Eye for an Eye (Take a Chance Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  “How could I do this to him?” I cry out, pulling at my hair. “I would hate me too.”

  Rebecca doesn’t look up from her computer, too enthralled by what she is working on. Secretly, I know she’s waiting until I get it all out.

  My attention is pulled to the huge whiteboard she has set up in front of the white glass conservatory doors. It has a timeline of Andrew’s business dealings and meetings with clients.

  She added a list of potential places he could be hiding blackmail material.

  I can’t fault her organisation skills or how proficient she has become at this.

  The one thing on the board that stands out to me and has me gritting my teeth is the picture she has of Andrew. It’s one she found on Google of him at a Gala event.

  Just seeing his face has cramps hitting my stomach.

  Beginning my pace again, I let my thoughts drift back to Wyatt. He is what’s important here. He is who I want to protect.

  “You’re making me feel sick,” she moans, collapsing back into a more comfortable position.

  I come to a sudden stop, twisting on my feet to see her pale features. “Are you okay? You do look a little pale.”

  If I was a good friend, I would have noticed it earlier. Now, looking back, she did look a little green when I arrived, like she had been sick.

  “Yeah, I’ve just got an iffy stomach. I had a Balti last night and it hasn’t agreed with me.”

  I twist my fingers together, biting my lip. “I’m sorry. I’ve been prattling on while you aren’t feeling well and you’re doing all the work.”

  “I don’t mind. It’s keeping me busy. With work being slow, it’s nice to have a challenge,” she explains, moving the laptop off her lap and onto the sofa next to her. “And to answer your mutterings, you aren’t a cruel person. You didn’t go in there planning to hurt them. You said it yourself, you hadn’t expected Andrew to know you had actually got the job. You assumed he thought you didn’t get it.”

  I park my arse down on the oak coffee table, sitting on a pile of papers. “I know, but will he understand that? I don’t want to lose him.”

  Her smile is sad. “You love him.”

  Tears gather in my eyes and I try to hold them back. “With my whole heart. I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much. He’s managed to worm his way inside and he’s everywhere. I can’t imagine my life without him in it,” I admit, letting out a sigh. “What am I going to do? I don’t want to lose him.”

  “I’ve got to admit, I never saw you both becoming this close. It’s a hard situation to be in, anyone can see that, but what he has to remember is you’re a good person. Yes, it wasn’t good keeping it from him, but no good would have come from telling him either. You needed to be there to make a difference.”

  “And what difference have I made? We’ve not even managed to wreck any of his contracts or keep him away from the Hayes.”

  “Has he done something else?”

  “No, but in my gut, I can feel it coming. He wants that memory stick and he isn’t going to let them keep it for much longer.”

  “Have they got into it?”

  I shrug, placing my elbows on my thighs. “I’m not entirely sure. They said this Liam guy was working on it for them. I did overhear them the other day saying something should be done any day now. That could have been about the memory stick.”

  She runs her fingers through her hair. “God, I hate that you even have to go through this. I’m sorry, bab.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I’m still sorry. But I am here for you. Always.”

  “I know,” I whisper, my gaze cast down. “Now, how do I tell the man I’m in love with, who said he loves me too, about all of this?”

  “I have a plan. I’ve made files on this memory stick,” she explains, pointing to her laptop. “It’s not much, but I’ve managed to compile a list of clients, a list of his meetings, and make a copy of the address book he had at the back of the diary. My guess is that’s why he never threw this diary away. It would also explain why the pages are so crinkled. He probably didn’t want them stored on his phone or computer, where they could be traced.

  “I’ve also compiled a timeline of where he has been over the last year and what we think he got by blackmailing his peers. It’s just a shame we have no clue what blackmail he used or what his other business dealings are.

