Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
A man beating up a woman, that was fundamentally wrong. But for her, what made it even more so was Alonzo doing nothing.
She didn’t know if he followed her or what would happen for her disrespect. All she knew was she had to make Benedict stop.
Stepping into Jessica’s quarters, she heard the cry, the unmistakable sound of a punch hitting flesh.
Grabbing the lamp next to the door, she disconnected the cord and charged into the room. Jessica was curled up in a ball, and Benedict was on her, his knees keeping her locked into place as he drew his fist back and kept hitting her.
She’d had enough.
As he raised his fist, she used the lamp like a bat, slamming it against his face.
With a sickening thud, Benedict collapsed away from his wife. Panting for breath, Tessa stood over Jessica.
Jessica may be older than she was by nearly five years, but right there, Tessa would protect her as she would any child.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Benedict asked.
She may not have hit him hard enough.
“You’re going to stop hitting her.”
“She’s my fucking wife. I’m an Adesso. You think you have power here? You’re a fucking nanny. A piece of shit that is not even worth my time. They will have you spread for any man to fuck.”
“I’m a Brown, and I will not stand by and watch you hurt her anymore.”
He came toward her, clearly thinking she was joking, and she hit him again.
Just as he grabbed the lamp from her, Alonzo, Cole, and Demetri entered Jessica’s quarters.
“It’s about time you got here. Take this whore out of my rooms, now. I’m dealing with my wife.”
“Get your hands off my woman, and leave my house.”
Benedict let her go. He was in shock. Tessa stayed perfectly still, aware of Jessica between her thighs, in pain.
“You know the rules. No man interferes with his business with his wife.”
“You had your hands on my woman, Adesso. To be honest, I think it’s safe to say that this marriage between you and my sister is best put through the divorce courts.”
“We don’t divorce. Our families will never allow it.”
“I’m the boss of my family, Benedict. You have brought me nothing but shame. Don’t think I’m not aware of what you have at the docks. I am, and this, this is over. Get out.”
“This isn’t over,” Benedict said.
“Oh, it is. I’ll be talking with your father, so you better start kissing his ass.”
When she felt it was safe, Tessa went to Jessica. The woman’s face was bloody and bruised.
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
Ignoring Alonzo and the men, Tessa helped Jessica to her feet. She was holding her body.
“I’ll call a doctor,” Alonzo said.
She ignored him. He could call a doctor, but for now, she would take care of Jessica.
****
Alonzo finished the call with Benedict’s father. By their mutual agreement, they would terminate the marriage and together they would form a united front to the rest of the families to make sure no disrespect was shown. Benedict’s father wasn’t aware of his son’s extracurricular activities in working with the Russians on the trafficking market. Any business deals that required to go out of the family circle, had to be voted on. What Benedict had done was tell the families to fuck off in his ventures, and in doing so had provided Alonzo the ability to terminate his sister’s marriage.
Now the only problem came with Caesar. Benedict had shown no love for the young boy, and after he saw Jessica’s face and the doctor had informed him that she suffered from three broken ribs, there was no way he’d allow that bastard to have his nephew.
This was a fucking mess.
Leaving his office, he walked back to his sister’s quarters. She was on the sofa, a bag of peas in her hand. The television was on, and he saw it was on a steamy romance.
“You still watch your trashy romance stuff,” he said.
There was no sign of Tessa.
“If you’re looking for Tessa, she’s with Caesar in the nursery.” She winced as she moved. She hugged a pillow against her.
“She hates me right now,” Alonzo said, lowering himself into the chair opposite her.
Jessica kept wiping away her tears. “She doesn’t understand our rules, Alonzo. You forget she’s a soldier’s daughter with his views and opinions.”
“I should have stopped him.”
“Alonzo,” she said. “You and I both know no one could stop him. What is going to happen to Tessa? She’s a sweet woman. Her heart is always in the right place. I hope you don’t have to punish her too severely for helping me.”
“She’s not going to get punished, Jess.”
“She’s not?”
“No, and this marriage of yours, it’s going to end.”
Jessica laughed. “Yeah, probably with me in a casket.”
“No. I failed you today, and I’ve failed you a lot over the years. I know you didn’t want this marriage. Dad was dying. I should have taken over sooner. It was his dying wish to bring us closer together. Benedict, he is an asshole.”