This Man Confessed(146)

“Has he?” I swing my eyes upward. “Have you?”

He almost rolls his eyes, like he thinks I’m stupid for not seeing something was amiss myself. “I know a man in the shit, Ava.”

“Oh,” I whisper. This is too much. I feel exhausted. “Can we go home?” I ask.

“I’m sorry.” Jesse pulls me up from his chair and does a quick scan of my body and face. “I’ve neglected you.”

“I’m fine, just tired.” I sigh and pull my depleted form over to Dan. “When are you leaving?” I sound short and stroppy, but I can’t help it. I know exactly why Jesse is doing this, and it’s not just to keep Dan quiet. That was an essential add-on when needed. He’s doing it, first, because he won’t risk the Australian mafia turning up in London, and second, because he knows I’ll be a wreck if anything happens to Dan, which is highly likely if Jesse doesn’t get him out of the diabolical situation that the idiot has got himself into.

“Tonight.” Dan stands. “They’ll be on their way over if I’m not back by Thursday, so I guess this is good-bye for a while.”

“You weren’t going to tell me you were leaving?” I ask.

“I would have called you, kiddo.” I can sense his shame, but it doesn’t ease the hurt. “I’m not your favorite man anymore,” he adds on a smile. I’m not going to disagree. He’s not. He always was, even during my relationships with Matt and Adam, but not anymore. My favorite man is currently holding my tired body up and massaging my tummy with his comforting touch.

“Take care.” I force a smile.

“Can I?” he asks for Jesse’s permission with his arms open, stepping forward.

“Sure.” Jesse hand reluctantly leaves my stomach, but he still holds me until Dan has me in his embrace.

I don’t want to, but I do. I let a few tears escape and soak into Dan’s jacket as I return his tight clinch. “Please be careful,” I beg.

“Hey, I’ll be fine.” He holds me at arm’s length. “I can’t believe your husband owns a sex club.”

I smile as he rids my cheeks of tears with his thumb and kisses my forehead. “Look after her.” Dan puts his hand out to Jesse, who takes it without even a snort of disgust at my brother’s insulting demand. He just nods and reclaims me before Dan has fully released me.

“You can tell them the money will land in their account before the week is out. You have the proof.” Jesse’s fingers work through my hair softly as he speaks. “And no trouble when you leave.”

I know what that means, but I don’t know what the proof is. My washed-out mind is too exhausted to even ask. I watch as Dan nods his acceptance and then strides out of Jesse’s office, not looking back.





Chapter Twenty-nine



I want to show you something,” Jesse says as he collects me from the car outside Lusso. “Do you want me to carry you?” I don’t know why he’s asked me because I’m draped across his arms before the question registers in my useless brain.

“What do you want to show me?” I ask, resting my head on his suit-covered shoulder. These are the first words I have spoken since watching Dan leave Jesse’s office, and not because I haven’t been spoken to. I couldn’t even muster up the strength to growl a warning at Sarah as we passed her in the entrance hall of The Manor. She smiled awkwardly, refrained from laying her wandering hands all over Jesse and stepped back, almost warily, like she was fully expecting a backlash from me. The surprise was clear when I ignored her presence, choosing to walk on and leave Jesse to talk business with her. And I know that’s all it was and all it ever will be. Business.

“You’ll see.” He strides into the foyer of Lusso, and I smile when I hear Clive’s cheerful voice. He’s not as easy on the eye as our new concierge, but I’ll always favor Clive’s ageworn and jolly face, rather than Casey’s fresh, pretty one.

“Congratulations!” he chants. I’m not surprised. Either Jesse really has broadcasted it, or Cathy’s been getting excited. “Wonderful news!” His voice is getting closer as I’m carted across the marble toward the elevator. “Let me get that for you, Mr. Ward.” He jumps in front of Jesse and pushes in the code for the penthouse lift.

“Thanks, Clive.” Jesse sounds just as cheerful.

“Very good, Mr. Ward, very good. You look after yourself, Ava.” His instruction is stern, and I smile fondly as his crabby face disappears when the doors meet in the middle.

“You let Clive call me Ava,” I point out casually.