Page 57 of Release Me
‘No fucking shit, Sherlock,’ Killian says darkly.
‘What are you going to do about it?’ Caelon asks, appearing beside me, holding out his own glass for a refill.
‘What can I do about it? She’s married. To my friend. Who I consider less and less my friend every time he hurts her.’ I slosh a generous measure into Caelon’s glass, then my own before gesturing for James and Killian to bring theirs over. I’m not a fucking waiter.
‘Marriage is sacred—but cruelty voids its sanctity,’ James says, suddenly serious. ‘Do whatever you have to do, brother.’ He claps my back supportively. ‘We’ll stand by you.’
‘It won’t come to that.’
‘Going on the way she was looking at you through the window with those big doe eyes, I have a feeling it might,’ Killian’s voice is grim.
The front door bangs open, and the quiet is shattered by high-pitched laughter and high heels clattering on the original wood flooring.
‘Yoohoo,’ Ivy’s voice echoes off the wood-panelled walls. ‘You boys better have saved me some of that whiskey! There’s only so much sparkling piss water a woman can drink!’
‘Sounds like she managed to drink a good drop of it, anyway.’ Caelon chortles, then lifts his chin to shout towards the open door. ‘Of course, honey! In here!’
‘Happy wife, happy life, right boys?’ He sniggers in a low tone.
Anthony clearly didn’t get that memo.
But given half the chance, I have no problem putting a smile on his wife’s face.
Again.
Chapter Twenty-Four
REBEKKA
I’m going to need a liver transplant if I plan on keeping up with the Beckett women. Zara, Layla and Sean arrived immediately after us, followed shortly by Vivienne, Alexander, a hoard of Beckett babies, and four nannies, leaving little time to talk to Rian and the boys before chaos ensued. I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse.
The girls grilled me in the car on the way over here. After copious amounts of champagne, I finally caved and admitted Rian kissed me—though I didn’t specify where. If I was worried about judgement, I shouldn’t have been. The general consensus was, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I can’t say I agree, but I feel lighter for sharing. I hadn’t realised how heavy the secret had been until I offloaded it.
Poor Thomson. He pretended not to hear, but I’m pretty sure he couldn’t have missed Ivy’s wail of excitement when she screamed, ‘You should get divorced and marry Rian, then you could be our sister too.’
If only.
Pretty sure I used up all my wishes on Christmas Day.
As forecast, the snow is falling thick and heavy outside the window. The kids are outside with the nannies, building snowmen and throwing snowballs. The adults congregate around the fire, sipping champagne or whiskey and picking at the enormous charcuterie board one of the chefs brought through.
‘We better put them down for a nap, or they’ll never make midnight,’ Ivy says to Caelon, resting her head affectionately on his shoulder as she gazes fondly out of the window. The youngest Becketts are snuggled in snowsuits and bundled in blankets in their buggies, watching their siblings and cousins laugh and play.
‘They’re not the only ones.’ Scarlett yawns, slipping her arms around her husband’s waist. He pulls her tightly against his chest, and envy eats me from the inside out. My eyes instinctively flick to Rian. He’s also watching his brother and sister-in-law with a slightly pained expression. His gaze shifts to meet mine, and something unspoken passes in the air between us.
Rian’s mother, Vivienne, rises from the deep sunken leather couch. ‘I think it would be wise if we all go for a nap, or none of us will make midnight.’ She offers her hand to her husband, Alex, who’s sitting in the seat beside her. I’m guessing he’s around seventy, and despite the deep scar on the side of his face, he’s an exceptionally handsome man. It’s easy to see where the Beckett boys get their looks from.
‘Keep it down now, you two,’ Rian calls to his parents. ‘We don’t need any more siblings. Bad enough I have to share the inheritance with these fuckers!’
‘Language,’ Vivienne scolds, but there’s no missing the smile she’s biting back.
‘Gross.’ Zara covers her eyes.
‘Watch your mouth, son.’ Alexander pretends to smack Rian around the head as he passes by him, hand in hand withVivienne. It’s clear to see they’re still utterly enamoured with each other after all these years. It blows my mind.
The Beckett couples excuse themselves one by one until it’s just Rian and me remaining. I might be imagining it, but there seemed to be a lot of curious eyes on us.
‘You know which room is yours?’ Ivy checks, poking her head back through the doorway.
