Dad gulps. “You’re correct. I was a coward, and I should never have done that. There are so many things I wish I’d done differently, but I panicked, and I made the wrong call.”
Mom said he was remorseful, but it still doesn’t explain everything. “If that’s really true, why didn’t you return when Mom did? You left them to travel by themselves. Anything could’ve happened to them!” My voice raises an octave.
Dad shakes his head. “I had people watching them every step of the way. They were never in any danger.”
“You did?” Mom asks.
“Yes, sweetheart. I could never have lived with myself if anything had happened to you or the girls.”
“I’m not buying it.” I lean back in my chair.
“I don’t blame you, son. I’ve messed up, and I will spend the rest of my life paying for that, but I hope, in time, you can come to forgive me.”
“You left me.”
“I know, but you were adamant you had to stay behind, and your reasoning was sound.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I hate that my voice wobbles, and I pause to compose myself. “You didn’t even try to convince me to go.”
“Would you rather I had?”
This is the hard part. The part where my selfishness comes to the fore. I could lie, but then I’d be no better than him. “No,” I quietly admit. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty or hurt at being left behind.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Mom cups my cheek. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. You did nothing wrong. It wasn’t wrong to want to stay behind and try to make something of your life. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been here to help me. I could not have gotten through the last few weeks without your support.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Bradley. I’m so very sorry for letting you down.” Dad looks me straight in the eye as he apologizes. “For letting the whole family down. I’m trying to do the right thing now.”
“That won’t give those people back their money.”
He hangs his head. “I know, and I feel terrible about that. I’ve handed over the contents of the offshore accounts I held onto,” he admits, wincing.
“What accounts?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“I had money stashed abroad. How else were we expected to live?”
Any empathy I was starting to feel is gone in a flash. “That wasn’t your money to keep!” I hiss. “You stole it!”
“Well, I’ve given it back. It’s nowhere near enough, but it should offer some small compensation to the clients who lost money.” He looks to my mother. “I begged them to allocate some to you, but they appropriated it all. I’m sorry.”
“I wouldn’t have taken it, and you know that,” she replies. “God knows we had enough arguments over that money while we were overseas. We will manage without.”
Dad hangs his head again, mumbling, “I’m sorry.”
I stand up. I’m done with this. I said what I came here to say. I offer one last parting statement. “I’m glad you handed yourself in, Dad, but you’ve a long way to go to convince me you’re genuinely sorry.” I turn away, looking down at Mom. “Are you coming?”
She shakes her head. “You go. I need to speak to your father in private.”
I don’t look back, and he doesn’t say anything as I exit the room. Rachel is on her feet instantly, holding my hand and pulling me down on the chair alongside her. “Well? How did it go?”
“Exactly as I expected.”
“I’m sorry.” She rests her head on my shoulder.
“Don’t be. It felt good to get that stuff off my chest, but it’s hard to see him like that, and to know it’s all his own fault. I used to think he was so strong when I was a kid, but I’ve never known anyone so weak.” Agent Kendall looks at the floor, doing a piss-poor job of pretending she’s not listening, but I don’t care. “My biggest fear is that I’ll end up just like him.”
Rachel jerks her head up, grasping my face in both hands. “That’s not even remotely possible. You’re a million times the man he is. You’re good, through and through, and the most amazing man I know. You couldn’t be him even if you tried.”
Her words do wonders for my mood. I close the gap, kissing her deeply, my fingers sifting through her hair. Her feather-soft touch unravels me in the best possible way.
I hear the soft tread of footsteps as Agent Kendall quietly steps away.
I could kiss Rachel all day long and never grow tired of it. As her lips caress mine unashamedly, she pours everything into it, letting me know how she feels. My heart is full to bursting point, and I pull her closer to me. The craving to touch her intimately is almost more than I can bear. Unprecedented emotion swirls inside me as we keep kissing. It’s not the most romantic setting, and maybe I should hold back, but I want her to know the full extent of my feelings. “I love you, Rachel,” I whisper in her ear. “I love you so Goddamned much.”
Her eyes turn moist. “Brad,” she whispers in that sexy, husky voice of hers. “I love you so much too.”
I kiss her again, and there’s nothing soft or tender about this kiss. This is pure raw emotion mixed with potent need.
“I’ve never told any boy that before,” she whispers against my lips.
I cup her face. “That makes me incredibly happy. I’ve never said it to anyone before and genuinely felt it. No one has ever made me feel the way you do.” My thumb rubs along her swollen lower lip. “I want you to know I’m not messing around, Rach. I know we didn’t get off on the right foot, but I’m one hundred percent committed to this. I’m all in.”
“I’m right there with you. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
The door creaks open, and we break apart. The second Mom closes the door behind her, she bursts out crying. I’m on my feet straightaway, pulling her into my arms. “What did he say? I’ll kick his ass.”
She shakes her head, tears clouding her vision. “He didn’t do anything.”
