Page 87 of Ruin
“It’s different because it’s Lily,” I reply, not knowing what else to say.
A look of understanding appears in his eyes, and he smirks. “So you’ve finally worked out how you feel about her, huh?”
I frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh don’t be an idiot, Sebastian. You’ve been in love with her since we were kids.”
I cross my arms again and keep my expression neutral. “I don’t fall in love.”
He shakes his head as he lets out an exasperated sigh. “Yes you do. Or you did and have never been able to move on from that. And it scares the absolute shit out of you because you have built this life for yourself that you think makes you some kind of monster, or whatever. But she has known you, the realyou, since she was sixteen, and none of that has scared her away.”
I swear to God, it’s like he, Annika and Imogen have all been reading the same psychology articles lately.
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. It can’t be. And regardless of any of that, she’s been through absolute hell. The last thing she needs is to have anything to do with someone like me.”
“Oh, you mean the guy who has protected her and made sure she was surrounded by people who would support her and provided her with a place to stay without any expectations? You don’t think she should be around that guy?”
Younger siblings can truly be infuriating sometimes.
I’m relieved that Connell chooses this moment to knock on the door, and I’m saved from having to respond to Daniel’s question. But the look on my brother’s face is enough to know that, while he might not be aware of all the specifics, he’s worked out things between Lily and I aren’t simply friendly anymore.
Connell’s attention immediately falls towards Daniel, like a heat seeking-missile, and his gaze locks onto the black eye. “What’s happened?” His anger shows in his eyes, although his expression remains neutral.
“Joseph apparently showed up at Point Piper. Actually-” I stop and turn to look at Daniel again with a raised brow. “Why didn’t Connell know about this already?”
“I asked the team to wait until I was able to talk to you in person.”
I clench my jaw while I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Daniel, it’s Connell’s job to make sure that everyone is safe at all locations. You shouldn’t have asked them to keep this from him.”
Daniel rolls his eyes. “I get that you’re the one really callingthe shots, but I am part owner in all of this, too. I didn’t see any sense in doing anything immediately until we had a chance to work out what to do about him. He obviously knows about the clubs and where to find me. He most likely thinks Lily is still down there in one of them. Our entire business is at risk while he’s got this vendetta against us, and the last thing we need is to have some new security guy come onboard and being overzealous, knocking the bastard out or something worse. It would cause us more trouble.”
I sigh and exchange a frustrated look with Connell before replying. “I get that you’re protecting the business as well as Lily, but he’s not as powerful as he thinks he is. Everything we do is completely legal. And besides that, we have clients who are far more powerful than him who would bury him alive before allowing him to give away the true nature of the clubs. If nothing else, they enjoy getting their cocks sucked too much for that to happen.”
Connell clears this throat. “I’ll arrange for some more staff to be appointed at both locations. But perhaps it’s time to involve the authorities?”
“I agree. I think we’ve let him play his little games long enough,” I reply.
Daniel sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Fantastic. Well, can we at least wait until I go home, seeing as I’m here and not there to deal with all of their questions?”
I watch him for a moment, taking in the exhaustion on his face for the first time.
“Fine. How about you go and get some rest? It’s obviously been a stressful couple of days. You can have my room. I’ll take the couch when I come up later.”
He pushes off from the wall, rubbing a hand over his face. “Thanks. I think I’ve been running on adrenaline for the last two days and I’m absolutely fucked.”
Connell and I watch him go before exchanging another look, and the bearded Irishman crosses his arms.
“Perhaps it’s time to talk to Lily about all of this? She knows the guy better than anyone. Perhaps there’s a way we can diffuse the situation without involving the police.”
“I don’t want to involve her until absolutely necessary.”
He nods before turning to walk out of the office, leaving me to work out what our next course of action should be.
I don’t see Daniel or Lily for the rest of the day. Once Imogen arrives, I try to go about the day as if there isn’t this massive cloud hanging over me, not wanting to let her know that things have just gone from bad to worse.
With the knowledge that we’re going to have to eventually tell Lily about Joseph’s behaviour, my protective instincts have kicked into overdrive, just adding to my conflicting emotions.
It’s past nine by the time I’ve done everything I possibly can to delay returning to my suite, but after the long day I’ve had, I really need to get some sleep. Even before the last two nights, where I lost all control and fucked Lily senseless twice, my limited amount of sleep lately was starting to takes it’s toll. Now I’m just exhausted.
