Burning Your Lies (King and Queen Duet #2)

7

Xavier

My fingers loosen the tie around my neck as if that will ease the irritation burning inside me. Savannah was declared medically fit today, which means the second they deem her safe, she’s getting out. I saw this coming over the horizon, which is why I hoped her mother’s death would push her over the edge. But all she did was cry. I hoped her frantically lashing out when she was denied release for the funeral would delay this a little longer. But she got the board back in her favour.

She’s doing everything she can to paint herself as sane; including apologising to me. If I didn’t know any better, I would have believed her. Or perhaps that is the foolish side of me trying to taking control.

I would have preferred her to remain silent as she was those first six months. She says very little to me. But I don’t take it personally because, though she’s found her voice, it’s almost as if she’s afraid to speak to anyone. That works for me.

Seeing as it was his letter that graced us with her voice, I thought she would have spent Ray’s visits chatting away. But they often sit in a comfortable silence. I read that letter. It was nothing but a pathetic love declaration. But it was enough for her.

I scoff to myself. After all the spiel about one visit and moving on, he hasn’t gone longer than three days without seeing her. She hardly even looks at him. Is that because she doesn’t love him? Does she still love me?

My lips curl into a smile at that thought. Regardless of how the game ended, she cannot deny the love we have for one another. It’s not one that comes frequently in a lifetime. Perhaps we can rediscover it after she’s freed.

There goes the foolish side of me regaining control again. Savannah has forgotten nothing. Whatever her plans are upon release, I have two options: kill her and raise too many suspicions. Or play nice and keep her close.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence, Mr Rivers?”

I straighten my tie and smile at Rowan.

“Now that you’ve got some actual walls, I thought to come and asses how much of my equipment you’ll need.”

With a proud grin, he gestures to the empty space.

“Enough to protect one subset of my empire.”

Seeing a business opportunity, I arch my brow and plaster on my best charming smile.

“I am the best in the business, Mr Ashford. I could protect your entire empire.”

He waves me off with a chuckle.

“You worry about my London division first. The best protection is needed wherever I am. People don’t want to bring my clubs down. They want to bring me down.”

Rowan Ashford, a man full of mysteries. His chiselled good looks and boyish charm easily fool people in passing. However, there is a certain iciness to him.

“Why are you in London?”

He wasn’t expecting me to ask the invasion question. It’s why he looks momentarily surprised.

“Business.”

“You’ve opened clubs around the world without being present. What makes London so special?”

When he cracks his knuckles, my attention is on the rings that always adorn his fingers.

“Personal business.”

A smile graces his lips as if he’s part of a private joke.

The arrogance on his face irritates me.

“It would only take me a few seconds to find out,”

I taunt.

“You’re forgetting I run a security company. One check on you and I can uncover all your dirty secrets.”

He doesn’t look phased. If anything, he looks more amused.

“Find my secrets. We’ve all got them. But you’ll never find the bodies.”

“Did you just admit to murder?”

Rowan sighs.

“You want to know why I asked you, of all people, to install the security here?”

“Because I’m the best in the game.”

At that, he laughs so loud it echoes.

“No. Because someone who plays the games I do can spot another player a million miles away. The world may believe the act, but when you’re at the table with someone holding the same cards as you, your poker face isn’t that great.”

I don’t dignify him with a response. I turn on my heels and walk out of the club. When I pick Elise up from daycare, she’s already fussy and fidgeting. I try to soothe her, but it doesn’t work. When she lets out a cry for the third time, I almost drop her back to daycare.

“What’s wrong? Why won’t you just stop?”

Her doe eyes just stare back at me and offer no explanation.

I can’t do this. I need someone to mother this child because I’ve had enough. The first three months were bliss, or maybe I was feeding off my victory. But it’s been a year since Savannah went away and it’s only got harder. Elise walks now so there’s no eluding her. Everywhere I go, she’s waddling behind me. She doesn’t let me work in peace. She doesn’t let me eat in peace. And I am fucking sick and tired of dirty nappies.

“Sorry!”

The red-haired woman flinches when I turn around.

