“When Fredrick asked my father for a favor he was unable to deliver, Fredrick immediately took it as an insult. My father knew it was something Fredrick was desperate for, but this particular request was out of his reach.” Alek swallowed. “Afterward, Fredrick did the one thing that men who run in our circles don’t do, Wesley. He did something that even your family would’ve taken offense to.”
He was filling me in, but the information he shared was still vague. I knew he was leaving an important part out. I pushed the conversation along.
“And what was that?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
His eyes turned cold. “He started talking to the cops.”
I looked down at my watch, noticing the restaurant still wasn’t open. I could also see his guards standing alert by the door, waiting. I leaned forward, studying him.
“So you decided to teach him a lesson by killing his wife?”
Alek shook his head. “That wasn’t my plan in the beginning, but when I was informed he wasn’t home, it became the perfect opportunity to show him how traitors are dealt with. I know it wasn’t a well-thought-out plan, but I knew the minute his wife told him about someone breaking into their house, he would’ve immediately increased his security. The available window would be gone, and he would’ve been on high alert. Eventually retaliating against the one person he knew had a motive.” His face displayed a tired expression. “I had to make a point. I had to share with him the consequences. If you had done business with him, you would understand what a vicious man he could be.”
I ran my hands over my head in frustration. I could see his lips moving, but I didn’t bother paying attention. I knew it didn’t matter. There was more. There was always more when it came to him. He was holding the most critical piece of information back and had no intention of sharing it with me until it was the only option left. I knew how he worked. How he only gave just enough for you to gain interest, agree to what he needed at the moment. The rest was none of your concern. It was irrelevant to him. I stared at him.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice, the growing agitation.
“I don’t follow where you’re going with this, Wesley.”
I stood from my seat, looking down at him. His expression was strained, but I continued. He needed me, which meant he would listen.
“The more you keep from me, the harder it will be for me to help you.” I shook my head. “I can’t see the reason behind your command, Alek. Even you should be able to see how that doesn’t pass for a legitimate reason. I can’t even count on my fingers how many times someone’s tried to stab my family in the back. If we got rid of everyone who came after us, we would be the only ones left. There are other options.”
I cleared my throat before delivering the part I knew he wouldn’t appreciate. “There’s more to all of this, and until you share with me what really matters, we’ll just keep circling back to where we are right now. We won’t get anywhere.
“This man has something on you, Alek. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t care, but that piece of information your keeping from me is making it difficult for me to do my job. I can’t fix something if I’m only given a portion of the information.” I could’ve left that out, but I thought he needed to be reminded, pushed a little.
His face twisted into an expression I couldn’t read. “How about you use what I’m willing to share with you right now. Then, if necessary, I’ll share more with you later. If it ever comes to that.”
I agreed because I knew he wouldn’t budge. His mood proved he was sticking to his choice. A stubborn man was often an ignorant one, but I wasn’t his coach. He would see the light when this issue wasn’t resolved because he wasn’t truthful about everything.
“As you wish. I’ll do what I can with the information you’ve given me, but—”
He shook his head. “No buts, Wesley. I just need results, and I would appreciate it if you’d get them for me soon.”
I looked around, noticing the security guards were closer, and gave him a careful nod of understanding. Regardless of the way I honestly felt—wary, frustrated—the meeting had accomplished nothing, putting us right back where we initially started. His small piece of information had made me curious, but in the end, it was still useless. It didn’t change anything.
“I’ll reach out to you when I have more information,” I told him.
I started toward the door, then stopped when he spoke my name. I turned around to face him. The question he eventually asked caught me by surprise. It was late, unanticipated, but I always knew the topic would come up. I would have to acknowledge it at some point.
He was turned in his chair, facing my direction. “I meant to call and ask you about my wife the other night. Apparently, she was at your club with my sister. The two of them are very close…unfortunately.”
I gave him a very careful stare before coming to the conclusion he didn’t know anything about Mia, about what we’d done. I’d been in my bed with the enemy’s daughter, just like Alek, and it made me realize something. She could be playing both of us, even though I had no complaints about the dance her and I were in. I wanted her again. I wanted her to be mine, and I wasn’t a man who liked to share. It wasn’t usually my style. I looked down at the floor, then back toward him.
“I didn’t see her myself, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t there. I had quite a bit going on that night, including your surprise visit.”
He nodded, seeming satisfied with my response. “Yes, of course, but I figured I’d run it by you, just in case. I was in the same boat myself, but I’ll spare you the boring details.”
I reached into my pocket, removing my keys. I was over the small talk and already running late for another meeting. I was a busy man, and the extra load of duties dealing with my father didn’t help.
“However, I’ll have my men look into it and ask around myself.” I threw in just to put him more at ease. I cleared my throat, deciding to question him a bit more. “Do you feel like she had bad intentions going to my club? Is that your concern?”
He shook his head. “No, that isn’t my concern. She was with my sister, and Avery has proven to go against me throughout the years. She also doesn’t make the best decisions. She still blames me for…” He pinched the bridge of his nose, cutting the sentence short.
