Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 175: Men in Black

A team of lawyers was waiting for me when I returned to Crazy Code. They were flanked by a team of musclemen in black. Jake monitored the situation while Stiff and CK sat at the receptionist’s desk sipping coffee, ready to watch the show.

What the fuck?

A tall, dark-skinned man who towered over the rest of his team stepped forward and held out a folder. "You’re Teela Heavenly?"

"Crest now, but yes. What’s going on here?"

"We are here on behalf of the Heavenly family. You’ve been served a summons to appear in court. Our client is suing you on no less than fifty-seven counts ranging from embezzlement and corporate espionage to breach of contract, custodial interference, breaching cybersecurity firewalls, and personal assault.

I took the folder. "Oh, really? And who, specifically, is your client?"

Like I didn’t know.

"Joshua Heavenly is acting on behalf of the entire family."

I snorted. "Right. Okay, I’ve been served. Anything else?"

"Yes, ma’am. Dr. Pacer and Dr. Heavenly filed for restraining orders against you." He handed me two more folders. You are to stay a thousand feet away from both of them and Mr. King Heavenly."

"Really? Under what grounds?"

"You are a threat to their personal safety."

"I don’t recall threatening any of them."

"Take it up in court, but in the meantime, I recommend you keep your distance. And, Ms. Heavenly, we’ve hired a team of cybersecurity specialists. Your vigilante antics in the dark web will end, and they will end now, or we will pursue prosecution." The tall man scanned the entire building. "This pathetic cover for your illegal activities will be closed and the building demolished."

I nodded. "Are you finished now?"

Jake stepped forward, placing himself between me and the man. "He’s finished."

The man led his team out the door.

"Josh must have saved up a lot of pennies to fund this little operation. He has no legal standing to represent anyone but himself." I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Alright, time to get busy."

Estelle stepped out of the elevator. "I’ve called legal. They are on the way."

"Thanks. Here." I handed her all the bullshit paperwork. "Scan this to Stiff and CK. I’ll want a summary of what I really need to deal with."

"Jake, make this place a fortress, and for crap’s sake, get rid of my spies. No more eyes on me. I’m tired of playing nice. Contact Min to set up a second team at the facility."

"Alec is there," Estelle said. "Eugene is going to want in on this. I’m calling him. He’ll take care of Alec. Focus on Crazy Code." She walked off without waiting for an answer.

"Wyla, go with Estelle. She may need your help."

Wyla protested. "No, I’m staying with you. You are the target."

"Just do it. I don’t have any time to argue right now. Otherwise, get out. I’ll call you when it’s over. Your choice."

Wyla opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it and nodded instead.

"CK, Stiff. This is war. Burn it all down."

"I’m calling in backup," CK said.

"Back up?" I asked.

"Yeah, The Night Shadows fan club. By the time we are done, Josh won’t have a pot to piss in."

"Hey, don’t get other people involved. I don’t want to see anyone hurt who doesn’t already have skin in the game." Honestly, I’d love to lock everyone I loved away and protect them, but I knew it was too late for that.

CK said, "Teela, I can either lead them or they will go out alone. They won’t sit still for this. You know that. You’d do the same for them. You did the same for me. Don’t tie my hands now."

"I don’t like it, CK, but I agree, it would be better to work in cooperation than have a bunch of rogue attackers stumbling over each other. Focus on the two doctors. Stiff and I already have a failsafe in place for Heavenly Enterprises."

Stiff said, "Take out that asshole attorney firm while you are added it. Save me the trouble. What about Bob Jones? Teela, are you ready to rid the world of that trash too?"

"I am. Work with Jake on that one."

Father DiMarco. "Jake, what about Father DiMarco and your boys?"

"I’ll send Sampson and Charlie," Jake said.

"Good enough. Bring them here if you need to. It would be easier to protect everyone if we were together."

"Done."

"Stiff, do what you do best." I stopped in my tracks. "No, wait. Jake find Dot. Bring her to me. She’s behind this. Josh doesn’t have the backbone. It’s the reason Lettie left everything to King. Daniel took care of her dirty work. Ben was tainted and didn’t want it. Josh wasn’t strong enough."

"Now, you’re talking," Jake said as he rushed to follow through.

"Stiff, upstairs with me."

"Wait," a vaguely familiar tech standing in a group of three spoke up. "What do we do?"

"Do your job."

"With all due respect, you brought this company back from the brink of bankruptcy. We are stronger since you’ve come on board. We are loyal to you and Stiff. If you are in trouble, we want to help. While our skills aren’t at your caliber, we are good at what we do. Let us help."

I stepped over to him. "I’m sorry. Can you remind me of your name?"

"Blaine."

"Blaine, you don’t understand. You are helping me the most by doing your job. Crazy Code was Bea’s dream. I am determined to keep that dream alive and watch it grow. No matter what Stiff and I are doing in the background, we depend on you to take care of that dream for us. It is the only way we can focus on our special projects. So, please go back to your desk. Help us by doing your job and keeping the panic at bay throughout the staff.

"Stiff and I are strong. We will protect everyone at Crazy Code with all our ability, but we realize right now that it is scary to work here. Make it less scary by supporting each other. Build each other up and believe in our ability to survive as much as we do. Can you do that for us?"

I felt tears prick my eyes. My words held more truth than I knew I had in me to share with people outside my inner circle.

"Ma’am, can I hug you right now?"

I held my arms open and let the man hug me. I noticed his eyes were glistening as well when he let go. His friends shook my hand.

Blaine said, "We’ve got your back. Do what you need to do. We will keep Crazy Code strong."

The show of support was touching. I wish I had more time to enjoy the feeling and to share it with Alec. Unfortunately, another member of the Heavenly family was threatening my security again.

What was it with this family? Was I doomed to go through this hell for the rest of my life because of crimes I committed in a past life? It was beginning to feel that way. I should have wiped them off the map when I discovered how dirty Lettie and Daniel were, but no. I looked at the good King had done. I looked at how regretful he was for his behavior. I remembered the twins—demon children, to be sure—but innocent of any crimes worthy of having their world destroyed around them.

And, to be quite honest, I never, in my wildest dreams, considered Joshua as a threat. Why would I go after him?

Now, I was paying for my naivety. I should have taken a lesson from the great warriors of ancient times and annihilated the entire family.

I would now. Even King would pay. Once the ground was scorched black, I always had the option of helping King rebuild, but what was gained by tainted funds would be lost—all of it.

Ben was exempt. He had left the family willingly. So had Daniel’s wife, Maylean, and the twins, but the rest were fair game.

Stiff joined me. "Ready?"

I nodded. "Time to convene at command central, aka the conference room where we’d run our campaign to find Jake’s boys."

My phone rang. "Hello."

Alec said, "What the hell is going on? A team of legal goons just stormed into my office with a stack of paperwork to sue us if we don’t release King back to Josh."

"Sit tight. I’m on the way."

I hung up. "Stiff, give me your car keys."

"What’s happening?"

"Alec is facing the same drama we did."

"I’m going with you. I’ll drive while you organize backup."

I nodded and jogged after Stiff, all my aches and pains from earlier in the day long forgot under the onslaught of bullshit that was coming down on us.

I cursed King for leaving me in this position. I cursed myself for not protecting my people better. I would know.