“Don’t do this. You’re supposed to be stronger than this. You’re supposed to weather the storms with me, not run at the first rain drop.”
“You don’t get to guilt me like that. Not when you’re the one who made the storm and then shoved me outside in it. Goodbye, Connell.”
“Annabelle, don’t do this. Give me a chance—”
“Goodbye,” I said again, the word clanging through me in an ice-cold finality as I carried my broken heart down his stairs, and out his door for good.
19
Connell
The doorbell rang, and I raked my hand over a week’s worth of beard growth as I walked to my foyer. A week. We’d played another away series and made our way home last night. A week without Annabelle’s laugh or her voice. A week without her kiss or even her scorn.
It had been the longest, saddest week of my damned life.
I swung the door open and sighed as Echo filled the doorway. Her hair was growing out at the roots since she was scared to dye it while pregnant, but that was the only change I could mark in Sawyer’s fiancee—besides the baby belly, of course.
“If you’re here to throw things at me, ye can just walk right back across the street because I don’t have the energy to duck anymore.”
She looked over her sunglasses at me and sighed. “You look like shit.”
“It’s a reflection of how I feel,” I quipped sarcastically, and then shook my head because that’s what got me into this whole mess.
“Good,” she said as she swung a bag from her shoulder.
“Woman, I just can’t with you today.”
“And what were your plans, exactly?” She tilted her head.
“Get so roaring drunk that I wake up tomorrow just so one more day goes by,” I answered honestly.
“So, you’re miserable?”
I bit back another sarcastic comment and sighed instead. “Aye. I’m fucking heartbroken because I said something careless that was twisted in a way that hurt the woman I love, and now she won’t so much as speak to me. Is that what ye wanted to hear?”
“Yep. Now move. I’m coming in.” She nodded toward the door.
I backed away out of sheer confusion. “Echo, if I wanted to see you, I would have gone to the bar.”
“I know,” she called over her shoulder as she walked by. Then she took out a bottle of scotch and held it high. “That’s why I brought the bar to you.”
After closing the door, I followed her into my kitchen, where she already had a shot poured into one of my juice glasses.
“What are you doing?” I asked as she rummaged through my refrigerator.
“Looking for—awh, these are the little teas that Annabelle likes,” she held one of the teas above her head for a second and then stuck it back in the fridge.
“Aye, I kept a lot of things that she liked. Still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“Here we go.” She pulled out a bottle of flavored water and shut the door. “I was looking for something non-alcoholic or caffeinated so I could drink with you. Now sit.” She motioned to the barstool at the end of the island.
I did.
She took out a small figurine of a grim reaper and put it on the island, then pushed the shot into my hand. “The second location of Scythe is now open for business.”
I arched an eyebrow at her, and she simply let her gaze flicker between mine and the shot until I took it.
The scotch burned down my throat but warmed my otherwise numb torso. Everything was numb. It was like my body had shut off all feeling out of a sense of protection.
“How is she?” I dared to ask.
Echo’s eyes narrowed for a moment, but she took a drink of water and then nodded. “Heartbroken. Mad as hell. Looks a lot like you right now, actually. Sweatpants and all. Just without the beard. Figured I’d come over and see what the chances were of fixing this because I’ve never seen Annabelle as happy as she was when she was with you. Then again, I’ve never seen her as low as she is now, either.”
“She doesn’t trust me.”
“You didn’t exactly give her a reason to.”
The click of the door sounded a second before someone said, “Connell?”
“I’m in here, Langley,” I answered. “She’s the only person who would just walk in,” I said to Echo in explanation.
“Oh, good. Wait, what are you doing?” Langley came to a halt when she saw Echo pouring me another drink.
“Getting him drunk so I can wheedle the truth out of him. What are you doing?”
Langley sighed and snatched both the bottle and the glass from Echo. “Trying to dig up the truth so we can save his relationship and his reputation, which means keeping him sober.”
