Double Betrayal (Surviving Book 3)

by Frost, Ada

  A knock sounded at the door, I held my hand over my stomach as nervous butterflies took flight. I checked my reflection in the mirror one more time and sucked in a calming breath.

  I opened the door and my breath stalled in my throat, Will looked breathtaking. He had on a tailored charcoal suit with a pale grey shirt and silver tie. His blond hair was combed back into a neat style. He looked good enough to eat. His gaze tracked down my body like a gentle caress.

  “You look stunning, Emily.” The gruff timbre of his voice caused me to shiver.

  “So do you.”

  He stepped over the threshold into the house and held out a single lily for me.

  “Thank you.” I suddenly felt incredibly shy. But when he ducked his head and pressed his lips to mine, all shyness aborted my body and heat flooded me. I reached out and stroked my hand down his silk tie.

  “You taste like cherry,” he whispered against my lips.

  “Lip gloss.” I stepped back and walked through the lounge into the kitchen to place my flower in water.

  “Before we go, I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Hmm,” I said distractedly. My body was still tingling from his kiss.

  “Em!”

  I turned at his insistent tone.

  “It’s about Izzy.”

  I frowned, not liking the serious look in his eyes. “What about her?”

  “I want to give you the money to take Rhea to court – ”

  I started shaking my head adamantly.

  “Emily, I have the money, you need it. Take it and talk to Jack, fight for custody of her.”

  “It isn’t that simple, Will. Rhea is her mum. Do you know that over ninety percent of custody battles are won by the mother? That’s against the biological father; I'm her aunt. I don’t stand a chance.”

  “So you would rather put Izzy through shit rather than do something about it, because you’re scared?” I gasped at his words. I knew there was some truth in them, but I would never purposely hurt Izzy.

  “Of course I'm scared. What we have is fine. Rhea leaves Izzy alone most of the time. She isn’t interested in her.”

  “Yeah, seems that way. That’s why you and Jack have played bodyguard for the past few weeks.” My blood boiled at his sarcastic tone.

  “This is a phase—”

  “She’s vindictive and will use Izzy to get to you. She wants us to split up, Emily; that’s why she’s doing this.”

  “What?”

  “She threatened me, said if I didn’t dump you, she would take Izzy from you.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” I hated that I sounded so weak, but his words were slicing me open. Wounds from years ago festered and wept; it was Jack and I all over again.

  “Because I thought it was bullshit,” he snapped.

  “She will get bored.”

  “Why risk it? I have the money to put the best lawyer on the case. Let me help you.”

  “I don’t want your money, Will,” I growled. He stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at me. I stared back, matching his stance. I was an independent woman; I didn’t need a white knight to save me, or Izzy.

  “Stop being stubborn and think about Izzy.”

  I fisted my hands by my sides to stop from exploding at him. “That’s all I ever do. Don’t tell me how to be a parent—”

  “You’re not her parent though, are you?”

  I staggered back; those words sliced through me causing internal pain.

  “I didn’t mean it like that.” He stepped toward me and I held out my hands, warning him away. “You’re scared, I get that, but you can’t allow Rhea to keep putting Izzy through this.”

  “I don’t allow anything. I protect her. You know nothing about caring for a child. You abandoned your family.” As soon as those words left my mouth, I wanted to pull them back in. I was biting back without thought, and the look of agony that crossed his face gutted me.

  “I think that’s slightly fucking different. Take the money, Emily; stop being so proud.”

  “So what, we fuck for a while and you think you owe me severance?” Emily stop your verbal diarrhoea, I chided myself.

  “What? You’ve gone insane, woman. I'm trying to help my girlfriend, as stubborn as she is.”

  “I don’t need your help. Izzy and I are perfectly fine as we are. We are a team, you – ”

  “I'm what?”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Can we please just go? I bought this especially.” I motioned to my dress. The last thing I expected tonight was an argument. And yes, I was likely being more than unreasonable, but I didn’t want nor need Will to swoop in giving me money to support Izzy. I would have taken it from my brother’s first.

