in the second black Suburban. They fell back parking at the corner. Val drove into the parking lot of the strip club. He parked close to the door.

I hopped out, walking into the club hall area. I waited behind another gentleman being patted down. I tapped the side of my glasses twice. Sebastian and I now shared the same view. The club went dark. I tapped the opposite side of the glasses giving me night vision. I had five seconds to walk over to the private room. I could see the thick cigarette smoke in the darkness. Sebastian had a live feed inside and outside of the club. He knew exactly where Lydia was in the club.

Customers yelled. “Turn the lights back on!”

“Stay seated everyone. We are looking into the problem!” the owner yelled.

Once I was in position the lights turned on. The staff scurried throughout the club reassuring customers everything was fine.

“For the inconvenience tonight, everyone will get a shot of Tequila.”

Everyone, cheered.

The dimly lit private room was brought into view on the spy glasses. I could hear everything happening in the room courtesy of Sebastian.

Lydia turned to her customer. “Listen Jeremy, no touching me anywhere other than my ass and waist. That is the lane you stay in tonight.”

“Come on Scrumptious, I’m only in town for tonight. You never let me do more even when we come into the private room. I’m not with your cousin anymore, so what’s up?”

“Nothing’s up. You sound fucking crazy! You were married to my cousin. She’s my blood. Why the hell do you come in here anyway asking for me? Ask for Cherry or one of the other girls.”

He licked his lips while staring into Lydia’s infuriated eyes. Quickly, his fingers swiped her pussy.

“What the fuck muthafucka?! You lost your fucking mind.” Lydia slapped him upside the head.

I blacked out. I remember storming into the room and that’s it.

I grabbed him by his collar, I began slamming my fists into his jaw. “What the fuck did she tell you? She told you don’t fucking touch her in the wrong way. You, stupid motherfucker! When a woman tells you not to disrespect her you fucking listen!”

I heard Lydia pleading with me to stop hitting him. “Hayden, don’t kill him. He’s my cousins ex-husband!”

She’s never witnessed my wrath. Lydia has never seen first-hand what I am capable of.

It took three guys to pull me off of him.

Lydia’s face was wet with tears. She waved the bouncers back. “Hayden, look at me!” Her hands rested upon my chest.

“You can’t do this! You can’t come to my job and behave like this. The bouncers will take care of him.”

“Oh yeah? They can take care of him right after I wipe the floor with his ass!” I pushed Lydia aside then charged at him again.

“Do you know who I am?! I play for the Seattle Seahawks. I’m a two-time Super bowl champ! You can’t fuck with me!”

His shirt was crumpled within my grasp in one hand. I retrieved my gun from within the waist band under my shirt with the other. I held the gun to his head. “Tell me again what the fuck I can do! Tell me!”

“I didn’t know Lydia had a boyfriend!” He yelled.

“Newsflash bitch, I’m her husband! How would you like men feeling all over your wife, huh? Tell me, how the fuck would you feel? Well I’ll tell you.”

My eyes darted over to Lydia. “I’m fed the fuck up!” I growled.

I stepped back. “I’m leaving!” I shouted to the bouncers.

Lydia was visibly shaken. I threw my naked woman over my shoulder, walking toward the exit. Gun extended, I continued on.

“Put me down!” she screamed.

Women screamed in horror as they watched us vacate the club. No one could call the police. Sebastian used a scrambler to shut down everyone’s cell service. If someone tried using a land line they would get a busy signal. Our plan was well thought out.

“Lydia continued screaming. “Hayden, put me down now! I’m not going anywhere with you. We are over. I want a fucking divorce!”

I shoved my Glock into my waist band.

I nodded to Val. He retrieved a blanket from the back seat, tossing it to me. I draped it over Lydia, placing her on her feet.

She was furious. “It’s over Hayden! I can’t be with you!” she cried.

“You’re crazy!”

I stepped down the stairs backwards as the crowd grew behind her. The onlookers gawked and whispered. I stood a short distance away from Val.

“You say I’m crazy.” I pointed at my chest.

“I’m crazy for wanting you out of this environment?” I stared at her with perplexed eyes.

“You don’t have to strip!” I waved my hands out in front of me.

“You do it to prove a point to yourself. I told you I would take care of the debt. But no, you can’t let your husband take care of your father’s medical bills, why?”

“Hayden, it’s not your debt.”

“It’s not yours either.” I ran my fingers through my wild hair.

“You are not responsible for your father’s debt.”

“I don’t care. He’s all I got left!” she cried.

“Lydia, that’s not true. You have me, too. You just won’t let me into your heart completely. I love you with all my heart. You’re a special breed baby. You’re stubborn as hell. I will do anything for you Lydia. I’m asking you to quit this job right now and come home with me.”

Lydia closed her eyes.

“Lydia look at me. There’s nothing tying you to this job anymore. I took care of the debt.”

Her eyes shot open. She charged toward me ramming me in the chest with her open hands. The blanket fell to the ground.

“I fucking hate you! You don’t listen! I asked you not to do that. Damn it Hayden, I know you have more money than God! But I just asked you to respect this one little thing in my life and you couldn’t do it.”

I stood there in silence as she slammed her hands into my chest repeatedly.

“I want a divorce! I never want to see you again.”

I didn’t argue with her anymore.

“Ok. You don’t ever have to see me again.”

Fresh tears streamed down her face. She backed up a few feet. I picked up the blanket, wrapping it around her, holding her tight. My lips met her forehead. Lydia’s body quaked from my touch. “Valen will take you to your apartment.”

I walked away, never looking back. I slid into the backseat of the second Suburban. My body guard Duke hopped into the truck driving away. The other remained behind to help Valen.

I was well aware of the consequences. I did it for her. I would do it again. I love her that much. I want her to go forth with her life and never have to work as hard as she did in the last four years.