Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Rocco’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Boss, I told you-I was just trying to protect-”

“You’re still lying.” Marcus grabbed Rocco’s collar and hauled him up until their faces were inches apart. I’ll ask you one more time. If the next words out of your mouth are another lie, I will break you. Right here. Right now.”

Rocco’s bravado cracked. His eyes darted to Ethan, to Bianca, to the ring of kneeling men who wouldn’t

even look at him.

Nobody was coming to save him.

“It was Nathan!” Rocco blurted. “Nathan put me up to it! He has a personal grudge against Carter. He wanted me to use you-to use our people-to take Carter down. He fed me the story about Carter being some random thug going after Bianca.”

Bianca’s lip curled. “So you sold out my brother-sold out the entire Donovan family-for your buddy’s personal vendetta?”

Rocco flinched.

“You’re pathetic,” Bianca said. “Marcus trusted you. Treated you like blood. And you threw all of that away for Nathan’s grudge.” She turned to Marcus. “And you. Next time, try harder to see through the people around you.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened. A flush crept up his neck. He said nothing.

He released Rocco’s collar and let him slump back against the wall. Then he turned to Ethan.

“Mr. Carter. How do you want him handled?” Marcus’s voice was flat, businesslike. “Say the word, and I’ll break every bone in his body. He’ll spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Consider it my apology.”

Rocco’s face went chalk-white. His whole body seized.

“Please!” Rocco threw himself forward, forehead hitting the floor. “Mr. Carter, please-I’m sorry, I was wrong, I’ll do anything-please don’t let him-”

His voice cracked into a high, desperate whine. Snot and tears smeared across the tile.

Ethan watched him. He didn’t speak.

The silence stretched. Five seconds. Ten. Rocco’s sobbing filled the room, growing more frantic with each passing moment. His fingers clawed at the floor. His shoulders heaved.

Just when Rocco’s cries began to thin into hopeless, airless gasps-

“That’s a bit much,” Ethan said.

Rocco’s head snapped up.

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“Give him a lesson,” Ethan continued. “Make sure he remembers it. Pain is fine. But crippling him for life? “He shook his head. “Too far.”

Rocco’s chest collapsed with relief. He sucked in a shuddering breath, tears still streaming down.

“But,” Ethan added.

Rocco’s whole body went rigid again.

“That mercy comes with a condition.” Ethan’s gaze was steady, cold as polished stone. “You tell us everything. Not just Nathan’s name-I already know that. Nathan doesn’t have the guts to come after me on his own. Someone’s behind him. Someone bigger.”

The room went quiet.

Rocco’s mouth opened. Closed.

“I’ll cooperate,” he whispered. “Whatever you need. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“Good.” Ethan looked at Marcus, then Bianca. “I’ll leave the investigation to you two. Dig into whoever’s pulling Nathan’s strings. Rocco cooperates fully-every question, every detail, no holdbacks. That’s the deal.”

Marcus nodded. Bianca nodded. Rocco nodded so fast his neck nearly snapped.

“Then we’re done here,” Ethan said. He picked up his jacket from the bar and draped it over his arm. “I’d like to stay and finish my drink in peace, if nobody minds.”

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