slow progression. Greg would drop subtle hints that no one loved me the way he did. He called often, checking to see where I was and who I was with.”
She rubbed her thumb over her wedding ring finger. “Greg proposed the day after I graduated. I was over the moon. We married quickly. Too quickly. Another red flag I should’ve paid attention to.” Addison bit her lip. “The first time he slapped me was on our honeymoon.”
Jason’s gut clenched tight, and it took every ounce of control to keep his posture relaxed as a rush of anger burst in his veins. The idea of anyone hitting Addison…it caused a protective surge Jason had never experienced before. “How bad did it get?”
“Bad. I made a lot of mistakes, Jason. I should’ve left him the first moment he struck me, but Greg cried and apologized afterward. He swore it wouldn’t happen again. I took my marriage vows seriously and thought we could work through it.” She continued rubbing her ring finger. “But the more time passed, the more difficult it became. We settled into a vicious pattern of dysfunction, and I was ashamed to tell anyone what was going on.”
He placed a hand over hers, stilling her movements. “I hope you still don’t feel that way.”
She raised her head and their gazes locked. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and they shattered Jason. He wanted to take away every ounce of her heartbreak. “You didn’t deserve what happened to you, Addy. None of it.”
“Thank you for saying that. It’s taken me a long time to heal. I still don’t know if I’m there.”
That was a feeling Jason was very familiar with. It struck him then how alike he and Addison were. Both of them were struggling to move on from a painful past. But now wasn’t the time to think about that. He gently squeezed her hand. “How long were you married?”
“A year. Greg pushed me down the stairs and put me in the hospital. I filed for divorce and got a restraining order against him. The police arrested Greg for assault.” She blew out a breath. “He was convicted. The law firm fired him. Greg started abusing drugs and alcohol. He went into a downward spiral. Nine months after our divorce, he died of an overdose.”
Jason sat back in his chair. “His father blamed you for what happened.”
She nodded. “Wendall showed up at my office, yelling and screaming about how I murdered his son. But that was seven years ago and I haven’t heard from him since. I can’t believe he would come after me now.”
Jason could. Blame could twist into a need for revenge that grew over time. “Do you know where Wendall lives now?”
“No.” She released his hand and picked up the phone, studying the picture. “But I know someone who may.”
Fourteen
The next morning, Jason plugged an address into his GPS. Addison sat in the passenger seat beside him. The scent of her shampoo teased his senses. It reminded him of oranges and lazy summer days. He inhaled deeply, drawing the fragrance into his lungs, and then mentally berated himself. After dinner, Jason had spent most of the night convincing himself to keep Addison squarely in the friend zone. Anything else would only lead to a broken heart.
Two minutes in her presence and he’d already failed miserably.
The GPS displayed the best route. It would take twenty minutes to get to their destination. Although the sun was shining, storm clouds hovered in the distance like a bad omen. Jason’s hand hesitated on the gear shift. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to visit your former brother-in-law, Addy?”
“Positive. When I texted Steven early this morning, he was happy to hear from me. He said to stop by the construction site he’s working on.” She dug around inside her purse and removed a pair of sunglasses. “Steven may not be in touch with his dad—there was some bad blood between them—but he can provide insight into Wendall’s thinking. He’ll know if his dad is holding a grudge against me.”
Jason was uneasy about bringing Addison around anyone related to Wendall, but it wasn’t his call. Addison made her own decisions. He needed to trust her judgment. And in the off chance she was wrong, Jason would be there to keep her safe.
He backed out of the driveway, and within five minutes, they were on the highway. Jason kept watch to make sure no one was following them. “You mentioned there was bad blood