  “So, you can spend money on a fancy-ass dress but not on fighting for a kid you claim to love. Rhea will take Izzy if we keep seeing each other; stop being selfish and take the goddamn money.”

  “Fuck you!” I bellowed. Where the hell did he get off talking to me like that? “We are not your responsibility. I don’t need nor want your money. What? You think I'm this poor, pathetic woman who saw the fancy suits and thought I’d fuck my way into his wallet. Well guess what, I'm not a prostitute.”

  “I'm trying to help you, Emily.”

  “I don’t need your help; I never asked for it. We were doing fine before you came along.”

  He jerked his head back as if I had slapped him. He appeared to consider my words before looking directly at me with saddened eyes.

  “You know what? You’re right.” He turned away from me and stormed out of the house. I jumped when the front door slammed shut. Like a fool, I stared sightlessly at the empty room.

  “What the hell just happened?” I muttered to myself.

  I walked into the lounge and slumped down onto the sofa. How had such a wonderful, exciting evening turned to shit so quickly? My heart hurt thinking how he walked away and the horrible words we had thrown at one another. I wasn’t a confrontational person, and I certainly didn’t aim to hurt people purposely.

  I grabbed my phone from the coffee table.

  Me: I'm sorry we argued.

  I pressed send and waited for a response, but after an hour, I knew nothing was coming back. I went to bed with a heavy heart and curled up on my bed, wishing my giant was wrapped around me.

  ***

  A week passed by and Will still hadn’t answered my calls or text messages. I’d been over to his flat a couple of times, and either he wasn’t there or refused to answer the door because I saw nothing of him. I’d even resorted to contacting Lou to see if she could get him to talk to me. I was beginning to feel a little like a stalker. At work, Johan avoided me like the plague, and when I’d spoken to Lou, she changed the subject every time I mentioned Will. My intention wasn’t to involve his family, but when they were my best friends, what was I supposed to do?

  Cas: If you’re still looking for your fella, he’s at Phil’s

  I smiled when I read my brother’s text message.

  Me: OMW.

  I ran up the stairs and changed into a cute little outfit, my favourite red skater dress. It hugged my curves and flared around my thighs. I pulled the band out of my hair and let it falls in soft waves over my shoulder. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do for now. I put some cherry lip gloss on and smiled at my reflection. I wasn’t catwalk worthy, but I was ready to claim my man back and apologise for being a bitch.

  I opened the door to Phil’s, feeling a little nervous. Immediately, I spotted Phil at the end of the bar glaring toward the other end of the club. When I followed his line of sight, I saw exactly why. Will, my Will was sitting at the bar with a woman. A tall, curvaceous woman who was laughing at something he was saying. His posture was perfectly relaxed as he leaned his elbows on the wooden bar top; a beer bottle hung between his finger and thumb as he smiled at his companion. I saw the moment he sensed or realised I was watching him. His broad shoulders stiffened and slowly he craned his neck to glance over
his shoulder at me. A sad smile graced his lips before he dismissed me and gave his full concentration to the woman now vying for his attention. So this was why he wasn’t returning my calls; he’d found someone else. His guest had stepped closer to him. He made no move to face her, but the fact he dismissed me so readily for her was enough to tear me apart. She leaned toward him and whispered something against the side of his face. He leaned away slightly before a huge flirtatious grin brightened his face. I’d seen that smile so many times. He glanced over his shoulder again, just as the woman reached out and cupped his chin. I swallowed back the sick tears clogging my throat. I took a step forward and stumbled as my legs turned to jelly. I wasn’t that woman, that stumbling fool. I was strong. I grasped onto the nearest thing to steady me. I kept my eyes trained on Will; it was like watching a horror movie unfold in front of me. A man shifted behind him and said something in his ear; I noticed then that Ryan was sitting behind him, along with Johan. I bit my lip when it started trembling. They knew. Lou and Johan both knew what was going on. That was why they were acting so weird; they knew Will had ended things and moved on. Pain slashed through me as I realised I’d been the butt of their secret conversations. The warnings had been there and I was too stupid to see them.

