by Sienna Mynx
“Stay th-the fuck away from her,” Bryce panted. He turned and walked off.
Twenty-Two
The meeting with the publisher was fantastic! She had Naiya at her side. Russell said he would join them to make the introductions but he never arrived. He texted her the meeting place and the time. Naiya was bubbling with excitement during the entire interview. Her best friend screamed out in surprise when the publisher made their offer. Now all she had to do was get her attorney to review then offer and make a decision. One that would change her life forever, and drive Bryce, the man she loved, from it.
“Destini, stop worrying. Give yourself time to make the right decision. I got an idea. Let’s go shopping? After a good massage spending money always clears my head. We got four hours before dinner. I need some shoes.” Naiya said. “Wearing this lavender Elie Tahari tonight. But the bone-colored pumps won’t work it just right. I know this very nice dance club we are going to go to celebrate.”
“I’m too nervous. I want to just lie down for a while and let it all sink in. I got offered an advance on my Rain series that is worth more money than my salary times six.”
“Yeah, well Russ the dog really came through. I still can’t believe that bastard had the nerve to fake cancer!” Naiya spat.
“It’s over. Forget about that.”
“It’s typical Russell, why aren’t you mad!”
“Because I don’t expect much from him. And after all he’s giving me my dream.” Destini kept walking. “Hey, come upstairs and hang out in my room for awhile.”
Naiya gave her a wistful look. Destini paused at the base of the escalators that took her to the mezzanine-level elevators. “Something wrong?”
“No, girl. It’s just so good that we’re back on track. I’ve missed you,” Naiya said, giving her a hug. Destini hugged her back. “I’ll go do a little shopping. When I get back, we need to talk, really talk. I want to understand this thing with Bryce Carson.”
The mention of his name was like turning the knife in her heart. But she forced her smile, wore the mask that Sir said they all wore and pretended that talking was what she wanted as well. It wasn’t. She said goodbye and hurried up the escalator, the lift to her room, then inside. She dropped her purse on the bed. She hopped on one foot, trying to remove one shoe then the next. She nearly made it to the bed when her cell phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Bryce. She thought not to answer it but she was so happy she couldn’t help but want to share her exciting news with him.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Why are you calling?”
“We talked about me having space. You promised you would give it to me. That you would take some of your own.”
“I just wanted to hear your voice. Now that I have I’ll leave you alone.”
“Wait!” She sat on the bed. “I’ve had a great day.”
“Have you?” he asked.
“I got some news,” She bit on her nail. She sucked in a deep breath. “A New York publisher. They want to buy my series. If my e-book publisher agrees to releasing my books back to me I could have a very lucrative deal.”
“I’m proud of you, so proud of you,” he said. The sadness was so thick in his voice it nearly brought tears to her eyes. “It’ll make it easier for you to be your person, not have to be anonymous anymore.”
“You sound funny,” Destini said.
“You are so special, sweetheart, so talented. Why wouldn’t they want you?”
“Thank you Bryce,” she smiled.
“Whatever makes you happy makes me happy Destini. I’m learning that now. Call me if you want to talk,” he hung up.
“Bryce? Bryce?” Destini sucked in a deep breath. She reclined back on the bed and closed her eyes. She smiled holding the phone to her heart.
***
When she woke, she sat up bolt straight. The pounding on her door and Naiya’s frantic voice caused her to get to her feet in a hurry. She had no idea how long her friend had been knocking. She opened the door and let her in. Naiya’s face was contorted with anger. “Are you okay? Sweetheart, are you okay? I saw Russell.”
“What?” she stumbled back to the bed. Though her stomach was sour and her mouth tasted like the bottom of a birdcage, she was okay. “What’s wrong?”
“Russell? I saw him in the lobby. He was checking out of the hotel. Holy shit! Holy shit!” Naiya paced.
Confused and still groggy Destini tried to understand her friend. Naiya turned on her. “He said Bryce was on a rampage. Kicked his ass. That he was backing off. Did he come up here? Did he attack you! Oh God! Russell is such a chicken shit. Are you okay?”
“Stop it Naiya! You aren’t making any sense. Bryce did what?”
“Shit. You don’t know. Do you?” Naiya eyes stretched.
“Tell me what the hell is going on!” Destini stood.
“Russell looks like someone kicked his face in. He was at the hospital earlier. That’s why he missed the appointment with the publisher and just texted you the address. He said Bryce attacked him last night. After your little date. Someone found him and called the police. They think it’s a mugging. He said he got the message from the Gaylors loud and clear and wanted you to tell them he wouldn’t be pressing charges.”
“That’s crazy! Bryce isn’t here.” Destini said. “I talked to him earlier and—”
She looked to the phone on the bed. She remembered his tone when they spoke. How sad and defeated he sounded. He followed her when she went to dinner with Russell, was he capable of following her here? And if he was did she see them last night.
“The kiss,” she said.
“What kiss? Naiya asked.
“I kissed Russell last night.” Destini sighed.
“So the fuck what! That doesn’t give him the right to beat the hell out of the guy.” Naiya said. “That’s it. Pack your shit. We’re leaving. You’re coming home with me.”