“My wife wasn’t with my sister when I spotted her at your club. I just need to be sure of Mia’s whereabouts during that time. If she wasn’t with Avery, she had to be somewhere, and with me recently finding out this information about her, it’s hard for me to believe she decided to leave alone. It was an available window for her to make contact. I just don’t know for sure. I don’t have any proof.”
I nodded. “I can’t promise you results for that particular situation, because it was prior to our arrangement, but I’ll do my best to help you.”
“That’s all I’m asking. I will be grateful for whatever you find out.” He stood from his chair, walking up to me.
When he placed his hand on my shoulder, I flinched. The sudden curiosity that crossed his face didn’t go unnoticed. What was he thinking? Had I slipped up and said something to make him question his previous assumptions. Had I made him suspicious of something else? Myself? Mia?
I realized I was becoming paranoid and needed to keep my cool, retrace my steps and keep my composure. I had the resources and power to handle the situation. I had to keep things afloat until I made my move, until she was under my protection. She just had no clue as to what I had in mind when I told her not to worry. It would be better for everyone.
I removed his hand from my shoulder. He needed an understanding of where we stood, and physical touching required a level of friendliness. We were only acquaintances, needing each other for specific reasons. There was no need for us to pretend. I didn’t give a reason for my actions, but I nodded before departing the restaurant. The guards stepped aside when I made it to the door, their eye
s watchful and alert.
As I hit the busy sidewalk of downtown, I was confident I’d made myself clear with Alek. He wasn’t a friend. He was part of a past I couldn’t seem to shake, and unknowingly sleeping with his wife only made the situation worse. She was an unfortunate loose end I couldn’t stop thinking about. She was the woman my mother once warned me about. Mia just might be the woman behind my downfall. She was proving to be my weakness, and I was a man who couldn’t afford to be weak at any cost.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mia
I LOOKED IN THE bathroom mirror, trying to imagine what it would feel like to be truly happy, to be free. The longer I stayed married to Alek, the more caged I felt, but despite the suffocation and constraints, I still couldn’t find the strength to leave. Something was holding me back. It was something I couldn’t explain. Even with everything that had occurred, I still felt the need to stay.
Our relationship wasn’t natural. It felt staged, and even though I knew it was to a certain extent, I still longed for him to love me for who I truly was. I also knew that wasn’t even a possibility. How could he love someone he didn’t know? How could he love someone he apparently didn’t trust? When I tried to feel sorry for myself, I realized he had his reasons. I wasn’t sure what he knew, but he did know something. My unfaithfulness just added the list of reasons he had every right to doubt me, to shut me out.
Avery was standing in the foyer of the bathroom as I tried to remain calm for what I was about to do. We were at her apartment. She had no idea about the secret meeting I had planned, but that didn’t stop her face from being overtaken with concern. She was a nervous wreck, just like the night she found out I had cheated on her brother.
Her voice was low as she spoke. “Mia? Is this really necessary? You could get hurt if you’re spotted alone. What if the man who tried to kill my brother tries to kill you? Or tries to use you against him?”
I turned toward her, giving her a reassuring smile. It was difficult because I wasn’t ready to see this man again. All I could think about were his hard eyes not showing any amount of sympathy for me. He had been a man searching for answers, and sadly, didn’t have any to give him. There had been nothing to tell. I had made that clear a million times over.
I turned back to face the mirror before responding. Every time I was forced to lie to my best friend was hard for me to bear. She was always there for me, never pointing out the holes in my past that she could visibly see, never calling me out on the lies that poured out of my mouth.
“I know it’s a risk, but I just need a moment to be alone, to breathe. Even though he’s not hovering over me, I can still feel him watching me. It’s nerve-wracking,” I explained.
Avery shrugged, her eyes finding mine in the mirror. She wasn’t buying it. “I understand, Mia. However, I’m still uncomfortable with this. If something happens to you, and Alek finds out I was involved with helping you trick security, he’s going to disown me.”
I pleaded with her as she continued to study me in the mirror. I could see she was unsure and realized it was selfish of me to ask her to go along with another lie. Her and Alek’s relationship was already on thin ice. It had been for years and was something else I had been left in the dark about. Neither one of them felt I needed to know. I was stuck in the middle of the feud between my husband and my best friend.
“You’re right. I’ll just—” I began, but she interrupted me.
“But I’ve already given him enough trouble to force him to cut my security, and with me doing that, I highly doubt he’ll be granting you the same wish anytime soon. So, why the hell not?”
I quietly let out the breath I had been holding, suddenly realizing I had been secretly praying she would tell me no. With her covering for me once again, I didn’t have any more excuses to avoid him.
I picked up my purse from the counter, ignoring the slight nausea that washed over me. I couldn’t put it off anymore because I knew it all would eventually catch up with me. It had to be done. I needed to get the meeting over with. If I didn’t, it wouldn’t go away. It would only prolong the situation, and my nerves were rattled enough. Maybe this step would grant me just a little bit of peace.