  Will’s emerald eyes found me again. A slow smile spread across his face before it disappeared, almost like he forgot for a moment he had dumped me. I continued toward him, consumed by some sick twisted need to hear his it’s not you, it’s me speech. I paused again when her hand slid slowly up into his hair. He grasped her wrist quickly and tugged it away before placing it on the bar and covering it with his. He leaned toward her, and keeping his eyes trained on me, his lips moved against her ear. I paused a few feet away.

  I need to sort something out before we leave.

  The bastard knew I could lip read, and if anything was purposeful and meant to hurt, it was that. He was slaying me, slashing me open and publicly murdering my heart. I stood helplessly, destroyed, in the middle of the bar staring at him. Letting him rip my heart to pieces, I couldn’t move. I froze in place, allowing the man I’d fallen completely in love with to destroy me. I’d handed him the power to hurt me, and he was assassinating me - publicly. Tears blurred my vision. I blinked rapidly, trying my damnedest to fight against it. But it was of no use. I stared helplessly at my giant as he made love to another woman with his gorgeous smile and beautiful eyes.

  I glanced behind him to see both Ryan and Johan watching my downfall. Ryan wasn’t an issue. I didn’t know him enough to care, but Johan was my friend, or I thought he was. Blood is thicker than water, and both my best friends had stayed silent. My body started shaking as I tried so hard to keep myself in check, when inside I was completely broken. My lip trembled and my eyes stung with tears. I blinked, causing the first tears to fall. I frantically glanced around, searching for someone – anyone—to be in my corner, to support me. To stand by me. Like an idiot, I stood glancing around the club, feeling a complete and utter loser, when I caught sight of my brothers. Acis looked about ready to commit murder, but Cas – he was holding him back. My own brother stood by and watched me fall apart. With a suffering sigh, he walked toward me, releasing Acis.

  “L-l-let’s g-g-get y-you h-h-home,” Castor said, sliding his arm around my waist. I nodded, letting the tears finally fall. I wanted to ask him why he wasn’t kicking the crap out of Will, or at least trying; he usually would for much less than this. Not that I wanted that, but usually what I wanted with my brothers wasn’t always what I got. I glanced once more over my shoulder at my giant, and said a final farewell. He was staring at me. His smile had disappeared completely; his jaw was set like granite. The woman was now standing a few feet away with a confused look on her face. Johan stood and started walking toward me. I turned in my brother’s arms and picked up the pace. I couldn’t stomach talking to him right now. The cold was a welcome slap to my daze as we walked outside; the tears on my face were like icicles.

  “I’m sorry,” Castor signed as we dashed across the car park to my car.

  “Me, too.”

  “I thought –”

  “He fooled me, too, Cas. I fell in love with him.”I pointed to my chest and offered him a watery smile. “Idiot, here,” I said through tears.

  “No,” Cas argued strongly. “L-love m-makes us f-fools.” He sighed and lifted his hands to talk. “It’s for the best. Hold on to that thought.”

  “I want to go home.” I scowled at the fool. How was having my heart ripped out for the best? I’d trusted him. I tried to hide the sob in my voice, but the hard set of his jaw was a clear indicator I’d failed.

  “Do you want to go see Izzy?”

  He stopped signing when I shook my head. “I need to learn to be alone.” I tried to smile, but the trembling in my lips and chokehold of emotion in my throat made it more of a grimace. I’d become too reliant on other people. I needed cold Emily back, the bitch with bite.

  “Em –”

  “Emily!” Johan shouted as he ran out of the club. Castor was around me, blocking Johan’s view of me. “I’m so sorry.”

  I pulled on Castor’s arm, knowing he would punch Johan simply for knowing about tonight, and I didn’t want that. Not at all. But when Cas made no move to attempt to hurt Johan, I released him. I stared at my brother’s back, not understanding his behaviour at all. It wasn’t like I couldn’t take care of myself, but the annoying duo usually planted themselves smack in the middle of my business.