Echo tilted her head at Langley.
Langley didn’t flinch. “I love you, Echo. You know, I do. But I’ve known Connell long enough to know that he’s not lying when he says his comment was taken out of context. And I have to have his best interest at heart, the same way I’m sure you have Annabelle’s. So you can join team figure-this-shit-out-for-the-good-of-all, or you can take your cute, pregnant butt home because this is work time.”
“Was it taken out of context?” Echo questioned me.
“What did she tell you?” I fired back.
“That you made a sarcastic comment that caused her abject, public humiliation on a nationwide scale.”
“Aye, that part is true. But the rest of that interview talks about how much I love her. He took that one line and twisted it. And maybe I never should have said it, but I was pissed that he implied the woman I loved wouldn’t be enough. That surely I had to indulge a little on the side. He implied that we all did, Echo, including your fiancée.”
Echo stared at me so long that I thought she might flip me the bird and walk off. Instead, she dragged the other stool next to mine and sat with a muttered, “fuck my life.”
The doorbell rang, and Langley left to answer it.
“I love her,” I said softly.
“I know you do,” Echo replied.
“Okay, here’s where we stand,” Langley remarked as she came back with Persephone in tow. God, they both looked so put together—Langley in a black suit and Persephone in an obviously designer sheath dress. I thought my shirt had been clean yesterday, but I wasn’t honestly sure. “We need the full interview. You said he had it on a tape recorder, right?’
“Aye.”
“Okay. I got in touch with Men’s Quarterly, and they said that John Perry is actually a freelance writer. He’s not on staff. They said they’d pull the print like you demanded if what you’re saying is correct, that he purposely skewed your words, but since all he was required to do was give them the actual piece, they don’t have the interview.”
“So what are we supposed to do with that?” I asked. “That tape is all I have to get back Annabelle. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about my reputation, and I understand that’s your job, but I want Annabelle. I need that tape.”
“I know you do, that’s why I brought in Persephone.”
Sephie smiled. “Don’t worry, Connell. I know Richard McCarthy—he owns the magazine. I’m going to slip into a room with Langley and make this call really quick with her if that’s okay with you? I didn’t want to interfere if you weren’t comfortable.”
“Interfere!” I blurted. “Please, God, interfere.”
“Okay.” She put her small hand on my shoulder. “I’ll see if we can get this all fixed up for you.” She looked up over my shoulder. “Echo, you look wonderful, just in case no one has told you today. Pregnancy looks amazing on you. Now, I’m going to sneak off with Langley.”
The doorbell rang again.
“Jesus, what is this?” Echo muttered.
“Sephie, why don’t you head into the study, and I’ll be right in?” Langley offered as the two headed toward the front of the house.
“You were already working on getting the interview,” Echo said quietly.
“Aye. It’s the o
nly way she’ll believe me, and even then, she still might not forgive me. Sure, I was wrong, but the lass cares so much about what people think. Even if I pull us through this one, what’s to say she won’t run the next time someone twists something I say? I can’t watch every single word that leaves my mouth, or I become someone I’m not. Is that really the only way she’ll love me?”
Echo blinked a few times and opened her mouth to speak.
“You didn’t tell me you were having a party,” Logan chided as he walked into my kitchen with Cannon. “Hey, Echo.”
“Boys,” she said with a grin. “Did you come to harass our resident heartbreak?”
“Something like that,” Logan answered, setting a bottle of water in front of me, then handing another to Cannon.
“Some friends,” Echo scoffed. “At least I brought alcohol.”
“He has practice in three hours. We brought hydration.” Logan smirked.
“We figured you might already be piss drunk or hungover, so we gave ourselves some wiggle time.” Cannon crossed his arms over his navy blue Reaper t-shirt and leaned back against the granite. “Now drink. Ward has three more bottles in that cute little backpack of his.”
Logan lifted his pack with a smile.
As much as they annoyed me, they were good friends, that was for sure.