  “We aren’t even sure what we are looking for, but maybe it’s enough to hand over to the Hayes for them to find something,” she tells me, letting out a breath. “Take this with you and get Wyatt alone. Tell him everything, and I mean everything. Start from the very first memory of Andrew, to how you felt up to this point in your life, and then announce your father is Andrew Black. It will give him a chance to absorb how you feel towards him, how much you loathe him and how badly he’s treated you your whole life.”

  I run my sweaty palms over my jeans, leaning back a little. “I hope this works. Because if it doesn’t, I’m going to lose him, and honestly, I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

  “You’ve got this, bab. And if he’s not who you think he is, then he wasn’t worth your time. You are a good person with an incredibly kind soul. If he doesn’t see that, he’s an arsehole. You didn’t do what you did by choice but loving him was something you did choose.”

  “It’s not just him though. It’s his family. If by any chance he does forgive me, they probably won’t, especially Jaxon. They stick together, and this situation will be no different. He will leave me for them.”

  “But you are looking at this like you’re the bad person in the scenario. You aren’t. They’ve witnessed first-hand how ruthless Andrew can be. They should be able to understand where you were coming from and why you kept it from them.”

  “I really hope so,” I reply, letting out a sigh. “Every time his mum or sister does something sweet, it tears me up inside. Whenever any of them do something. Because I feel like I’m a spy invading their home and they have no clue. And I know you’re right; I’m not the bad guy here. But I’m also not the good guy either. I went about this the wrong way and I got sucked in, wanting to help.”

  “That’s my fault too. You wanted to tell them from the start, and I wouldn’t let you. You can’t take all the blame here. And if they want to say something, they can say it to my face because I’ll give them what for if they’re going to be pricks to you.”

  Getting up, I pick her laptop up from the sofa before sitting down where it was and placing the laptop down on my lap.

  “Did you put all the locations on here too?”

  “For where we think other blackmail material will be?”

  “Yeah.”

  She nods. “I did.”

  “I know Andrew can’t take their business away from them, not now they’ve agreed to take that donation for a new build, but this eases my mind. If they do push me out of their lives, at least I’ll go knowing they’ll have leverage.”

  It’s hard to get the words out. The truth gets stuck in my throat like a golf ball because it’s going to hurt when it ends.

  I thought I was prepared for this day to come because it was always going to happen, no matter the outcome between me and Wyatt. I just didn’t expect it to be this hard. I’m not going to just lose the man I’m deeply in love with, but a family who have taken me in, treated me as one of their own and made a place for themselves in my heart.

  “Then let’s get to work so you can get back and tell your man everything,” she orders, before turning to me, her expression serious. “But remember, if everything goes to shit, I’ll be here for you. We can arrange a time for you to call me, and if you don’t, I’ll come looking for you.”

  The pit of my stomach begins to turn, and I place a hand over my belly, feeling nothing but dread. “Deal.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  WYATT

  I can’t wipe the grin off my face. Never before did I think I’d be this settled with a woman, with someo
ne who got me, my family, and fell into a rhythm like she had always been there. Because that’s how it feels. She is a part of the family now and I never want that to change. I can’t imagine finding anyone else I feel so at home with, someone I picture spending my life with and raising a family with.

  Evie is it for me.

  She is my Lily.

  Now I just have to get her to stay here with us and not go to Rebecca’s. I understand why she wants to go. I respect her independence and won’t take that away from her. It doesn’t mean I have to like it though. Wanting her to be taken care of isn’t wrong. She has spent most of her life taking care of herself and her mum. She deserves to be pampered, to be shown life isn’t that complicated.

  “You have a big grin on your face,” Reid comments, swaggering into the room. “Get laid?”

  Any other time, I would have told him to ‘fuck off’, but nothing can dampen my mood.

  “I’m thinking someone realised he’s in love with the girl,” Jaxon muses from where he’s perched at his desk.

  “Definitely,” I admit, still grinning like a mad fool.

  “Where is she today?”

  “She said she had some things to do with Rebecca,” I explain, watching as Eli’s head pops up from his computer to listen.

