Page 79 of Heated
Cyrus swings his attention to Derrick, and for the first time, I notice Jill’s husband, who’s been standing behind Val all this time. Rage hums in Cyrus’s voice, and it’s the murderous heat from it that melts my paralysis. One glance at Cyrus’s flat blue gaze and the grim set of his mouth, and I slide my hand from his and grasp his elbow, restraining him. Not that I can do much if he goes for this asshole’s throat.
Derrick shrugs a shoulder, his grin smug and wide. So he’s an idiot as well as an asshole not to sense the threat right in front of him.
“You can thank me later.”
Maybe my movement snagged Val’s attention, because it shifts to me, and her eyes widen, instant recognition flaring; then they narrow.
“You’re kidding me. Youmustbe kidding me.” She advances on me, but Cyrus shifts, blocking her from me. She looks from me to him and laughs, the sound high and sharp as glass. “Isn’t this just perfect? I just handed you over to him, didn’t I? How long did it take you to slide in and jump on my leftovers? Although, Cyrus.” She tsks. “I’m really surprised. I didn’t expect you to be so broken over me you’d rebound to slumming it.”
“Stop. Talking,” he snaps, his body so rigid the barest of winds could crack him down the middle. “Don’t speak to her; don’t even look at her if you aren’t able to do it with a civil tongue in your mouth. I’m not going to stand here and let you disrespect her. For damn sure not in front of me. She did you a favor with that little breakup errand, and she’s done, out. Any loyalty she owes you after that is over. As far as slumming it? What do you call this? Showing up here where you’re not wanted? It reeks of desperation, Val.”
“Loyalty she owes me? You’re damn right she owes me loyalty. I paid a fee and have a contract that clearly lays out that loyalty.”
“What the hell are you talking about now?” he demands.
“Cyrus,” I whisper, although by now that sinking in my stomach is yawning wide into a dark abyss that I can’t crawl my way free of—an abyss of my own creation.
Shock crosses Val’s face, chased by utter delight.
“Oh my God.” She laughs. “Oh my God, this is too good. He doesn’t know, does he?” She smiles at me, and it’s so cold another shiver ripples over me. “Cyrus, I paid Zora Nelson to break up with you for me. That’s what she does. She breaks up with people for a living. And you were just a number. A case. And you call me desperate?” She arches an eyebrow at me. “Tell me, Ms.Nelson, how desperate does it make a person to scavenge their clients’ leftovers? Is this a common practice for you? Or is Cyrus just special?”
Derrick chuckles. “Wait a minute, wait a minute.” He holds out his hands, a grin splitting his face, and it’s ugly, mean. “You mean to tell me Val broke up with you by proxy? And you turned around and brought that woman here to fob her off as your girlfriend?” He laughs again, loud. “Just wait until Donald and everyone else hears about this. I knew something was up with you two, but I couldn’t place it.”
“What’s wrong is he brought an imposter who doesn’t belong here,” Val murmurs, her glacial gaze on me.
“Cyrus,” I try again, laying my hand on his arm. “Please, if you’ll let me explain.” Although I have no idea what I can say.
What Val said ... it was ugly and spiteful, but it was all true. I violated Val’s trust. I did lie to him about my identity. I had an opportunity—plenty of them—to confess the truth, and I didn’t. And even though I justified why with reasons, when it comes down to it, those reasons weren’t enough.
Not when he’s staring at me with betrayal and anger in his eyes.
“Is it true?” he softly asks.
“Can we—”
“Is it true?” he interrupts.
Please let me explain. Please let me tell you why you were worth the risk. Just ... please.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“You should go back to our bungalow. You can stay there tonight, and I’ll arrange for a flight out for you tomorrow.”
Pain blasts through me, and I don’t understand how I’m standing. How I’m breathing. None of the panic from the conflict assaults me because I don’t care. Not when I’m losing Cyrus from my life. I can feel him physically slipping away from me, and I want to scream, fall to my knees, beg him to listen, to not do this, to ... not hurt me like this.
But one look in those cold, shuttered eyes, and there’s no point. I’ve lost him.
Every worry, every fear, every nightmare is colliding like a catastrophic pileup. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
And I’ve no one to blame but myself.
“Goodbye, Cyrus.”
I step away from him; it’s agony for me. Forcing my feet forward, I walk away from him, past Jill, who gives me a sympathetic look; her smirking asshole husband; and finally Val.
My former client reaches out and grasps my elbow, halting me.
Bending down, she whispers, “Next time, you’ll learn to stay in your place. And don’t think I’m not going to share exactly how you use your clients’ information. I’m going to ruin you and your little business.”
