Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 86

86 Time to Deal

Clarice POV

I can’t stop the smile on my face as we make our way down the spiral staircase that leads to the cells. I’ve never been a person who enjoyed someone else’s misery, but I think today is going to be an exception. Simone and I follow closely behind Jared and Noreen. Nick, Chrissy, Jack, and Trevor stayed home with the girls so we could deal with Loretta. We offered to bring Trevor, but he had no desire to lay eyes on Loretta again. In his words, she wasn’t even a bad memory anymore.

He told us to be safe before he kissed my forehead and kissed Simone like he wasn’t going to see her for days. I know most people would think it was strange, but I love that he found his forever love. Nick kissed me and whispered promises of what was going to happen when we were alone before he sent us on our way. If I don’t end up pregnant again the way we can’t keep our hands off each other, it will be a miracle. My thoughts are interrupted by a woman screaming at the top of her lungs. At first, I thought it was Loretta, but the voice is too high–pitched. As we move to stand in front of the first cell, I fight the laugh that bubbles up inside me. Loretta is completely disheveled. Her normally pristine blonde bob has grown out to her shoulders, and it is matted to her head in several spots. It looks like she hasn’t run a brush through it in days. Hell, it doesn’t look like she has showered in days.

She was always dressed in designer labels, and now it looks like she is wearing a burlap sack. The sound of our footsteps as we approach catches her attention. She jumps off the cot and rushes toward the bars. As soon as her eyes meet mine, she bursts into tears. “Clari, oh my god. I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much. Please help me Clari. I know I hurt you, and I was wrong, but you can’t let them do this to me. I don’t deserve to be in this prison,” she pleads.

“First, I’ve made it clear you lost the right to call me Clari when you chose to betray me. You aren’t my family or my friend anymore. Second, you still aren’t taking responsibility for what you did, Loretta. I don’t even care that you betrayed me anymore. You stopped being important to me the moment you drugged Trevor and took advantage of him. Did you hear what I said, Loretta? You basically r*ped Trevor”

“No, I didn’t. The drug may have helped him let go of his inhibitions, but he wanted me. I know you don’t want to believe it, but he wanted me. He loved me as much as he loved you. I’m sorry I fell in love with him, Clari, but I still loved you. Why couldn’t you just accept it then none of this would be happening,” she says. “Just as delusional as ever. Trevor never wanted you. He barely tolerated you. You drugged him

and took advantage. None of that matters because we are both happy and with the people we were always meant to be with. Trevor loves Simone, and they have two little girls to prove it.”

“No, that can’t be true. He wouldn’t do that. I know he was mad, but he wouldn’t just move on,” she says. “It is very true. My husband loves me and our girls. He also loved Clarice before you did what you did to ruin their relationship, but I’m here to tell you that you failed. He still loves Clarice. He would protect her as much as he would protect me. We all share three daughters. We are all happy while you are here rotting in this cell,” Simone says.

(86 Time to Deal

+25 Points

“You are sharing your daughter with her” she asks, hurt in her voice. “Yes, I am, and she is an amazing mother to my daughter. Her daughters are mine too. They are all so loved. Had you not been selfish enough to try to take what never belonged to you, then you might have got to be an aunt to my beautiful daughter, but now you are nothing to us.” “Clari, I’ve been here for a long time. Don’t you think I’ve been punished enough,” she asks.

“Do you think you are in here because you f**ked my ex–husband?” “I’m in here because you and she are mad that I slept with Trevor. I think you have punished me long enough. Just let me go. I’ll leave, and I won’t bother you or Trevor again,” she says. Simone throws her head back and laughs. The sound sends a shiver down my spine. “Do you think I am worried he will ever touch you again because I can promise you

that I’m not. You are here because you tried to kill my husband,” she says.

“No, I swear I wasn’t trying to kill him. I was angry, but I thought it would just scare him,” she says. I look back at Noreen, and she shakes her head to indicate she is lying. “Fine, please forgive me. I just wanted him to want me the way I wanted him. He acted like he loved me when he was with me. He would tell me how beautiful I was. I got mad when he acted like it was all a lie. I wasn’t thinking clearly, and he didn’t get

hurt. Please let me go,” she says.

Simone looks toward me. As much as I hate her I don’t want her blood on my hands. I do, however, want her far away from my family. I nod at Simone and she smiles. When she turns back toward Loretta, I see the fear in her eyes. “We have decided to let you go but under one condition. You will live where I say you will live,” Simone says. “Yes, I promise. I don’t care where it is as long as I can get out of this hell,” she

says.

I fight the giggle because she has no idea what she has agreed to. “Brother, did you make the arrangements,” Simone asks Jared. “I did and Igor is thrilled. He hasn’t had the company of a woman he isn’t related to in a very long time,” Jared says. “Alright then, Loretta. You will be banished to the artic to live out the rest of your days with a group of northern fae. It’s a small group and Igor will be your keeper. He is actually looking for a wife, so you might get lucky. He has been alive a long time, so he isn’t picky,”

she says.

Before Loretta can say a word to protest, Simone appears next to her and they disappear. “Am I a horrible person that it makes me so happy she is never going to be happy again after all the sh*t she pulled?” “Absolutely not. You are letting her live, which is more than she deserves as far as I’m concerned,” Noreen says. Jared whispers something in her ear and her cheeks pink. A few seconds later, Simone reappears with a huge smile on her face.

“Igor likes her already. He insisted his sister bathe her before he spends time with his new bride. Loretta tried to fight, and his younger sister knocked her out cold. It was a thing of beauty. Now let’s deal with the other nasty b**ch. I’m ready to head home and see our girls,” she says, taking my hand. The screaming from earlier gets louder as we move down a long hallway.

When we step in front of the cell, I notice Phillip is standing off to the side. As soon as he spots me, he rushes over pulling me into a hug and then Simone. “It’s good to see the two of you. I heard we will be coming to the human world for a few days,” he says. “Yes, we are having a party for my parents‘

< 86 Time to Deal

+25 Points

anniversary. I’m glad you’ll be there. Maybe we can find you a hot man.” “Nope, I’m waiting for Mr. Right, but I’ll enjoy playing with all the little ones,” he says.

“How can you stand there and act like they are your family, Phillip. I am your sister,” Janice says. “You are no sister of mine. You tried to kill the queen and her son. A woman I consider my best friend and a child. I am ashamed we share a drop of blood. Whatever they decide your punishment should be, I completely agree,” he says, taking a step back.

Noreen POV

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