“Okay, she’s working her magic,” Langley said as she reappeared. “So what, did you two draw the short straws?”
Logan shrugged. “We were the only ones who weren’t ready to shove the love-conquers-all pep talk down his throat.”
“Even Axel?” Her eyes widened.
“Especially your husband,” Cannon remarked. “The guy should work at Disney at the rate he’s in the text thread talking about fate and shit.”
A smile touched Langley’s mouth.
“Richard, that’s exactly what I’m saying,” Persephone’s sweet drawl filled the room, and Cannon tensed as she walked in with her phone to her ear. “Of course, I know you don’t want to have to print a retraction. That’s why I stepped in. I know you’d be absolutely mortified to find out that one of your employees was knowingly lying. I know how hard you worked to get that magazine to where it is.”
She looked up at the men leaning against the end of my counter, and her grip slipped on her cell phone. It tumbled from her hand, but before it could hit my hardwood, Cannon caught it mid-air and gave it back to her.
“Thank you,” she mouthed quietly as a male voice muttered words we couldn’t hear on our end.
“I know. I really do. I’m telling you that Connell MacDhuibh is telling the truth. John Perry purposely twisted what he said. How do I know? Because I’m standing in the man’s kitchen, Richard. He’s a dear friend. Connell, of course, not Mr. Perry. We’re friends. Have I ever, in the ten years we’ve known each other, lied to you?” She tilted her head to the side and nibbled her lower lip as the man gave his verdict.
She sighed and shot Langley a frustrated look with a shake of her head.
“Of course, I would never demand you cancel the print run. I know you have twenty-five million readers.”
Holy shit. Twenty-five million people were going to read that I cheated on the woman I loved? Just the thought had me nauseated.
“I’m just saying that once you hear the tape for yourself, you’ll probably want to. I mean, you own a very well respected magazine, Richard. It would just be a shame to see it turn into a tabloid. Goodness, I think it took Matt Sharpe—what was it—three years to build himself back up after that unfortunate article about the governor’s wife, and I’d just die if that happened to you, Richard. We’re such good friends, and I couldn’t not warn you. You understand, don’t you?”
A slow smile spread across her face.
Cannon’s waterbottle crinkled in his hand.
My breath stilled.
“Oh, I’m sure that would work. I’ve never known a freelance writer to not want their paycheck. Oh, and could I ask a personal favor?” Her cheeks pinked as the voice continued at the other end. “Well, no. I’m not. He’s just a family friend. No, Richard. I was actually going to ask if you wouldn’t mind forwarding me a copy of that tape once you have it? It would mean so much to me.”
I swallowed. God, my throat felt so tight.
“What’s in it for you?” she laughed, but the sparkle wasn’t there. “If you’re willing to fly down, how about if we play a round at the club next weekend? Mmm hmm. Sounds delightful. I’ll even bring Daddy. So nice talking to you, Richard. Give your mama my love. Bye now.”
She hung up and smiled so big that the lump in my throat started to dissipate. That had to mean she got him to agree, right?
“Okay, he—”
The doorbell rang.
“Bloody hell!” I roared toward the door.
“I’ll get that one.” Echo pushed away from the counter and headed toward the front door.
“He said he’d hold John Perry’s check until he appeared with the tape. And I know Richard, he’ll cancel the print, or at least hold it up to replace the article before he opens himself up to a lawsuit.”
“You didn’t threaten a lawsuit,” Logan noted.
“No, but I did mention our friend Matt who was sued for millions when he printed a fake story. He got the point, trust me.” She nodded.
“You’re frightening,” Logan muttered.
“You’re bloody brilliant!” I exclaimed. “God, I’d hug ye if I didn’t reak.”
“I appreciate the offer.” She grinned, but it faded as she met Cannon’s gaze. “You don’t approve?”
“You want me to approve the fact that you just prostituted yourself to get a tape?” He slammed his water down on the counter.