I arch a brow in confusion. “I just asked your father for a divorce.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Rachel
Brad was subdued after his mother delivered the bomb, and I can only imagine the crap going through his head. We’ve both had quite the week. When Ky suggests hitting a local club in Cambridge, it sounds like the perfect antidote, even if we are up early for class in the morning, and the thought of being exposed in public brings me out in giant hives. But I’m not going to cower and hide in our apartment forever.
At the club, we bump into some of Brad’s football mates, and I overhear a conversation that has my blood boiling. I’m not going to confront Brad and make a show in front of his friends, so I pull Faye with me to the bathroom and grill her the second we step foot inside. “Did you know Brad is off the football team?” I don’t know much about relationships, but communication is key, and not telling me something like this is huge. I’m hurt and pissed off with him.
“Yeah. It sucks.”
“Why?”
“Why does it suck?” She washes her hands and runs a brush through her hair.
“Why was he booted out?”
She spins around. “He didn’t tell you?” She rolls her eyes. “Of course, he didn’t. He didn’t want to burden you after all the stuff you were dealing with this week.”
That sounds like Brad, and the edge fades off my anger. “I hate that. He’s been there for me, and I want to do the same for him.”
“I’m so happy you guys made it official.”
“Don’t change the subject,” I hiss.
“I’m not. We’ll get back to that, but I want you to know how happy I am for you. I’ve seen the way you two have been looking at each other all night. Even when you’re not with each other, your eyes are like laser beams scanning the room. I love it. I love that you’re experiencing what I’m experiencing. Is
n’t it the best feeling in the world?”
“I know what you’re doing, you know.” I drill an imaginary hole in the side of her skull.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She feigns innocence, and I harrumph.
“I can read you like a book. You’re making sure my head is in the clouds so that I won’t go all raging bull on his ass.”
“Is it working?”
“It might be.”
She slings her arm around my shoulder. “Good. Keep that in mind, and don’t be angry.”
“I am angry! The guy I love kept something ginormous from me! I know I’m a relationship virgin, but even I know that’s not a good thing.” Faye starts bouncing on her heels and clapping her hands like an enthusiastic seal. “Dude, what the hell are you on, because I so need me some of that?”
“You said you love him,” she squeals.
“Oh that.” I wave my hands in the air, as if it isn’t a huge deal. “That’s old news.”
“Has he told you he loves you?” Her eyes pop wide, and I swear she’s holding her breath in anticipation of my reply.
The biggest smile breaks out across my face. “He did.” Tears well in her eyes. “Hey.”
She sniffles. “Don’t mind me. It’s just, you are two of my most favorite people in the world, and this is the most amazing news ever.” She hugs me. “I’m so, so happy for you, Rachel. Brad is an amazing guy, and I trust him one hundred percent to look after you. Ky and I already see the difference in him. These last few weeks, he’s been the guy I first met. The sweet, genuine, thoughtful guy who helped me settle into my new life. You’ve no clue how freaking happy I am for you.”
“No, I’m feeling it. Believe me.” But I can’t fault my friend for her exuberance. “And screw you for eradicating my anger. Now I want to go out there and jump his bones, not tear him a new one.”
“Good, because when you hear what I have to say, that’s what you’ll feel like doing anyway.”
She proceeds to tell me how Coach gave him an ultimatum and he ignored it to come to Ireland with me. She also tells me he received a letter confirming his scholarship funding will be cut from next semester.
I can’t believe he sacrificed all that for me.
I’m blown away by it.
No one has ever done anything so selfless for me before, and my heart is about to explode.
I race for the door, and Faye laughs her head off behind me. I shove my middle finger up at her before I rush outside.
Back in the club, my eyes scan the room, frantically searching for my man. I find him standing in a circle with a few of his friends, and I make a beeline for him. I throw myself at him, and he almost loses his balance with the unexpected move. But my guy has awesome reflexes, and he snags an arm around my waist to steady me. “Careful there, Red.”
Uncaring that we have an audience, I grab his face and smash my lips to his. A chorus of wolf whistles ring out. “You’re so stupid,” I say, in between peppering his face with kisses. I press my body against him as my hands trek a path up his delectable chest. “And part of me wants to kill you.” I continue caressing his lips. “But I can’t be mad at you. Not when you sacrificed your place on the team for me.” He holds me firmly against him, kissing me back with the same fervor. We only break apart when shouts of “get a room” ring out. We’re both panting and grinning like idiots. “I fucking love you.” I say it loudly, wanting his friends to hear but not expecting him to say it back.
“I fucking love you too.” His confident declaration brings tears to my eyes again. This man has sacrificed his own future to support me through one of the most difficult weeks of my life. And he’s happy to trade in his man-card, to declare his feelings in front of his friends, without a second thought. I cannot believe he’s mine. That I got so lucky.
And after everything he’s done for me, it’s time for me to repay the favor. I’m not sure how, but I’ll figure out a way to fix this.
