I’m not surprised about what Jaxon and Wyatt discovered about him. Andrew has always been a piece of work. But it did hit me hard to hear just how dangerous he truly is. It scares me.
I shut off the car, taking a steady breath before grabbing my bag from the passenger seat. He pushes away from his car as I get out, wind blowing my hair around my face.
“What are you doing here?” I greet, slamming my door shut.
His lip curls as he eyes my clothes. “I see you found the cameras,” he offers instead of saying hello like a normal person.
I grit my teeth, heading for my door. I can’t deal with him. Not now. “Yes. I ought to go to the police. That was not only an invasion of my privacy, but I’m sure you broke several laws.”
“But you haven’t gone to the police,” he states, his voice calm.
Always so calm.
Until he isn’t.
“What do you want, Andrew? You’ve made it clear I can’t see Mum, and I will fight you on it. I have Rebecca looking into a way to break that contract.”
“I’ve been lenient with you, Evie,” he growls, stepping in front of me to block the door. “I’m here to give you a warning. The Hayes brothers took something from me. Something valuable. I want you to get it back.”
“I’m not doing anything for you,” I snap.
He wants the memory card, a memory card that probably has blackmail material on or something to do with drugs.
The man in front of me no longer intimidates me. Yeah, he scares me, but there is nothing he can do to me that he hasn’t already done. He disgusts me. He’s stolen every bit of happiness from me and I’m going to get it back and be rid of him for good.
He steps forward, bending down to get in my face. “You’ll get it to me by the end of tomorrow or you will suffer the consequences. You all will.”
“Or maybe you will,” I point out, straightening my spine. “You’ve not suffered one consequence in your life. Even cheating on your wife. It was your kids, me, and Mum who suffered. The people you take from… they lose everything, but you… you get away with it all. I’m done being a pawn. I’m done with you blackmailing me, and I’m done with you trying to control my life. I’m done. Now I suggest you leave.”
“You don’t want to do this,” he warns, his voice low, quiet.
A shiver races down my spine as his icy gaze slams into me. “I-I—”
“I know people who, for a few hundred, would love to torture your mum. Her care isn’t the only thing I can hold over your head, Evelyn.”
I take a step back in horror, my hand covering my mouth. “You wouldn’t.”
He smirks, seeing he hit the mark. “I would. She’s irrelevant. She isn’t the only thing I can use over you and you shouldn’t forget that,” he threatens. “I have recordings of you that could be uploaded to the web within seconds. And let’s not forget your boyfriend. The things I could do to him and his brothers would destroy them. Maybe their mum needs to be paid a visit next.”
The blood drains from my face as I stare at the monster in front of me. “You are a monster.”
“If the memory stick isn’t returned tomorrow, I’ll start with you, Evelyn. I’ll make you regret defying your father.”
“You are not my father,” I growl, wiping at the tear that rolls down my cheek.
“Unfortunately, I am. If I have to take matters into my own hands, it’s not going to be pretty, Evelyn.”
“Your face isn’t pretty,” Rebecca snaps, walking up the path to stand beside me. She crosses her arms, glaring at Andrew. “You should leave.”
“I do not take orders from you,” he spits out.
Rebecca grins, holding her phone up but close to her chest. “Oh, but if you don’t, I’ll be sending this recording to the police. I mean, I only got you threatening bodily harm to her mum, but that’s enough.”
He goes to reach for her phone, his face red, veins bulging at his temples. “Give it to me.”
She pulls back. “Leave!”
“Do you think I’ll leave when you have that?” he growls, shaking with rage.
“Yes, because if you don’t, I’ll send it to everyone in my email contacts and upload it all over my social media accounts, and we both know I have enough followers for this to reach the right places.”
He snaps his gaze to me, his expression stony with murderous intent. I inhale sharply. He’s looked at me in many ways, but never once have I felt like my life was in jeopardy. Until now, I didn’t realise how deprived he was of humanity. I always thought I had built him up to be the monster because of how he treated me and Mum, but looking at him now, it was never made up. He truly is sick in the head.
“I’ll be seeing you, Evelyn. Do not forget what is at stake. I want what is mine.”
As soon as he turns his back to us, I rush for the door, pushing Rebecca in before slamming it shut behind me.
My legs feel like jelly as we rush up the stairs and let ourselves into my flat.
“Okay,” Rebecca starts, catching her breath as her shaky hand runs over her ponytail. “What the fuck was that outside?”
“Did you really record it?” I ask, hopeful. We could go to the police. There would be no need to do what we had planned with regards to breaking into his office.
“No,” she admits, and my shoulders sag in defeat. “I’m going to push my friend to look through your mum’s file and find out where you stand. I’ll even let her know what was said outside. She’s good at her job.”
“This is a clusterfuck. What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know, bab. What was he after?”
“A memory stick Wyatt’s younger brothers stole. They think it has blackmail on,” I explain, then run through everything Wyatt and Jaxon told the group earlier on in the day after they met with a client, all the while grabbing two glasses and heading for the front room to lounge on the sofa.
Rebecca tucks her feet up. “This is bigger than we assumed.”
“I know.”