“I wasn’t watching where I was walking and…”

Her voice tapers off. Her round eyes are puffy and red. The same tinge covers the tip of her nose. She sniffles before trying again.

“I’m really sorry.”

I can’t look away from her blue eyes. They’re pale, almost as if there wasn’t enough pigment to make them a true blue. Her full lips are set into a frown, but I can bet she has a beautiful smile. And then there is her hair; long, soft and flowing in the breeze.

I smile at her.

“Are you okay?”

She looks startled by my question.

“Yeah, I’m…”

She waves me off. “Fine.”

The confidence she’s aiming for fails miserably.

“You don’t look fine.”

She dabs at her under her eyes.

“Well, I just found out my boyfriend is cheating on me.”

“Oh.”

“If that wasn’t bad enough, I just moved back from Australia because he said he couldn’t do the long-distance thing anymore. So now I’ve lost my home and my boyfriend.”

She steps away from me.

“Okay. I’m totally over sharing with a stranger. I’m sorry.”

She goes to turn away but comes back.

“For bumping into you and … yeah. I’m just…” She walks away without completing her sentence.

“It’s his loss!”

I shout out after her. She stops walking.

“He’s a fool to give up a woman as beautiful as you.”

And my god, she is beautiful.

She turns around and closes the short distance between us.

“Thank you, but I feel like the fool. Why do you men do that? Why cheat? Just end things if you’re unhappy.”

“I can’t speak for all men, but I am certainly not a cheat. I despise cheaters.”

“Well, your wife is a lucky woman.”

Wife?

“Not married. Widow.”

I hold up my empty ring finger.

Her eyes soften.

“Sorry, I just saw your daughter and assumed. I’m sorry to hear that.”

I can’t help but smile.

“You sure apologise a lot.”

When she smiles, it feels like the air has been knocked out of me. I haven’t been this intrigued by someone since Savannah.

“Force of habit.”

Overstepping boundaries, I tuck her hair behind her ear and marvel at how soft it really is.

“You should stop doing that.”

Her chest rises and falls as her eyes lock on my face. And then like a pin to a bubble, the soft aura around us bursts. She steps away.

“I’m sorry, I need to go.”

“Can I interest you in a coffee sometime?”

When she smiles again, it’s got a sadness to it.

“You seem really nice and all. And your daughter is adorable.”

She shakes her head.

“But I’ve just come out of a long-term relationship. My heart is absolutely broken. I just don’t have it in me to…”

I should let it go, but there’s something calling me to the stranger. Perhaps it’s her beauty or the rare freedom from Savannah occupying my thoughts.

“It hasn’t been long since I lost my wife. I’m still learning to be a single dad. I’m not exactly looking for a relationship right now, either. But how about a friendship?”

She hesitates.

“My mum always told me to never trust a stranger.”

“Let’s rectify that.”

I offer her a handshake.

“Xavier Rivers.”

Her eyes land on me again and I realise why I’m so in love with them. They remind me of a diamond when the light hits it at the perfect angle. She reluctantly places her hand in mine.

“Brynn Jones.”

“And how am I spelling that?”

Her soft giggle spreads life back through me. “Why?”

I hand my phone to her.

“So I make sure I spell your name right on my phone.”

She’s hesitating again as she scans my face. Whatever she sees must cast a cloud on her apprehension because she takes my phone and quickly types in her number.

“At least I now have one friend in the city.”

“You have no friends?”

My question has a frown etched onto her face.

“Not really.”

I force a sad look on my face.

“What about family?”

Uncomfortable doesn’t even begin to describe how she feels. Her fingers twist into a knot as she looks away from me.

“Dad’s never been around and my mum…”

She swallows hard and looks at me again. Her eyes are open windows to her soul and right now she looks heartbroken.

“I’m sorry. I’m over sharing again.”

Every word that passes her lips is music to my ears. Unlike Savannah, me and Brynn won’t have anyone interfering with our love story. And if, like Savannah, her ex wants to cause trouble, he will meet the same fate as Elliot Hunter.

“I’m an excellent listener,” I offer.

She shakes her head.

“It’s not something I like to talk about.”

Don’t worry, Brynn. By night’s end, I’ll know all about you. Whether or not you want me to know it.