  Something happened between him and Rebecca because he has been acting weird since that Sunday he got back from hers. Well, I’m assuming it was her house he stayed at.

  “What were they doing?” Eli asks.

  I shrug, not caring. I get to see her in less than an hour. “Not sure. She wouldn’t say.”

  Jaxon’s phone begins to ring, and once he sees the name on the screen, he quickly stands, answering it. “Did you unlock it?” he asks in greeting, turning to glance at me, his eyebrows pulling together. “Yeah, we have a free afternoon to catch up on paperwork. We can run by now if you are in your office. Alright. See ya in a bit.”

  When he ends the call, staring down at his phone, I tense. “Is everything okay?”

  “Liam has decrypted most of the memory stick. He wants us to go there as there’s something on it we need to see.”

  “About our company?” Eli asks, on alert.

  Jaxon shakes his head. “He didn’t say. Just that it should be kept between us that he’s unlocked it.”

  “Let’s go then,” I demand, pushing my chair back and getting up.

  All our heads turn in the direction of tyres crunching on gravel outside the office. Three doors slam shut, and I turn to Jaxon, arching an eyebrow.

  He shrugs. “Could be a client.”

  It can’t be one of the others because they aren’t due back for another hour or so.

  The door opens, and to my utter surprise and shock, Andrew Black steps inside, looking cool and collected as his gaze scans the building with distain.

  Jaxon pushes away from his desk, his nostrils flaring as his eyes flash with unmitigated fury.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Jaxon snarls as two men flank Black.

  I rush over to Jaxon, putting my hand to his chest, and push him back, walking with him. Keeping my voice low, I mutter, “He wants you to attack him. Calm down.” Noticing Eli and Reid standing behind Jaxon, I give them a silent warning, knowing they heard what I said. “You too.”

  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Black is hoping one of us will attack him. Even with his posse at his back, he doesn’t stand a chance. The burly guy on the left who looks like his jaw is made of stone would still be easy to take down. The big ones always are.

  “I’ll ask you again, Black. What the fuck are you doing here?”

  Black smirks, shoving his hands into his pockets. “That is how you greet me?”

  “Did you want the red carpet and some champagne?” Reid asks sweetly, before his lips twist into an ugly snarl. “Because you’ve come to the wrong fucking place. We wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire.”

  He rebuffs Reid’s remark, his gaze going to Evie’s desk, something familiar flashing in his eyes that I don’t like.

  “Let’s cut the pleasantries. You have something of mine and I want it back.”

  “Your wife left last night,” Reid comments, before smirking. “Don’t worry, she enjoyed it.”

  Black grits his teeth, his clenched hands dropping to his sides. “Grow up,” he snaps, before his gaze turns to Jaxon. “I’ve made it clear that I can make your life hell. It would be in your best interests to give me what I want.”

  “We don’t have anything that belongs to you, Black, so before you think about coming around here again and making idle threats, you should Google pigs,” Jaxon orders, taking a step forward. “Did you know they eat everything?”

  “I’m not sure what you’re implying,” Black stammers.

  It’s Jaxon’s turn to smirk. “Just a friendly reminder that we will only be pushed so far. Accidents happen around farms, and pigs… well, they are the best way of clearing up those accidents.”

  “Are you threatening me?” Black barks, before turning to the burly guy on his right. “Did you hear that threat?”

  The guy in question uncrosses his arms, his voice sharp when he answers. “Yes, sir.”

  “Jesus,” Reid snaps. “Just get on with your threats so we can get on with our day, please. At this rate, dinner will be ruined. And you don’t want to see our mum pissed when her boys don’t eat what’s on the plate.”

  “You let him speak for you?” Black asks, his gaze never wavering from Jaxon’s.

  “We speak for ourselves. Now, I’m going to ask you to leave.”

  “I’ll be going. This was just a… friendly warning. I’ll be back to collect within the week and if it’s not here by then, I’ll take matters into my own hands, Mr Hayes, and you’ll not like the consequences.”