“And there is no way after that performance downstairs that we’ll be able to go in and get information. He’ll never believe you’re dropping off information that he’s been asking for.”
“I spent the day looking over their calendar, Becca. They can’t take on more work right now anyway. It will only tire them out,” I inform her, knowing the original plan was to steal clients away from Andrew. “What we need is information to take him down for good. Something he can’t brush away in the courtroom. Something your lawyer could help us with.”
She seems in thought for a moment and I leave her to it, my stomach sinking at the mess I’m in. “Every computer nowadays has a cloud. If we can upload his cloud onto another memory stick, we can search through it and weed out what we need.”
“He’s not going to leave a trail like that,” I remind her. He’s too clever for that and would probably expect it if he’s blackmailed before.
“There has to be something. No one, if what you found out is true, got this far in life without making a mistake. It would be nice to find out who he’s blackmailed. Maybe we could see what the exchange was.”
I sit up, an idea forming. “You’re right. He might have a list of clients in his office. Not just for the Big Move company, but for others that his father owns. My mum told me once that they have various companies and that Andrew got moved around a lot to run each one of them. Big Move is the smallest profitable company, so there must be a reason he was downgraded to that. We could start there.”
Her eyes light up. “Yes. If we can get that list there will be a link somewhere for the blackmail. If that is his last resort, then there will be whispers of him being told no for whatever reason. If we can get our hands on that blackmail material, they won’t have anything to worry about. He would lose all leverage.”
“This is genius.”
“Tomorrow, go into work. Ask if you can have half the day. Around one, I’ll meet you here and we can go to the offices.”
“B
ut—”
“Andrew has a golf buggy booked tomorrow for him and six others. It’s a meeting, so it’s perfect. I was going to use the time to get that other information, but this is better. He might not have any proof of wrongdoing, but it doesn’t mean the links aren’t there. Blackmail is a serious crime.” She exhales, running her hand over her jeans. “It might not even work, but what harm could it do?”
“I need to tell Wyatt,” I blurt out. “I was going to tell him this morning.”
“What!” she screeches, standing up from the sofa. “Are you stupid?”
“I can’t keep lying to him, Becca.”
“You are punishing yourself, Evie, for no reason.”
“No, I’m not,” I snap, gulping down my wine.
“Yes, you are. If the roles were reversed, do you think Wyatt would hesitate to protect his family?”
“No, but that’s—”
“No buts, Evie. You’re trying to protect your mum,” she tells me, taking her seat again. Her expression softens as she places a hand over mine. “Be happy. For once in your life, be happy. When you are with Wyatt, forget about Andrew and concentrate on what’s between the pair of you. Let him in all the way. See how you feel without all the crap swirling around you and just be a couple. For Christ’s sake, you let him fuck you in the staffroom or kitchen or whatever. You’ve never been spontaneous.”
I regret telling her everything that happens in my life. “I can be,” I snap.
“Gaz, that guy we met in Ibiza, wanted to fuck you on the beach. You told him to fuck off then listed a hundred reasons why you wouldn’t.”
“There are fleas in the sand,” I defend.
She rolls her eyes. “And Pete, the guy you dated for six months, booked you both tickets to go away. You said no.” When I go to interrupt, she holds her hand up, grinning. “And remember when you told me about Ryan, who tried to have sex with you in the disabled toilets at that restaurant? You dumped him straight away. I bet if Wyatt did or asked for any of that, you’d have your knickers around your ankles quicker than you can blink.”
“I can’t help it. When he touches me, every fibre of my being is on fire. I get goose bumps and tingles all over, and my stomach flips. I can’t think. I hardly know who I am whenever he kisses me,” I tell her, sighing. “And today, he brought me a pastry and a cup of tea. It was so sweet.”
Giggling, Rebecca sits back down beside me. “Let’s not forget the dirty talk.”
“Oh God… I swear to God, I have a mini orgasm whenever he talks dirty to me.” I lose my smile, sagging in the seat. “But you’re right, I’d never feel like this if it was with someone else.”
“Because you’re falling for him. And that’s okay. Andrew is the one who betrayed them. Not you. You can’t help who your father is. You don’t get that choice. But telling him now would be a mistake, Evie.”
“Wouldn’t keeping the truth from him be worse?” I ask, feeling a migraine coming along.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But what if you tell him and it all blows up. He breaks it off with you and then Andrew takes their company from them. Or, you could see if what is between you is lust or something more and work on making sure they don’t lose anything.”
“I know you’re right. I do. I hate this. I hate all of it. After I failed telling him this morning, I tried again after work, but his mum interrupted. Then he took me to his room and, well…”
Rebecca’s eyes spark with interest. “Well…”
“He’s very talented with his tongue,” I blurt out, and her eyes bug out. Every partner Rebecca has been with has failed when it came to going down on her. Not one of them made it pleasurable and she is adamant a man that can do it doesn’t exist.
A knowing, smug look suddenly takes over her expression. “Well, Eli wasn’t too bad either.”
“What?” I yell, slapping my pillow over her arm, causing her wine to spill.
She laughs, licking the droplets off her wrist. “You weren’t the only one who was taken home Saturday.”
