Page 36 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire
Inhaling deeply, I craved her scent. Fuck, it was so addictive. Crisp apples and her. It would be impossible to mistake it for anyone else. Why couldn’t I smell her anymore?
My eyes shot open and I rubbed them. The sun was setting. I must have passed out. My skin tingled. My muscles ached. Fucking great.
At this rate, I’d have to go back to the hospital for another shot. It wasn’t a bad idea. At least I’d see her again. One more time.
My fucking God. When did I turn into such a wimp? I needed to get my shit together. My family depended on it.
“Byron?” Winston’s baritone voice sent a piercing pain through my temples.
“I’m working,” I growled, despite the fact it was obvious I wasn’t. I didn’t even have my phone on me. I pretty much hung off the edge of my boat.
“Clearly.”
Today would surely rain pigs—or whatever the fuck the phrase was—because my brother was the sober one while I drowned my sorrows in poison. I felt nothing but emptiness inside me.
“What do you want, Winston?” I said monotonously. “I’ve had my fill of taking care of others. Now, let me be.”
He lowered himself and sat down next to me. “At least you kept your shirt on so your back didn’t burn again.”
I reached for another bottle and unscrewed it. I attempted to read the label but ultimately gave up. It didn’t matter. Tonight, I wanted to kill my liver. Damage it so it’d hurt more than this fucking thing in my chest.
I took a swig, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Nothing beats a French brand of vodka.” I offered the bottle to my brother. He shook his head. “I’m good. I’ll keep an eye on you tonight.”
“No need. I’m perfectly fine,” I said blandly.Touching you is a plague I can’t survive.Her voice whipped in my skull. Over and over again.
“Is this about Father?”
I squinted. “Why would this be about Father?”
Winston shrugged. “He was here on the yacht at the crack of dawn. Looking for you.”
“Well, he found me,” I drawled. “All he needed was two and a half million.” I took another drink. “I gave it to him. Good riddance, asshole.”
At that moment, I didn’t give a fuck. Not about the money. Not about my father. Nothing, apart from one thing. I wanted to know what happened to make Odette so angry.
My brother grabbed the bottle out of my hands. “How about we have something to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.” I reached for the bottle, but Winston threw it into the water. “Fuck, Winston. Stop polluting. Try and save the planet for the next generation.”
He sighed. “I’ll dive for it and get it out.” When I rolled my eyes—or attempted to—he added, “I promise. As soon as you get something to eat and hit the sheets.”
I opened my mouth to say something, even though I didn’t know what, when he raised his palm. “Either you hit the sheets or I’ll dump all the bottles I find on this boat into the sea and pollute your precious planet.”
“Asshole.”
A smile broke across his face and he cackled. Actually cackled.
“I learned from the best, Byron.” He punched me in the shoulder, laughing. “That’s what we Ashfords are. Assholes. Except for Father, he’s just a wannabe.”
Chapter13
Odette
It was impossible to breathe.
It had been two days since I’d woken up after an amazing night with Byron, only to come face-to-face with his father. Two days since Senator Ashford delivered on his promise. Two days since my father dropped the news of us being broke.
I shook my head. I couldn’t think about the senator. I didn’t have enough strength nor energy to go down memory lane. When Byron came to the hospital, I couldn’t look at him. I was so mad I wanted to murder him. Both Byron and his fucking father.
