“Do you care to offer an explanation?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Will it make a difference?” I asked. My voice was broken and almost silent, because I already knew the answer. And it was echoed through my body before he’d even issued it.
“No. But I want to know how long you’ve been lying to me.”
“I haven’t—” I started.
“Bullshit!” he exclaimed. “Look, I know some of that article is rubbish. I’d be willing to overlook half the crap they’ve written. But Wood? How the hell could you not tell me about her trying to court you, goddammit?” He slammed his fist down on his desk on the last word. “I asked you outright and you lied to me.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’ve had a lot on my plate.”
He scoffed. “You’ve had a lot on your plate? I was supposed to be on a plane to Bahrain yesterday, but this—” He indicated the magazine. “—arrived. So instead of watching my loyal driver who doesn’t ruffle too many feathers actually make me money, I had to stay here and deal with you.” His voice was filled with such venom as he said the last word that I knew I was done for.
What was left of my career was fast flying away from me. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
He stood inches from me, his grey hair dishevelled and out of place. Clearly, he’d been working his hands through it repeatedly. “The worst part, Declan, is how many chances I’ve offered you. Any other owner probably would have kicked you off the team a hundred times by now, but I didn’t. I saw the value in you and offered you chance after chance. And this is how you repay me?”
I shook my head vehemently. “Can I please explain?” I asked.
“No.” He said the word with such finality. My career at Sinclair Racing was over and there was no room for negotiation.
Even though I wanted to explain, I didn’t push the issue. Instead, I bit my tongue and held back my tears as I handed over my security pass and other possessions. His words, his lack of forgiveness, had torn a fracture through my heart, but I couldn’t blame him. He was right. I’d been given so many chances, and I’d fucked up every one.
I fucking loved my job with the team. Despite it all, I was still Sinclair through and through. The entire way back out of the building though, my heart clenched with fear. There was every possibility that losing my job would be the least painful of the losses I would suffer as a result of the article. Alyssa could believe every word written and never want to see me again. She could take Phoebe out of my life, and because I wasn’t listed on the birth certificate there wouldn’t be a damn fucking thing I could do about it without fighting. Only now, I had no means with which to fight.
As I trudged through the foyer, with Danny following my every footstep, my anger grew. It wasn’t some fucking coincidence that there was a photographer at all of those events.
Someone had fucked me over big time.
Someone had taken everything precious in my life away, and I had no damn fucking clue who it was or why. All I wanted to do was destroy something—to rip something, or someone, apart with my bare hands. I waited under Danny’s watchful eye for a taxi. We stood in silence while I debated whether or not to say anything.
In the end, I turned to him right before climbing into the taxi and said, “Thank you, for the opportunity and for everything. I’m sorry I’m nothing but a fuck-up.”
I turned away before I could see the look on his face. Mostly because I didn’t want him seeing the tears in my eyes. For the first time since making my choice to go to Sydney, I had no idea what the fuck I was going to do with my life. I was facing my first night as an unemployed person with no future and no hope. Worse, I had no one I could talk to. No friend I could ask for help. It was just me. And that’s all it would be.
In my mind’s eye, I could already see Alyssa’s reaction to the article. To the sight of Eden and me on the hotel balcony in Brisbane.
I’d already had two chances to make things right with Alyssa—I didn’t deserve a third.
I threw my credit card at the taxi driver as I barked out my address. Trying to make it obvious I didn’t want to make small talk with him on the way home, I turned to face the passenger window.
Once he’d dropped me back at my house, I ran inside. I picked up the phone to call Alyssa. I had to explain about the magazine before she saw it and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Although I had no way of making her believe me, I had to try.
After I rang directory for her numbers, I phoned her house. When her home number rang out, and her mobile went straight to message bank, I rang Mum and begged for Ruth’s number again. I didn’t tell her what was happening though. She didn’t even know I’d gone home to Sydney, and I didn’t want to break her heart again.
My leg bounced as I waited for someone to pick up at the damn phone. Finally, I heard Ruth’s voice at the end of the line.
“Declan?” she asked when I’d said hello. “What the hell is going on?”
My heart sank. From the tone in her voice, and the fact that she’d cursed, it was clear she knew something.
“I have to talk to Alyssa,” I said uncertainly. I wasn’t sure what I would do if she refused to come to the phone. I couldn’t afford to waste money anymore, so I couldn’t exactly get a return flight in a hurry. I would probably have enough cash available to get me through to the end of the year, but then I would have to talk to my broker about liquidating some of my other stocks after that. Maybe the house too.
“She’s not here.”
“Where is she then? Can you please give me the number? It’s urgent. I need to talk to her.”
“No,” Ruth whispered. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” I demanded, ready to challenge any excuse.
“Because she isn’t here.”
“What?” My blood froze in my veins.
“She’s not here.” Ruth sobbed.
“Where is she?” I felt a shroud fall around my mind. I couldn’t process anything. Ruth’s quiet sobs only added to my stress. Where could Alyssa be when I needed her so desperately?
“Alyssa’s gone, Declan.”
My stomach plummeted. I needed to vomit. She couldn’t be gone, she just couldn’t be.
“Why?” I asked, my voice cracking halfway through the word.
“I don’t know. She called here a little over an hour ago, shouting about a magazine or something. I couldn’t get a straight answer out of her—except that she was leaving town. She hasn’t answered her phone since.”
“No,” I whispered, my brain refusing to believe Ruth’s words. “She can’t.”
“I’m sorry.” I heard the line click as Ruth hung up the phone.
“No!” I shouted to the empty room and silent phone. I yanked on the base for the phone, tossing it across the room. “She’s not gone! She can’t be!”
My voice fell as I repeated it again and again, trying to convince myself while knowing the truth. I’d hurt Alyssa too much this time—she was gone. Lost to me forever, right when I needed her the most.
I sank to the floor as the last of my sanity seeped away from me. I couldn’t believe it. Out of everything I’d experienced over the past few weeks, this was the worst. The life I’d convinced myself I could have, that I might even deserve, was over.
She was gone.
THE STORY CONTINUES IN
DECIPHER
DECLAN REEDE: THE UNTOLD STORY #3
MARCH 2016
Brake hard, jostle for position, and watch for the blind corner.
In a swirl of controversy, Declan Reede lost everything important to him. Now old temptations resurface, old battles reignite, and he has nothing left in reserve.
When a glimmer of hope is offered, Declan has to stand and fight for what he wants or he might just lose it all forever. How can he decipher the clues and get revenge on those who want to see him burn?
**Due to strong language and sexual content not intended for anyone under age of 18**
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Irwin has been many things in her life: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; a young girl willing to fight for the love of a vampire; and a time-travelling madman in a box. She achieved all of these feats and many more through her voracious reading habit. Eventually, so much reading had to have an effect and the cast of characters inside her mind took over and spilled out onto the page.
Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under with her surprisingly patient husband and ever-intriguing daughter, carving out precious moments of writing and reading time around her accounts-based day job. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes paranormal and fantasy romance.
Comments, questions, and suggestions for improvements are always welcome. You can reach me at [email protected] or through my website www.michelle-irwin.com. Thanks in advance for your correspondence.
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Deceive (Declan Reede: The Untold Story #2) Page 35