“Cannon—” I warned, but the lass didn’t flinch.
She marched right up to him in her heels and glared. “I agreed to play golf with him, Cannon. That’s all.”
“Sounded like he wanted a lot more than that.”
“Well, he probably does, but he’s not going to get it. He’s been sniffing around since junior high. That’s why I’m bringing my dad. He won’t put up with that nonsense. He never has. Put those big muscles of yours away and use that big brain, instead. He has something I want. I have something he thinks he wants. It all works out in Connell’s favor. And if I’m willing to spend an afternoon in that wretch’s tedious company, what business is it of yours?” She had to brush a handful of really long blonde hair back over her shoulder, ruining a little of her tirade.
He folded his arms across his chest, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes followed the movement.
Oh, fuck. This wasn’t good.
“It’s not,” Cannon confirmed.
“Goo—”
“I know he’s here!” A shriek erupted from the hallway.
“Fuck me,” Logan muttered and started walking that way.
“Drinks and a show,” Langley mumbled as she headed for the fridge.
“What the hell are you doing here, Blaire?” Logan snapped.
“I need to talk to you!” She shouted loud enough to make me flinch. “I tracked your phone—”
“You what? Look, I said everything I needed to. We’re done. Over. Finished. You told my friend’s girl to make up some shit about him and post it for revenge?”
She suggested what exactly? My eyes went huge, but that shot was still warming my belly, dulling my judgment, so I sat my happy ass there.
“I told her to take her power! You guys have everything, and you just expect us to bow and scrape for you and be happy for whatever scraps you leave!” She jabbed him in the chest.
“What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t expect anything from you! I gave you everything I had—”
“Not your heart! If I had that, you never would have broken up with me just because I gave a girl advice.”
“You don’t want my heart. You want my name and my face, and my social media following. I just wanted you...and now I’m not sure why.”
Da
mn. Harsh.
“Oh, grow up, Logan. Everyone uses everyone. You wanted a doting girlfriend, so I gave that to you. I needed a platform boost, and you gave it to me.” She pointed at Langley. “She used her marriage to boost her career.”
“Excuse me?” Langley retorted.
“She got knocked up and now gets NHL rate child support and a fucking ring.” She motioned toward Echo.
“Oh, honey, if you only knew.” Echo shook her head and slid back onto the barstool next to mine.
“It’s getting very daytime talk show in here,” I muttered.
“You were the one who told him!” Blaire shouted at Echo.
“Yep. Zero guilt over that one. A man should know when he’s in bed with a snake.” She shrugged.
Blaire’s jaw dropped, and her head swung, no doubt looking for another victim. “And you,” she seethed at Persephone. “Perfect, Persephone-fucking-VanDoren. What the hell would you know about wanting a god damned thing when everything you’ve ever wanted has been—”
“No.” Cannon moved in front of Sephie, blocking her completely from Blaire. She looked up at him and quickly back-stepped.
“You need to leave, Blaire.” Logan pointed toward the door. “Harass me again—harass my friends again, and I’ll get a restraining order. Take your Birkus bag and your hundred-thousand followers and get out.”
“Birkin bag,” she corrected him with a crazed look in her eyes. “I belong here, Logan. We can be good for each other! I can get you endorsements and—”
“Get. Out.” His words were soft, but final.
“You’ll see what a big mistake this all is,” she tried again, her voice gentling.
“Get. Out.” He repeated.
She took one last look at us—even Sephie where she peered around Cannon’s chest, she was that small—and nodded. Then she turned and walked out.
We all sighed as the door clicked shut.
“Fuck, I hate women,” Logan snapped.
“Hey!” Langley, Echo, and Sephie all protested like they’d been scripted.
“Not all women.” His shoulders sagged. “Just the ones like that. Swear to God the next woman I date won’t even know I’m damned Reaper.”
Connell (Carolina Reapers Book 3) Page 18