“B-but you didn’t say anything.”
A blush rises in her cheeks, and she looks away. “That’s because it was a one-night stand and he made that clear when he panicked the following morning.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugs, playing with the corner of the pillow. “I don’t know. We had a night of fantastic sex, and when I woke up the next day, it changed. He looked at me, paled, and said he couldn’t do more than one night and that he didn’t want to make it awkward for him and you at work.”
“That’s ridiculous. Have you spoken to him since?”
She clears her throat. “Yeah. He left his car keys at mine. He gave me his number the night before, so I called him. He accused me of hiding them there just so he would go back. I laughed in his face, kissed his cheek and told him to get the fuck out. Then you called.”
“What a fucking prick,” I growl. “I didn’t think he was like that.”
She grabs my hand, squeezing. “This is why I didn’t tell you. Don’t change your perspective of him because of one drunken night. He wasn’t rude, Evie. He was actually uncomfortable, and the jackass just rolled off his tongue. I promise I’m not hurt. Yeah, it’s a tragedy I won’t have someone to lick my pussy the way he did, but we live, we learn. I’m okay with it and I want you to be too.”
“I won’t let it be known, but I still have the right to think he’s a jackass.”
“Maybe I can find someone and get them to pierce their tongue and cock,” she murmurs dreamily.
“He had… those pierced?” I yell, my eyes bugging out.
She grins, winking at me. “Oh yeah. And tattooed.”
“No fucking way,” I breathe out, feeling hot all of a sudden. The blood rushes from my face when it hits me. “I’m never going to be able to look at him again.”
Laughter spills out of her as she tops up our glasses. “But you have your own hottie.”
“Yeah, but still…”
She holds her glass up. “To hotties and orgasms.”
I laugh, clinking my glass to hers. “To orgasms.”
“And to taking down Andrew,” she adds, lifting her glass higher.
I clink it with hers, quietly repeating her words. “To taking down Andrew.”
“But most of all, to being happy,” she cheers, raising her glass once again. “Now let’s get pissed and talk about just how good Wyatt was.”
Laughter bubbles up my throat and I choke on my wine. With her dirty, foul mouth, Rebecca has managed to turn my sour mood around.
“Cheers,” I reply, and both of us take one look at each other before falling to the side, laughter spilling out of us.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EVIE
It’s been a quiet morning. Only Wyatt, Eli and Jaxon are in the office with me. They’re unloading new boxes and supplies. This isn’t uncommon. Since I started, I’ve only been alone during the day a handful of times. It’s Jaxon who spends most of his time here, going over shipment orders and pick-ups.
I have to leave soon if I want to meet Rebecca, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to Jaxon about taking a longer lunch break. I have been too occupied with the heated looks Wyatt has been sending my way.
Just walking in this morning and seeing him sent shivers down my spine. I’ve never wanted someone as badly as I want him. Every time he’s near, I have to force myself not to hug him, hold his hand, or kiss him. I want to be close to him, but until we are alone and not working, I’m going to act professional. After… all bets are off. It might be selfish of me, but I’m going to listen to Rebecca. She has been right in everything she’s said. I have no hope of helping Wyatt and his brothers if I’m not here. And I won’t know if what is between us is more than attraction if I don’t give him all of me.
My phone beeps and I turn it over, opening the message.
Becca: Are you ready?
I glance towards the back room, hearing the guys moving about, and let out a sigh. P
icking up my phone, I type out my reply.
Evie: I’m asking now. Give me five.
I ignore her reply as I head into the back, finding the guys heaving boxes off the back of a loading truck. They stop when they see me, and Jaxon steps off the back of the van.
“Is everything okay? Did Lily call?”
“Was she meant to?” I ask, thinking back to the calls that came through. I know I didn’t miss any.
“Yes. No.” He shakes his head before taking a breath. “Is everything okay?”
He looks worn out, and I haven’t missed how worried he’s been about Lily. She has been sick off and on for a week or so, but it feels like something more is going on. I wouldn’t be surprised if Andrew is the reason he’s acting more overprotective towards Lily. He might be worried Andrew will go for her next.
The thought makes me sick because she is such a sweet, kind, innocent woman.
“Yes, but I was wondering if I could take a long lunch break?” I ask, keeping my smile in place.
Wyatt steps closer, his forehead creasing. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just need to go for a check-up at the doctors. Nothing to worry about,” I lie, glancing back to Jaxon. I don’t want Wyatt to see the lie.
Jaxon rubs the back of his neck, nodding. “You might as well take the rest of the day off. We’re closing after the Carrington move.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, knowing there is still stuff to be done.
He waves me off, lifting the crate back up. “Go. It’s fine. You deserve it after everything you got done yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Wyatt announces, following me into the main office.
I grab my coat and bag and head for the door. We step outside and find ourselves beneath a blanket of darkening clouds.
“It’s going to rain. You might want to get that delivery in,” I warn him, glancing at the boxes of tape and other supplies sitting against the wall.
“I will,” he replies, stopping me before I can open the door. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?”
Eye for an Eye (Take a Chance Book 2) Page 15
