Roman-2(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(118)

Yeah, I’ll bet buddy. You want me at your freaking disposal. If you told me before I would have been long gone and you can’t handle the thought of not getting your way.

“You should have just been honest with me Devon. I’m a big girl you know, I can handle a lot more than you think.”

“I know, I just…forgive me imp.”

My eyes close on a sigh and my anger drains away, leaving me defeated and sad. Of course I forgive him. This situation is not entirely his fault, it’s mostly mine. I’d forced us both into this predicament by lying to myself and wanting something he warned me months ago he couldn’t give.

Of course he would tell me he loves me, what guy wouldn’t when faced with the threat of having his kid raised by another man? Not Devon, never Devon.

He takes family very seriously, something I should have factored in when I made myself a part of his life and started putting the screws to him.

Dammit!

“Look, why don’t you come home and we can discuss things. We can continue as we have been, we just need to talk things through. We can still go ahead with the wedding; we just have to work around our commitments and of course your father-”

So not happening asshole.

“No. I can’t do this. I won’t do this. I’m not coming back. The wedding is off.”





Chapter Twenty Five




Dev

Two hours later I am so frantic I can’t sit still and have just managed not to rip my office apart from sheer frustration.

I should have told her the truth about her father from the beginning instead of keeping things away from her, but coward that I am I’ve been trying to juggle my business and this situation while convincing the Slade’s that keeping their family in the dark is not the right move.

And then yesterday Gia had called and requested a meeting.

I’d refused at first since just the sound of her voice is enough to make me sick but some part of me had needed closure on that situation. We’d been together, had been prepared to marry for God’s sake-no, I wanted her to know that I’ve found someone who not only wants me and the lads but who loves us and wants to build a life with me, with all the noise and laughter and love she hadn’t been prepared to give.

I’d wanted to rub it in her face and show her what she’d thrown away. I wanted her to know that she wasn’t the love of my life and that no amount of beauty could trump the perfection I have now.

Yeah, I’d wanted to rub her face in it.

And then she’d dropped the bomb that her father has passed and left her his company and I’d felt so sorry for the pitiful woman I’d offered her comfort and set about finding her a cracker of a CEO to help her run the multibillion pound dinosaur that is Crafts, her father’s company and a money bleeding eyesore in today’s business world.

“What did you do mate? She was fine this morning when she left.” Davy accuses, giving me a death glare that’s hot enough to strip skin.

“I didn’t tell her about Brand. He’s sick and-”

“Nah mate, nah. Hun has a temper and I can see how she’d be pissed off you didn’t tell her but she wouldn’t pull a runner for that. She’d come home, kick you in the bollocks and then make you find a way to fix this. Something ain’t right.”

My phone rings and I answer before the second ring can come through, ready to demand some answers, okay, ready to beg when I hear a loud growl and cursing over the line.

“You better not have fucked another woman after telling my sister you loved her asshole. I just got an earful from my wife about seeing you touching some other chick and now I have to fly to Vegas to watch my scamp marry some asshole who likes it both ways! What the fuck did you do?”

Oh Jesus.

“I am not having an affair. I met with Gia to help her set up a meeting with John Buchannan. She needs a CEO to take over Crafts and-oh Christ. Imp saw me and thinks-”

“Yeah asshole and she threw a fit and went to-”

“Where the fuck is she!”

I’m panicking now, of course I am because I realize that the conversation we had was not about my omission about her father but about her seeing me with Gia and Jesus! I’d bloody well made it sound like I am having an affair and that I basically want an open marriage and-

“Vegas asshole. She caught a plane to Vegas with that chump Dillon and she said we could get there and watch her get married or we can miss out. You better fix this.”

I don’t hardly hear the rest of it because I’m already running for the door, Davy and Ry hot on my heels.

***

I make it to Las Vegas, just barely holding on to my sanity by a thread and though Lila is still spitting mad I managed to calm Grey enough to get the truth and the details out of her.