Page 12 of Selfless

I get up and run to my room to answer it. A part of me hopes it’s Ryder. I sigh when I see it’s Bradley. He just won’t stop.

“Hello?” I ask, answering the damn thing.

“Hey,” he says softly.

“Hey,” I say, sitting down on the side of the bed.

“I, uh …” He pauses, and I say nothing. “I need to see you.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea ...” I say honestly, not wanting to lead him on.

“Please. I’m begging you. Just come and see me.”

I run a hand through my hair. “We shouldn’t …”

“I’m not leaving New York until you see me,” he says, changing his approach.

I fall onto my back and sigh. “Fine.”

“Tonight?” he asks, pushing it as if I don’t already have plans on this Friday night.

“Okay.” Might as well get this over with.

He hangs up, and I sit. “We need a bottle of wine,” I say, walking to the kitchen but stop when I see Mr. O’Kane standing in our apartment. I had thought Jaycent was at the door. “Oh, Mr. O’Kane,” I say in surprise.

“Hello, Ashlyn,” he says.

“Hello, sir,” I say, looking back and forth between them. “I’ll give you guys some space …”

“No need. I’m here to see you too.” My brows lift. “May we?” He gestures to the living room.

Becca and I both nod and turn to make our way back to the living room. I sit beside her, and he sits on the couch across from us. “What are you doing here, Dad?” she asks.

He undoes the bottom button of his suit jacket and sits back on the couch. “I just wanted to let you know that you won’t be having problems with Conner anymore.”

“What did you do to him?” she asks.

“Nothing short of killing him will do,” I say, hating that man.

Mr. O’Kane laughs at my statement, and she just looks at me wide-eyed. “The less you know, the better,” he says, and I give them a genuine smile. “Honey, I think you should call Jaycent.” He changes the subject.

She snorts. “Now all of a sudden you’re on his side?”

He sighs. “I didn’t realize how unhappy you were. And that’s my fault.” He looks around the apartment and frowns as if he too doesn’t like it. “I never thought you would hate this apartment. I bought it thinking you would be safe. That you would be near my office and close to your brother in case you needed anything. If you want to sell it, then I’ll help you do just that. But now I see that you have someone else to help take care of you, and that person is Jaycent. Becca, don’t be mad at him for telling me about Conner.”

Sell her apartment? This is news to me.

“He should have told me,” she argues.

“I’m not saying he shouldn’t have, but I’m also saying that he realized the situation was bigger than him. And all I want is for you to be safe. And that’s exactly what he did. I just want what is best for you, and Jaycent coming to me showed that he is it.”

“So you condone him keeping secrets from me?”

He shakes his head. “I condone a man willing to do whatever it takes to keep the woman he loves safe.” She sighs, and I wonder why I am needed for this conversation. “Give him a chance,” he urges.

“A chance to what? Prove he’s not like Conner?”

“You know he’s not like Conner,” he responds flatly.

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