The week goes by superfast, and I’m grateful. The more time passes, the less concerned I am over my brother. I know he’s still out there, and I have to be on my guard, but I’m not obsessing over it and hiding myself away. I’ve stayed behind in college most nights this week because the group project we’re working on needs to be handed in by Monday. There goes any Halloween plans this weekend. Brad insists on collecting me every night, and I love coming out of the building and seeing him waiting for me. It never fails to make my heart race and my blood pressure soar. The weekend after next, we’re moving into my apartment. Faye was insistent. It makes no sense that we’re living in Kyler’s apartment while they are living in mine. And considering my brother already found me here, it’s not any safer than my apartment, so I relented, and we’re going to swap.
On Thursday, after class, I make the trek across town to Harvard, happy in the knowledge that Brad is at the gym and I won’t risk bumping into him. He’s a creature of habit, but I roped Ky in just in case my man decided to surprise me at home. I made an appointment earlier on in the week so Coach is expecting me.
He’s very polite, holding a chair out and offering me a beverage. I decline, preferring to get to the point straightaway. I tell Coach outright why Brad came to Ireland with me, sparing him the salacious details, but leaving him in no doubt as to what happened to me and how much I needed Brad by my side. I explain I didn’t know he would lose his place on the team or I would never have let him do that. “He sacrificed his life-long dream and his future for me, and I’m here to ask you to give him a second chance. I’ll do anything if you can reverse your decision and let him back on the team.” He says nothing for a couple of minutes, staring off into space. He sits up a little straighter, clearing his throat. “That’s a terrible thing that happened to you, and I can understand now why he wouldn’t tell me.”
“I wouldn’t have had any issue if he did, but he was respecting my privacy and trying to protect me.”
“I can see that.”
“He’s an amazing person, as I’m sure you’ve already seen, and it doesn’t seem fair that he should miss out.”
He sighs, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “I can give him his place back on the team. That’s not irreversible, but I doubt the scholarship funding can be reassigned.” He looks apologetic. “I’m real sorry. I wish I had known. All I saw was a guy who was more interested in puss—in girls than football, and I was mad as all hell because he’s a great player, and popular with the team, but I thought he wasn’t committed.”
“It doesn’t matter about the scholarship. I’ve already paid his fees for the rest of the year, so if you can give him his place back on the team, that would be perfect.”
“You have?” I nod. He smiles for the first time. “Alrighty then. Consider it done.”
Now it’s my turn to smile. I hold out my hand. “Thank you so much, Coach. I really appreciate this, and I know Brad will too.”
He shakes my hand. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Can you keep the info about his fees to yourself? I haven’t had the chance to tell him myself yet.” And I’m not sure how to broach that subject. He’s a bit touchy when it comes to money.
“No problem.”
“I’ll get out of your hair then.” I rise, walking to the door.
“I can see why he’s so enamored with you,” Coach says as my fingers curl around the handle of the door. “He’s a lucky son of a bitch.”
I turn to him one last time. “Believe me, I lucked out too.”
I’m in a fantastic mood as I make my way to the apartment. I told Brad I was going out with Faye tonight and that I’d meet him at home. I call into the local store to pick up ingredients for my special homemade curry. I plan to butter Brad up with food and sex before I steer the conversation to his fees.
My bodyguard, Nate, had waited outside the store for me, but he’s nowhere to be seen when I le
ave. I’m not overly concerned. He sometimes goes to check out the apartment before I set foot inside.
I’m humming my favorite song, and in my own little world, when I let myself into the apartment, closing the door behind me. The place is in darkness, and a weird sensation crawls over me. I try to shake off my paranoia. Dropping my keys, mobile, and bag on the hall table, I kick off my shoes and walk into the living space carrying my bag of shopping. I flick the light switch and nothing happens. I press it up and down, and still nothing. My pulse starts throbbing wildly in my neck, and all the tiny hairs lift on my arms. While the lightbulb could need replacing, I instinctively know that’s not the case.
The bag plummets to the ground as I spin around and run back to the hall. My hands are shaky as I fumble in the dark for my phone. I grab onto it, only for it to slide through my fingers and fall to the floor with a dull thud. My heart is in my mouth as I sink to my knees, feeling around the floor for it. An icy chill filters through the air, and blood thrums in my ears.
He’s here.
I know he is.
I can feel his presence.
A little whimper flies out of my mouth as I jump up. Screw the phone. I’ll just have to take my chances. I figure he’s done something to Nate; otherwise, he never would’ve gotten in here. My phone was my best chance of calling for help, but I feel him closing in, and I just need to get out of here now. My fingers are clumsy as I fumble with the lock on the door.
I’ve only pulled the door open a smidgeon when a heavy weight crashes into me from behind. The door slams shut with a massive wallop, and every bone in my body rattles as pressure is exerted on me from behind.
“Leaving so soon, sister dearest,” Alec growls, yanking me back by the hair. Ignoring the stinging pain in my scalp, I ram my elbow back into his gut, and he stumbles, but his hold doesn’t loosen enough. Something cold and jagged pushes against my exposed neck, and I freeze. “Don’t try anything, or I’ll slice that pretty neck wide open.”
With the knife pressed to my throat and one arm around my waist, he drags me back into the living room. “Do you know how unhappy I am with you?” His breath is hot on the side of my face as he leans in close to me. “Do you, Rachel?”
Saving Brad (The Kennedy Boys Book 5) Page 29