  “Go back inside, Johan.” I pulled on Castor’s arm again and opened the car door. “Cas, please.” At my pleading tone, my brother stepped back and started to fold himself into the car. I walked around to the driver’s side.

  “Em, please listen –”

  “No. You let me walk into that, Johan. You and Lou both. I thought you were my friends.”

  “I am; we are.”

  “No, not anymore. You made your choice to stand beside your brother while he broke my heart. I sat beside Lou when you broke hers; I had faith in you to make it right. I believed in you both. I trusted you.”

  “Em, please.”

  “You just watched as your brother broke me; he publicly humiliated me, Johan. Friends don’t do that. I’d rather… I’d rather be…alone than –” A sob burst from me and I covered my face as I opened the car door. “Goodbye, Johan.”

  I slammed the door on my only friends and tried not to suffocate on my tears. I dropped Castor at his house and begged him to let me alone that night. I needed one night alone to cry myself into oblivion before I gathered myself back together.

  I walked into my dark house, not caring to turn the lights on. I walked up the stairs into my bedroom. I switched the lamp on and stared at my reflection in the mirror. “Nothing ever lasts, Emily. Nothing is forever.” But why the hell did my heart wish it was? I let the dress fall in a pile to the floor.

  I crawled between the cold sheets and was immediately wrapped in the memory of Will. I closed my eyes, feeling the pain surge through me. I couldn’t escape him even in my own room. I pulled the pillow he’d used tight against me and cried silently against it. My chest burned with desperation as I wept. I purged my heart of the pain; I cried until my eyes dried and my body was exhausted. I promised myself the day we buried Clara, I wouldn’t allow anyone the power to break me, but stupidly, I had trusted a beautiful giant and he’d shattered me.

  I pulled three beers from the fridge and handed one to Ry as he sat at the breakfast bar, then slowly walked around the couch to Jo. I held out the beer and he lifted his blue gaze to mine and glared at me. He didn’t make any move to take the bottle, so I placed it on the table in front of him.

  “Lucky Mom and Dad flew back home last week or we’d all be sleeping on the floor,” I joked to try and break the tense silence between us. I was used to putting a smile on my face when in reality I wanted to snap and snarl. Being a lawyer sometimes came with a dose of acting skills. It earned me another icy stare from both Ry and Jo thi
s time. “It was the right thing to do –”

  “How the fuck is humiliating the woman you love the right thing to do? Hmm? Tell me, because I have no idea how that transpires into common fucking sense.” Jo stood, towering over me. I had never seen him so angry. “You destroyed her, Will; you were cruel and completely out of order.”

  “It was the –”

  “You were a coward. Nothing more, nothing less. You should have gone to her house, talked to her, and fucking broken it to her gently, you prick. There’s no excuse for what you did, none.” His words pierced through me and I gulped at the pain radiating through me. “Did you see her, I mean really see her? I’ve never seen anyone in so much fucking pain.”

  “What choice did I have?”

  “What choice did you give Emily? You were a fucking coward. You could have talked to her, explained what Rhea said, explained things needed to end between you. Maybe open your goddamn mouth and instead of being a pussy, owned up to why you were breaking her heart.”

  “She wouldn’t have listened. Where are you going?” I asked as he stormed away from me.

  “Bed,” he snapped, yanking the door open.

  “But –”

  “Lou kicked me out because you were too much of a pussy to talk to your girlfriend. You’re an idiot, and right now, I want to punch you in the face. It is your fault I’m stuck here with your sorry ass; I’m taking the bed. And you better hope and pray my woman forgives me soon.”

  He slammed the door and I felt the jolt in my chest. I stared at the closed door, shocked silent.

  “You ready to admit you were wrong?”

  “No, because I wasn’t wrong,” I argued, but doubt seeped into my bones. I could still see the broken look in my girl’s eyes. A look I had caused.

  “Yes, you were, and you know it. You could have talked to her, explained –”