Page 13 of Five Days

But first.

I stared Landon down, not about to let him get another word in until I had my say. The little selfish fucker needed to know what his actions had caused.

“It’s one thing to be betrayed by an enemy,” I all but hissed, “but by your best friend? You have no idea the consequences of your choice to turn your back on me, Landon. None. Your parents had taken me in. Promised me a college education. I’d hit the jackpot as a foster kid, and I’d done everything to not fuck shit up—and you did it with a temper tantrum that brought your father running to the supposed rescue. You ruined my fucking life, Landon. There’s no forgiveness for that shit.”

“I was a child.” He leaned forward as though sensing I would rather stand up and get the fuck out of there than listen to his excuses. “Selfish and spoiled.”

“Damned right you were!” If fire could shoot from my eyes, he’d have burst into flames. The heat inside me rose to the boiling point, and I was about to blow. “You fucked me over, and there’s nothing you can do to fix that shit. Not a goddamned thing!”

I shoved up from my chair, knocking it over in my haste, but I didn’t bother righting it. Stomach a rock, I spun away from the two men and strode away with heavy footsteps, my flip-flops making a stupid clapping sound when I’d rather they portray the harsh, heavy thuds in my chest.

Five days in paradise.

A snort huffed from my nose as I strode into the hotel and smashed the elevator’s up button.

More like a sure five days of hell.

How the fuck would I get out of the contract without telling Sean or Micah about the event that led to my demise? I’d attempted to leave that shit buried where it belonged, out of sight, out of mind, even though Landon had always managed to rouse memories.

And he’d done so again, only this time in person where the mere sight of him brought all the good, the bad, and the ugly, crashing back down atop me.

The last thing I wanted to do was dredge up more drama. I’d rather be dancing with who I’d thought would’ve been a sure, exceptionally satisfying fuck.

But he’d orchestrated this whole affair.

So, stay or go?

Allow this useless, latest attempt at resolution while basking in the sun and diving into salt water, or head home to a cold, rainy New England, doubly bitter?

Seeing as how I had a room to myself, a balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and gorgeous weather, I wasn’t going to make a hasty decision that would leave more than just Landon disappointed.

Keeping my bosses happy and pleasing the client were the rules I lived by.

But fuck me, neither sounded appealing at that moment.

I chose to reflect on my options, and the sliding glass door leading outside my suite into the ocean-scented air offered me privacy. A few small shot bottles in hand from the suite’s mini bar, and I closed myself off from everyone and everything but that which weighed on my mind: the dredging up of my past and that latest attempt at extortion.

I also had to decide what the hell to do with my client now that he’d fucked up our vacation I’d once upon a time been ready to take advantage of.

Even worse?

My desperation for Landon hadn’t eased one fucking bit. I feared what self-preservation I’d built with the distance between us the past fifteen years would crumble at his feet, leaving me vulnerable and on a second crash course for heartache.

Chapter 5

Callum

“Cal.”

I ripped my focus off Zack’s retreating back, ready to face possible wrath for having caused Landon even more pain.

His soft smile eased the tension riding my shoulders, allowing me to draw an unhindered breath. “You’re too good to me,” he murmured.

Shaking my head, I turned toward where Zack stalked, but he’d disappeared. I swallowed my disappointment. “I’m sorry he didn’t stay to hear you out.”

“I’m not surprised, considering his actions whenever I texted him over the years, but you can’t force a man to offer forgiveness no matter how much you want it. I’ll find a way to wear him down since he’s stuck on an island and can’t escape me this time.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I declared, once more shifting to face the man I loved.

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