  “No, Mr Black, it’s you who won’t. Your little stunt could have gotten a few people killed. That requires consequences, and you will face them,” Jaxon threatens.

  “Will I?” he asks, looking too smug for my liking.

  “Leave, and don’t come back,” Jaxon warns.

  “I’ll be back, Mr Hayes, and I expect you to have what I want.”

  “Why not demand it now?” Eli asks, watching Black closely.

  He flusters for a moment, his mouth opening and closing before his eyes narrow into slits. “One, that device cannot be opened by anyone but me. I’ve been assured of that. But I would still like it back.”

  “What device?” Eli bluffs.

  Black’s face reddens to the point veins are bulging at his temples. I inwardly grin, liking the effect we have on him.

  “You know what device. I know you have it.”

  “How?” I ask, and when his angry gaze slices to mine, a knowing, smug expression crosses his face.

  I don’t know how, or why, but something inside of me is telling me to get him out. It’s a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can’t describe, only that I know it’s going to be bad.

  “Well, my loving daughter told me of course.”

  “Your daughter?” Jaxon asks, as tension runs up my spine.

  Black’s gaze doesn’t move from mine as a wide smile spreads across his face. “Please send my love to Evelyn,” he tells me, before giving a nod to his posse.

  His back turns to me and I come unglued, rushing towards him, but I’m intercepted by Jaxon on the way. He pushes me back, but I fight him, shoving him away, trying to get to Black.

  “You fucking liar. You stay away from Evie.”

  “Her name is Evelyn,” he snaps, his lips curling. Only someone with a personal attachment to the person would acknowledge a name in that manner.

  He knows her.

  But is he her dad?

  I stagger backwards, shaking my head in disbelief. “Her dad is dead.”

  His eyes burn fanatically. “A part of her cover.”

  Hearing the lie on his tongue, I know he was telling the truth about being her father. I stagger backwards, not car
ing that he’s seeing me this vulnerable. I must look feral to him because he scampers out of the office. I turn to Jaxon, the emotions burning within me.

  “Let’s talk to Evie first,” he grits out.

  My jaw hurts from clenching my teeth, but I manage to form words. “Ring Liam. Ask him if that’s what he wanted to tell us.”

  “Wyatt,” Jaxon starts, his voice low, calm.

  “Fucking ring him!” I roar, pushing him away from me.

  She betrayed me. All this time she was playing me, playing all of us, and we fell for it. That sick, twisted bitch let me fall in love with her and lied about loving me.

  She’s good. I’ll give her that.

  Jaxon steps away, holding his phone out to show me he’s listening. I begin to pace, gripping the ends of my hair.

  Every touch, every kiss, every moment was a lie. A manic laugh escapes me at the memory of her being at The Ginn Inn. I should have known something was up then. I’ve spent my adult life going into that pub and never once saw her in there. She was conveniently there that night. She probably played hard to get at the start, knowing it would draw me in.

  Fuck!

  It explains why she was still here after the fire. That slut was waiting to make sure her daddy finished the job.

  I storm over to my desk, swiping all the contents over the floor. “Fuck!”

  I hear Jaxon end the call and I can see it on his face. He is livid, pale, and a flash of concern is there, but I reckon that’s more for me than anything else.

  “She fucking played me,” I yell, swiping her bowl off her desk, sweets flying and the bowl smashing into tiny pieces around the office.

  Reid snorts. “She had me fooled too.”

  “Everyone fucking fools you,” I retort, wanting to smash something up.

  “Bro,” he murmurs, wounded.

  She can’t get away with this.

  I did everything I could for her. I gave her a home when she lost hers. Another manic laugh escapes me, and I turn to Jaxon, feeling my eyes burn. “I bet losing her home was a part of the plan to come in and get more information on us.”

  “Bro, I really think we should speak to Evie.”