"Don! I'm sorry to see you go, man, but this was your project and it's gonna be in good hands!"

Pate saluted his business partner as Donovan knocked back his shot.

It was nearing mid-November and he couldn't wait to get home to his fiance.

"Well, I trust you and Curtis with this, good friend. I'm ready to start my life with my woman, though. No more fucking around for this old man. I'm a one woman gentleman now."

Gerald sauntered up alongside Donovan and laughed.

"I swore I wouldn't talk about your old lady, but she must be incredible."

Donovan smiled,"We'll leave it at that, G."

"Fair enough."

Donovan's phone buzzed.

Bryce's name flashed across the screen.

"Excuse me, gents."

Taking the call in the hall, Donovan was more than perplexed at what he heard.

"Dad?"

Cooper's voice echoed in his ear as Donovan gripped the phone tightly.

"Dad, who do we need to kill?"

Donovan paced the corridor of the hotel as his boys talked about all of the goings-on the cameras were showing, but the only thing they saw was Brett harassing Delilah.

"I mean, we could kick his ass, Dad," Jason offered, "Delilah looks rough, too. Julie said she's drained and stays mostly to herself and the kids. Work and home and wherever the kids are."

"She's not allowed me to see her," Donovan admitted, "We've not had a video call in a week."

"You'll be home soon and maybe this shit will end," Bryce said,"Miranda's been slinking around Boston a lot—without Brett. Honestly, the guy's a dick, but he's rarely seen with his own fiance. Kinda weird, yeah?"

Donovan nodded as if they could see him.

"Very. I'm going to try and get home earlier than December It just looks completely awful for me to leave abruptly, but I don't give a fuck. Delilah is more important."

"We'll keep you updated, Dad," Bryce said, "Delilah has taken a lot of precautions so far and that's good. Les is going over there tomorrow and Dean asked us to tag along. It's technically not intimidation or harassment if we're just there to see friends,yeah?"

Donovan grunted.

"Good, I'm going to head to my room and call Delilah. I know it's late, but I've got to see her."

The boys said their goodbyes and Donovan called his queen.

Delilah answered on the third ring, her sleepy face coming into view.

"Hey..."

"Delilah.. you... you look exhausted..."

Delilah smiled, "I was asleep, my king."

"Are you well?"

"I'm just missing you," she said,"Brett is being in a pain, but I've just been overly exhausted, I'm so sorry we haven't videoed. I'm... I'll... I promise to call you."

"Maybe you should go to the doctor?"

"I'm just tired, Donnie. I've got all of the kid's things to do and work and... "

"And what?"

"And I'm doing it on my own because Brett isn't responsible enough. I'm sorry. I've never been the type of person to have a pity party for myself."

She let out a sob, throwing Donovan off guard.

"It's alright, baby.. " he soothed,"It'll be alright..I promise."

Delilah wiped her eyes and smiled at him,"I'm a mess."

"You're beautiful."

"You'd be the only one to say that."

"Because it's true. Promise me you'll go to the doctor. Just a checkup, please?"

Delilah nodded, "Alright, my love. I'll make an appointment."

Donovan could barely concentrate the next day. This wasn't how he wanted their engagement to start, but the last few months had been hell for both of them.

"Yes, Les, I'll be heading out sooner than expected," Donovan said.

"Does she know?"

"No, I still want to surprise her. I've already been educating the team about the project and getting the house ready for us. Melanie and Julie have been a big help. Is she alright? Does she look better?"

"Well, we did see her heading out of the doctor's office yesterday and she seemed to be in a hurry. Little more pep in her step this time."

"Good, very good. That makes me feel a lot better. I want to give her space so she doesn't think I'm some kind of stalking psycho, but I think it's too late for that."

Les laughed, "Yeah, but she loves you and how you've kept her safe, even if you are a psychopath."

"Ha, ha..." Donovan mused, "Let me finish packing so I can get my ass home."

"Did you really talk to Brett?"

Dean nodded as he and Delilah sat in the living room of his house. The kids were staying at Dean's for a few hours while Delilah did some alterations at the shop, but she wanted to make sure they'd be alright.

"They're not oblivious to this, Dean. I've never been this scared of him."

Dean sighed,"You sure it's him who's driving you nuts? Yeah, Brett's a turd, but, -"

They noticed lights in the driveway and both of them could hear the distinct sound of Brett's truck.

"Let me get my gun so I can shoot this son of a bitch," Dean grumbled as Delilah peeked out the window at Brett who had the gall to walk right up to the door and knock.

"Dean..."

Dean shrugged as he put the gun behind him.

"Just in case, Delilah."

"Whatcha want, Brett?"

"I just wanna see my kids. It's all I want, I swear to God."

Delilah nodded and Dean opened the door.

"I'll get them, but only if they want to see you," Delilah said as she headed upstairs to gather the children.

Dean sneered at his former brother in law.

"You've got a lot of fucking nerve coming here, asshole. I should shoot you and bury your body in, -"

"Dad!"

The kids ambled down the stairs and hugged their father who seemed shocked that they'd want to see him.

"Just a few minutes. I have to get to the store," Delilah reminded them.

She watched from a distance while Brett talked with the children and said he'd bring over some ice cream if she would let them.

Delilah smiled, "We'll talk about it."

Brett nodded, taking what he could.

"Alright, you four behave, OK? I love you so much. Don't give your mama too much grief."

He turned to Delilah as the children headed back upstairs.

"Thank you."

"I've gotta go. Dean, I won't be long."

Dean watched from the window as Brett got into his truck and Delilah got into her minivan.

He could see that Brett was having difficulty and Delilah didn't leave until she knew her ex was on his way.

Watching Brett get out of the truck and pop the hood, Delilah rolled her eyes and got out of the minivan.

"What is it?"

"I think my transmission finally crapped out on me."

Dean grabbed his coat. The sleet was beginning again and he wanted his sister to get to the store safely.

"I can't get it to start. Can you take me home and I'll come back with Miranda's car?"

Brett was addressing Dean, but Delilah cut in.

"I'll take you to the store, but you need to call Miranda to tell her to come get you."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Dean said.

"Well, then you take him," Delilah said, "Deb can watch the kids while we're gone."

"I'll just call Miranda," Brett shrugged,"It's alright."

Delilah turned to leave,"Get in the van, Brett. Don't make me say it again."

Dean started to protest, but Delilah was already settling into the van with Brett in the passenger's seat.

"Don't make me regret this, Brett."

The rain and sleet kept coming down and Delilah maneuvered the van ever so slowly towards town.

"You're feisty this evening. Something's changed in you so what is it?"

"It's not your business, Brett."

"I'm just making small talk. I do know you, Del. You have a glow about you, but you also want to kick ass and I like that. Take this turn slowly. It was slick when I came through. I'd rather not go over the shoulder and into the river tonight."

Brett eyed the woods around them as Delilah continued to slow down.

"You're not gonna tell me?"

"Brett, if you must know, I'm, -" Delilah gasped, "Oh my God! My brakes! My brakes locked!"

Brett looked at her in disbelief, but before he could even act, the van was skidding off the side of the road, with Delilah screaming and both of them bracing for impact.