Page 96 of Carrying Your Lies
“Love?” she gasps.
Any vulnerability showcased in his declaration ceases to exist. His eyes are narrowed, and his lips are set in a straight line. “I said it, didn’t I?”
I pick a different camera to watch as she moves to the corner of the room and settles into the armchair.
“This is too complicated,” she groans. “There’s too much going on, and I need a moment to breathe.”
Ray nods at her. “There was no one before you, and I don’t believe there will be anyone after.”
The faint smile on her face feels like a knife to my chest. “I’ve heard that one before, sunshine.”
Her pet name for him makes me bite down on my cheek before I scream or throw my laptop out the window.
“I said it for the first time that night when I realised you were magnificent. I said it again tonight when I realised I ammadlyin love with you. I’ll say it next when we stand in front of our family and commit to death do us part.“ He kneels in front of her. “I’m willing to make the sacrifices. You don’t have to fight on your own. Let me slay the dragons.” He leans forward and kisses her cheek. “You just have to trust me.”
This is worse than I could have imagined.Love? Marriage?How much have I missed while I’ve been busy cleaning all the mess she’s made for me? I’m losing my touch, and soon enough, I’ll lose her.
That can’t happen.
I need to give her everything she’s demanding.
If that doesn’t work, at least Mr. Hunter will have some company.
29
Ipourmyselfanothercoffee only to glimpse at Savannah from this angle. She has avoided me since the Elliot debacle, but I have used the opportunity to try and win Emery back. It would seem the two women have a pact to ignore me. The situation is slipping out of my grasp. I need to get my head back in the game before I make another stupid move.
The pawn I sacrificed remains in one piece in the cold room. I took him off the board, but now I don’t know how to dispose of him. I hide my smile behind my mug as I recall the relief in his eyes when I offered to take care of his debts. Little did he know the solution was to remove his existence from Earth. I would feel guilty for my actions, but he didn’t fight for Savannah, thus proving my reasoning. He signed the agreement with little hesitation.
He thought he had me figured out — assuming I paid my ex-girlfriend to leave the country. If only he knew they had a better fate than what awaited him. At least the world can still appreciate their beauty, but him? He’s hidden in an underground cold room. I could leave him there, but that is lazy work. An easy solution would be to frame Cameron and his goons. But a dead Elliot would have Savannah shooting me accusatory daggers and screaming murderer in my direction.
I can’t stop myself from peering over again. Her lips part as she laughs with Ray. I approach the door to get a better look at what’s happening. She steps to the side as he wheels a new chair behind her desk. My eyes narrow when she hugs him.
He got her father murdered, and she has forgiven him. I said some untrue things, and she refuses to look in my direction. The board is in his favour, and I must do something before I lose her.
I need to sort this problem out. Now.
Grabbing my phone and wallet, I exit the building and join the crowd of bodies swarming the street. The walk to EspresSoul is short and familiar. The new gentleman behind the till is less welcoming than Savannah. His lazy eyes lift to mine as he takes my order.
Mia Woods – Savannah’s best friend – watches me from the corner of her eye as she makes my drink. I offer a smile, to which she raises her eyebrow at me. I take two steps to the right and call her name.
“What do you want?”
“I need your help with something.”
Her hand goes to her hip. “Because you fucked up big time?”
Just fucking peachy. Savannah blabbed to her as well.This is why I need her to only drive the BMW. She didn’t call her from her home, meaning she called her from the car Ray gave her. I need to figure out a way to bug that car or give it back.
“I know you hate me as much as she does, but it had to be done.”
She hands me my to-go cup. “You fucked up. She cared for Elliot. No matter how bad things got between them, he was her safe space, and you took that away.”
I rim the cup with my thumb. “I know. I thought I was helping.”
Her green eyes are trained on me. You learn to read people when you don’t know who you can trust. Mia cares for Savannah and wants her to be happy. “Have you told her you’re sorry?”
‘Yes’is on my tongue until I realise I haven’t. Such a simple word, one my own mother pleaded when I caught her infidelity.
