Page 86 of Ruin
I catch the wary look between them as they excuse themselves and I watch them go with a sense of unease. Despite Daniel’s joking tone, something is off, and I have a sinking feeling it involves me.
38
COME TO BED?
SEBASTIAN
As soon aswe’re in my office, I close the door and turn to face Daniel.
“Explain the black eye,” I say, crossing my arms.
Thankfully Imogen hasn’t arrived yet, because I suspect I won’t want her to hear the answer to that question.
Daniel leans against the wall beside the window and rubs the back of his neck as he shoots me a dark look. “Given your little detour on the way to the club the other day, what do you think?”
I close my eyes and breath in deep, needing a moment to compose myself.
“Did you seek Joseph out, or was this an unfortunate case of wrong place, wrong time?” I ask after a moment.
He sighs. “I was staying off his radar, like you said. And things have been quiet since I saw him that night with Lily. But yesterday, he showed up at Point Piper and took a swing at Travis. I just happened to be there, but I don’t know if he knew that or not.” At the mention of Joseph taking a swing at thehead security guard at Point Piper, I ball my hands into fists at my side, wishing I could use them on Joseph. I take a steadying breath as Daniel continues, concern laced through his tone. “He’s unhinged, Seb. He was screaming for Lily and telling me to give him back what belongs to him. He only left when he saw Travis calling the cops, but not before he clocked me one. I’m pretty sure people have started asking questions about Lily’s absence and it’s making him crazy. Add in your visit and it just tipped him over the edge.” He touches the bruise gently, shaking his head.
I guess I should be grateful that Daniel didn’t let his own emotions take over, and lay into Joseph like he desperately wants to. Joseph certainly would not have survived that, and the last thing we need is Daniel up on manslaughter charges.
Letting my head drop back, I stare at the ceiling for a moment. “Fuck.”
“Fuck indeed,” Daniel replies.
“So… Are we all just hiding up here now?” I ask, leaning against my desk and crossing my ankles.
Daniel raises an eyebrow. “Why are you asking me? You’re usually the one who calls the shots.”
“Well, I’ve never had to deal with an out of control politician before, so this is all new ground for me,” I snap back, the stress of the whole situation starting to get to me.
Daniel frowns as he holds his hands up in surrender. “Jeez, calm down.”
I sigh and pull my phone from my pocket, opening up to my list of contacts and touching the top of the screen on Connell’s name.
The Irishman answers immediately.
“Hey. What’s up?”
“Can you come to my office? I need your help with the Sydney situation.”
“Onit. Be there in five.”
I hang up and turn back to Daniel.
“Do we tell Lily?” he asks, and I immediately shake my head.
“Absolutely not. Not until we find a way to get him to leave her alone. She’s finally getting to be in a good place after being a ghost for months, and this may very well cause her to return to her previous self.”
He runs a thoughtful gaze over my face. “You’ve always been adamant that people make their own decisions. Why is this any different?”
I hesitate, asking myself the same question.
He’s right. I’ve never been the type to hide the truth from those it impacts the most.
But Lily is different. And she would blame herself for Joseph lashing out at Daniel, no matter how misguided that thought process is. And the last thing we need is for her to make contact with him and be dragged back into that hell she endured for far too long.
