“You’re going to be fine,” I whispered to Felix as we stood inside the cafe a bit earlier than Joshua was set to arrive, “I’ll be waiting right here. Dad, Bailey, and Matua are at a table to the right. I let the staff know to be prepared to call the police. If he puts his hands on you or tries to vocally do anything, Bailey is prepared to step in. We’re recording it. Try and get him to talk.”

“I… Can I really do this?” he whispered back, staring at me in fear, “I don’t…”

“Yes. I know you can.”

“Okay,” Felix took a deep breath before moving outside.

We had dressed Felix as lazily as we could, making it seem as if he was trying to get by on the streets. He was wearing a pair of Kylie’s pants, the bottoms nearly dragging under his shoes, and one of my sweaters from years ago that had a few holes and paint stains. I had tucked Felix’s hair into a beanie and helped him seem tired by using makeup. It was hard to tell that all of this was a facade to trick Joshua into thinking Felix was struggling without him.

Felix stared at the table as Joshua approached, his blonde waves slicked back, and he wore a navy suit with a gold watch to seem more impressive. From what Felix had shared, Joshua was a nepo-baby, never working a day in his life, and instead partying away any money his parents gave him.

“You’ve got this,” I whispered to myself from my seat near the door, watching Felix fidget.

“Taia,” Joshua smiled, his voice coming through my receivers as I had Felix call me before he sat down, “Look at you. How shameful. Why did you run? You would be living in luxury.”

“I was… I was scared,” Felix stuttered, never raising his head, “I want to be happy, Joshua. Money doesn’t make me happy.”

“Money makes everyone happy. All you had to do was shut up and bend over when I asked. You’re pretty, you make for a great wife visually.”

“I’m not a woman,” Felix whispered, digging his hands into his thighs, “My name is Felix. Not Taia.”

“You’re going to be my wife, or I will burn your father's house to the ground, along with that factory. You agreed in the contract that it’s mine, didn’t you? When we marry. We’ll get it nice and insured. Then, if you keep fighting against me you ungrateful little bitch, I will torch the place,” Joshua slammed his fist into the table making Felix jump. Bailey nearly got up, but we made eye contact and I shook my head, wanting him to back down and give Felix the space to defend himself.

“You have no right to it,” Felix finally lifted his head, staring into Joshua’s eyes.

“There we go, baby,” I smiled, chewing on my sleeve, “You got this. I know you do.”

“My name is Felix Awena Bennett. I have a lovely husband now. Someone I have cared about for many years, whom you kept me from. He returned my feelings. We got married. I have proof. This nullifies the contract on my end and means that unless you return my documents, I will have you arrested for theft.”

“You… what?” Joshua yelled and Felix flashed him a smile full of vitriol, “I don’t believe you. You have never been a good liar, Taia.”

“But I can prove it,” Felix reached into his pocket and pulled out our marriage license, “See? I’ve been married for a month. I can also prove that you held me hostage in your home and coerced me into marriage on false terms, your father is the mayor through bribes, your mother runs an illegal brothel, your brother is a drug runner, and your sister is a notorious thief. I have evidence of all of it. So I will make you a deal,” Felix rolled his shoulders before pulling the beanie off of his head, his chestnut curls cascading down, “I won’t release the evidence, tell anyone the hell you put me through if you give me my shit back and forget I ever existed. You don’t contact me, you stop these claims that anything I own belongs to you, and we go our separate ways.”

“Stop lying!” Joshua started to panic, his eyes wide, “I will get what I want, I always do!”

“Go ahead,” Felix leaned around Joshua to make eye contact with Koa, who nodded and made a phone call, “You didn’t want to listen. You didn’t want to take my deal. So my wonderful father-in-law is now calling a local news station to go ahead and broadcast all of our evidence. Photos, video, and testimony of everyone involved. A scandal this big is enough to take down the Brenner’s don’t you think? I can have him stop now if you just give me my stuff back.”

“I refuse. You have nothing,” Joshua crossed his arms, still believing that Felix was lying, “This license is fake. Who would willingly marry you?”

“Me,” I finally walked outside, ending the call with Felix, “I did. I married him. He’s my husband and always will be.”

“Who the fuck are you?” Joshua jumped up, trying to intimidate me as he was taller, and Bailey quietly got to his feet, stationing himself behind Joshua.

“Asher Bennett. You had me make those terrible wedding invitations. Remember? You called me to hurt me because you were taking Felix from me. We’re married. Happily.”

“Lies,” Joshua tried to hit me, and Bailey grabbed his arm, stopping him and making Joshua panic.

“God, can you say anything besides calling everyone a liar?” Bailey snorted, “Get new material. We aren’t lying to you. You lost. Give Felix back his things, and I won’t press charges on you for hitting my brother.”

“I didn’t! Anyone around here will contest that I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did,” a barista called from inside, “We all saw it!”

Joshua flummoxed, staring at everyone in panic before settling on Koa, who was still on the phone, “Old man, you hang that up right now or I will ruin you! My father is the mayor, you can’t do this! Do you know who the fuck I am!”

