Chapter 6 - THE TRAP IS SPRUNGGrant backed up slowly, his heel hitting the doorframe behind him. "T-Tessa... what is this? I just wanted to talk to my wife!"
"You're trespassing on a federal military command site, Mr. Mercer," Attorney Ellison announced, holding up his official badge. "This entire property was designated a restricted military residential zone three days ago. By breaking into this building, you have committed high treason and unauthorized entry onto a Tier-1 defense facility."
Grant’s eyes darted wildly around the room, looking at the silent, lethal operators surrounding him.
"You set me up!" Grant shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at me. "You left the door unlocked on purpose!"
"I gave you a choice, Grant," I replied, my tone devoid of any emotion. "You could have stayed in your apartment, accepted your legal punishment, and spent your prison sentence reflecting on how you treated the woman who gave birth to your daughter. But your greed wouldn't let you. You still thought I was the weak, submissive administrative clerk you could push around."
"Tessa, please!" Grant threw himself onto his knees, tears stream down his face, genuine panic finally breaking through his arrogance. "I was tricked by Chloe! She seduced me! She made me treat you that way! I love you! I love Maya! Just give me one more chance! I'll do anything! I'll be a stay-at-home dad, I'll sign a prenup, anything!"
I stood up slowly, stepping out from behind the desk. The tactical boots I wore made heavy, measured thuds against the hardwood floor.
I stopped right in front of him, looking down into his pathetic, tear-soaked face.
"On the night I went into labor," I whispered, "I begged you on my knees to drive me to the hospital. My blood pressure was spiking. Maya almost died in my womb because you wanted to meet your mistress for dinner. Do you remember what you told me?"
Grant shook his head frantically, terrified to answer.
"You told me, 'I'm done carrying you. You've become dead weight.'"
I leaned down until my face was inches from his.
"Look at me, Grant. Do I look like dead weight to you?"
"No... no, Tessa, please—"
"Take him away," I commanded, turning my back on him.
Two military operators stepped forward, grabbed Grant by his collar, pulled him off the floor, and slammed him against the wall, slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists.
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"TESSA! NO! PLEASE! TESSA!" Grant screamed as he was dragged down the hallway, his boots scraping uselessly against the floor. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I'M YOUR HUSBAND!"
His screams echoed down the long corridor until the heavy front doors slammed shut, drowning out his cries forever.