Avery looked at me with concern in her eyes. “Are you okay? You suddenly don’t look like yourself, Mia. What’s wrong?”
I felt like she was implying something, but when I looked in the mirror, I noticed she was right. I brushed it off by providing her with a convincing lie.
“I think it was something I ate. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
She accepted my explanation, but I could tell she wasn’t satisfied with it. Friends knew things about each other, even when the other thought they were in the clear. I just prayed she didn’t know too much.
I walked past her into the living room, almost running to the door. If I waited too long, I would find another excuse to avoid him. Avery caught up with me quickly.
“Okay then, but if you want this to work, I need to see if this bodyguard of yours, Logan, is going to take the bait.”
I stopped in my tracks, letting her walk in the front of me. “Yeah, you’re right. He does seem like he might be difficult. He’s very devoted to his job.”
She gave me a short laugh. “You let me be the judge of that. I have a feeling Mr. Logan just might bite. I am irresistible, you know.”
I laughed at my friend’s confidence, but it was cut short by the realization of what she said before. That I didn’t look like myself.
I wondered about her comment as I followed her into the living room, watching her open the front door. Who was I, and why did I question myself? I quickly answered my question. It was because I wasn’t Mia at all. I never was. The woman who stared back at me was Alyssa Hall. No matter how many times I tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn’t escape the facts. I also knew the woman who had stared back at me wanted answers, and I knew if she dug deep enough, she would find them. The question was, was she ready to face them?
***
I stood outside a moment before walking into the discreet coffee shop. It was located in a small corner between two buildings, and if I hadn’t been there a few times before, I would’ve missed it. I clutched the strap of my purse as I finally found the courage to walk inside. It was a situation I thought I’d never have to face, but my life had proved to be unpredictable. I pushed open the glass doors, my eyes instantly spotting the person I was there to meet. He was sitting discreetly in the corner, looking through the paper. His eyes slowly found mine when he looked up. He gave me a quick smile, set the paper on the table, and stood up to pull out my chair as I quickly walked over. He had always been a gentleman. I carefully took a seat, my eyes traveling over his face, realizing he had aged quite a bit. It appeared nearly four years had taken its toll on him. He was much thinner, more frail.
“I wasn’t expecting to hear from you again, Mia. I figured with your new life and everything going for you, we wouldn’t have to cross paths again.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “I’m scared to ask what this is about.”
I sat my purse down, taking a deep breath. “Your phone number hasn’t changed.”
“No, it hasn’t, but I doubt that’s what you wanted to see me about.” He smiled.
I laughed at his bluntness. “Detective Anderson, have you heard anything about my father since we last spoke?”
We hadn’t seen each other in years, but we still spoke now and then. At first, it was concerning my mother’s case, but after we realized nothing would come of it and everyone was secretive about the things we did find out, it was mostly just to check up on each other. He was also the person who reminded me it wasn’t my fault. I had always wondered if I would’ve come home earlier if things would be different. I wondered if maybe she would still be alive. Maybe I could’ve saved her.
After I started seeing Alek, I had to cut ties altogether. It was too much of a risk. He was the second person I was forced to cut ties with because if I didn’t,
it would’ve been too dangerous. If I had kept in contact with him and my aunt, there would always be opportunities for them to accidentally slip up, share too much information. I wasn’t ready to reveal myself to my husband. I wasn’t prepared to reveal my identity to anyone who didn’t already know.
I wasn’t concerned about judgment, but sympathy. I preferred for people to treat me like I was normal. However, I realized after marrying Alek, in a vast ceremony he insisted on having, being in the spotlight with him constantly had been a mistake. I was dangling myself for someone to recognize me, out me. My husband’s questions in the beginning hadn’t gone unnoticed. He wanted to know if I had any secrets. I quickly convinced him that I didn’t. He wanted to know if I ever lied, promising if I had, he wouldn’t hold it against me and we could start fresh. It would be the beginning chapter for us.
He was a man who wanted a marriage full of honesty and trust. I promised him I could give both to him. I told him I wanted the same things in return. After it was said and done, I realized we had both lied. Which was why my meeting with Detective Anderson was necessary. I needed to prepare for when the truth about me was finally given to him—every truth. I needed to figure out how I would face him afterward and explain the reasoning behind my lies.
He took a sip of his coffee, stalling for time. He even glanced back down at the paper. I cleared my throat. I wasn’t amused. It was when I began to shift in my seat that he finally answered me.
“I don’t think you want to open up old wounds, Mia. It’s better if you just let them be. I’ll be honest and tell you, but it will only cause you pain in the end.” He looked at me carefully. “I can promise you that you’re better off not knowing. I think you should just live your life the best you can with everything that’s happened.”
I considered his advice, deciding it was too late. A simple life wasn’t in my cards. I had lost anything close to normal the night my mother was killed. The flashbacks. The nightmares. None of it was simple, and none of it was going away. I looked around the shop, relieved when I noticed we were the only ones there except for the barista behind the counter, and he was too far away to hear our conversation.
The Illicit Affairs Page 18