“You’re a whiny little baby who doesn’t know how to accept when things aren’t what he wants. You’re spoiled and think that bullying people is how you get your point across,” Koa scoffed before going back to his phone call, “Oh. Thank you so much, Sheriff. I’m glad to hear you’re already investigating. I have evidence if you’d like that. I can deliver it to the station. I already informed Nancy Hughes at 1 News about everything. They’re running a broadcast now. Oh, wonderful. Joshua Brenner is currently sitting outside of Hello Sunday cafe, threatening my children and the man he was attempting to coerce into marriage. I was unaware he had several warrants,” he laughed as Joshua tried to get away from Bailey, “Oof. Joshua, you’re a nasty man, aren’t you? Child porn… rape… battery… drug possession… holding a child against their will. How old, Sheriff? She was 6! You need to hurry up because I might kill him. Yes. I know that’s a threat. You’re welcome to arrest me, too,” Koa hung up and tossed his phone down onto the table, Rio watching in fury as Bailey squeezed Joshua’s arm, and I held Felix tightly.

“You… are the worst kind of person,” I whispered, my voice shaking, “How the hell are you even walking the streets?”

“He’s been hiding,” Felix sniffled, and I kissed his forehead, “With friends. I was drug along everywhere he hid. He tried to offer me to them and I would fight with everything I am. Most rapists don’t like a fighter.”

Three patrol cars arrived, and Joshua surrendered without a fight, realizing he had fully and truly lost to us. The sheriff that Koa had contacted searched Joshua’s pockets and brought a few things over to Felix.

“Are these yours, son?” The sheriff smiled as Felix started to cry, holding his wallet and papers to his chest, “You’re okay. I swear.”

“I-I’m free?” Felix whispered.

“Yes. You’re free.”

The police left after taking statements from everyone around the cafe and all of the evidence Bailey and Koa had gathered. My father and brother readily agreed to stand in court as witnesses, Felix having to testify as well to everything he saw when the Brenner family was using him. We headed home, Felix nearly asleep in my lap as Rio drove and  I rushed to the living room, my legs exhausted, but I was determined to see the news reports.

“This just in,” a reporter named Ryan Trumble began, and Felix cuddled into my arm, my hand wrapped around his thigh, “Mayor Brenner from Chatham Island has been found guilty of fraud, bribery, violating his oath, and gross negligence. Alongside him, his wife, Petunia, has been arrested for sex trafficking, running an illegal brothel, and holding young women hostage by retaining their passports. Their son Joshua Brenner is currently being investigated for crimes against children, drug possession, and sexual assault, on top of coercion and planning to force a local Chatham Island resident into marriage. This resident will remain anonymous. Finally, Iris Brenner was once again charged with felony theft of high-end merchandise. Currently, the position of Mayor is vacant, and an election will be held soon. We will keep you updated with this ongoing case.”

I shut off the television, grateful to have caught the report, and Felix openly began to weep, clinging to me. My parents joined us along with Bailey and a newly arrived Kylie with Ava, and we held Felix for over an hour as he cried.

“I did it, Pa,” he hiccuped, holding the locket I had worn the day we married, “We did it. I… I saved it.”

“Yes,” Rio smiled, cradling Felix’s face, “ya did. We may have helped, but ya got yourself out of it. Ya get to decide what ya want to do from this point forward.”

“I want to stay with Asher,” Felix whispered with a nod, “I want to figure out how to move home, to live in my home that my Pa put so much love and work into. Create advertising for the fishery while Asher makes invitations. We can take Simon. I’d love to get a new boat, something sturdy, and teach Asher how to fish. Or at least have his company. I want to come home during the holidays. I mean, here, this is home to me now. Thank you,” he smiled brightly, the pain and fear seemingly gone from his heart, “Thank you all so much for everything.”

“We’re family,” Bailey smiled, hugging Felix around the shoulders, “We never would have left you in that situation. Hell, Matua contemplated figuring out how to get the two of you to Montana. We have family in the United States that would have taken both of you.”

“Oh god, that’s too far!” Felix laughed, cleaning his face, “I wouldn’t have wanted that.”

“I would have taken you to Taupaki,” I whispered, kissing his cheek, and Felix patted the side of my head, “if today hadn’t worked out. We could have stayed near Uncle Zeke and Auntie Belle. They own a farm. Zeke is Koa’s uncle.”

“I remember,” Felix smiled, rubbing his inner arm, and I gently moved his hand away, “They itch so bad!”

“They’ve almost healed. Let them do that. Well… things have calmed down. What do we do now?”

“I want to sleep,” Felix whined, making everyone laugh, “I am exhausted. Can we take a nap together?”

“Absolutely. Come on,” I grabbed my cane and Felix followed me to my room, collapsing on my bed as I closed and locked the door, “You should change.”

“Mhm,” he murmured, never raising his head, “Let me rest.”

“Fine, fine,” laughing, I lay down next to him and Felix climbed on top of me, pressing a soft kiss to my chest, “Fe?”

“Today was terrifying. I’m free now. This means… this means you can nullify the marriage. We’re within the six months. I won’t be mad if you do.”

“Why would I bother?” I tilted my head, rubbing his back with my fingers, “I want to stay with you. I care about you. You want the same, don’t you? To go to Pitt Island with Simon. Draw together. Take care of and update the house. See if being together still works. We had a plan, Fe.”

“That I’m giving you a chance to get out of, Asher,” he sighed, and I shook my head, “Really?”

“Yes, really. I want this, Felix.”

“Okay. I’m sorry. I just… felt like you were stuck with me or something.”

Pinching his chin, I pulled until we were face to face before I kissed him slowly, trying to force him to understand how deeply I cared. Felix smiled and hugged me around the neck, returning my affection in spades.

“We’re going to be happy,” I whispered against his lips.

“We already are.”