“He attacked him? My God! Is he insane?” Destini asked.
“Do you want to stay here and find out?” Naiya asked. “Pack your shit. We’re checking out and leaving.”
***
“Here, sweetie, drink this.”
“Thanks, Naiya,” Destini said, sipping the water from the plastic Dasani bottle. She stared out at the planes taxiing in. “And thank you for letting me go home with you. I just can’t go back to Manchester Hills. I can’t see him now.”
“I’m so angry, Destini. This is my fault. I brought him into your life.”
“No, Naiya. Bryce was in my life before Ajani. He noticed me and I noticed him long before. We both just were to full of shit to be brave enough to face each other. So we started this game. This fucking game. It’s gone to far now. Too much hurt has happened now. Too much.”
“What do you want to do? Are you going to accept the publishing deal?” Naiya asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve been trying to lead a dual life. Loving Bryce showed me the things I want and the things I don’t. Maybe I can write and teach, in the private sector. Maybe. For now, I just need to find me again. No more Rain. No more Sir. Just me.”
“You hate him now, huh?” Naiya asked.
Destini pressed her lips together to keep back the urge to cry. She nodded that she did hate him for disappointing her. But it was a lie. The worst lie of all. The fact that he could trample her trust and heart to bits and she could still love him proved how pathetic she was. As badly screwed up as their relationship was, she loved him deeply. It would take her time to get over Bryce Carson Gaylor. She knew this, and hated herself for it.
Twenty-Three
A week later –
“You fucking bastard!” Bryce stormed into his father’s billiard room. After Donald Shafer called him and told him of the intent of the board to fire Destini he learned of his father’s deeds.
Mitchell Gaylor set down his pipe and looked up at Bryce with a small smile. “You did this! Didn’t you!” he shouted at him.
Bryce felt that black rage surfacing, the one that almost had him kill Russell Dumont with his bare hands. He clenched his fists and shook with fury. Mitchell looked him over with disgust. “Look at you. You’ve lost control. Thaddeus was right. You’re pathetic.”
“Stand up,” Bryce whispered through clenched teeth.
“Why?”
“So I can knock you on your ass.”
Mitchell chuckled. He set aside the book he was reading and stood. Even now, he towered over Bryce by three inches.
Bryce glared over at him. As a child he and his brother had suffered unspeakable cruelty by this man’s hand and was taught that he should never cry, never show the any sign of weakness. Well, that was fine. Because all that pain and humiliation was what he would use to teach his father a lesson of his own.
“So I take it your brown pussy hasn’t been informed that her teaching license will be suspended, and her contract voided with the school because of her unethical practices. The unscrupulous whore!” Mitchell sneered. Bryce threw the punch but his father was quick. He caught Bryce’s fist and yoked Bryce by his throat. Bryce gagged. But he would not be denied. He brought his knee up to his father’s groin, and seized on the taller man’s shock to hit him as hard as he could. Bryce hit him for Destini, for his mother, for his sisters, but mostly for him. When Mitchell Gaylor went down it was like the shackles of the Gaylor curse were released.
Mitchell looked up at Bryce, shocked. His brother ran in but he was too late. He grabbed Bryce and pushed him back.
“What the hell is going on in here!” Thaddeus demanded. He tried to offer his father a hand but Mitchell knocked it away. It was the first show of emotion he’d ever seen from his father and it was fleeting. His stony, cold glare returned.
“Get up, you bastard!” Bryce challenged him.
“She’s never going to forgive you. I know you beat that man she’s fucking up in that hotel in Maryland. I had someone following you. I delivered a message to Dumont. A threat on your behalf that I’m sure she is aware of it by now. When she finds out that the board of ethics is pulling her teaching license she’s never going to believe you didn’t destroy her happy, little world. I’ll make sure she hates you now as much as you hate me,” Mitchell said as he stood and straightened his suit.
“I love her.”
Mitchell’s lips curled into a snarl. “Then you are no son of mine! Thaddeus see him out and this time make sure he doesn’t return.”
“Fuck the both of you.” Bryce stepped back shaking his head. “I tried to be you. I did things that I thought I needed to do. But all I did was destroy the only person who ever loved me. For what? For the empty sad pathetic existence you two lead. Look at what you did to my mother. What years of being with you has done to her. She doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Your mother is none of your concern any more. I want you out of here and out of Gaylor. Do you hear me?”
Bryce chuckled. “Try to disinherit me or do anything to return that school to the dark ages it was when you ruled it and I will make a few calls to expose every secret of the black rose. How will your other knights feel? Wait. That’s right, you monsters don’t feel shit besides your own putrid egos.”
“He’s lying father!” Thaddeus smirked. “He’s a coward. And a fraud. What the fuck does he know about the rose?”
Bryce smiled. He walked out. He never looked back.
***
Several weeks later—
“Okay, got the bedroom packed. How you doing in here?” Naiya said, plopping down in a chair. Destini closed the top kitchen cabinet. She smiled at her friend. “Almost done.”
“Good, girl. You haven’t been here long enough to have so much stuff.”
The phone rang. Destini and Naiya both looked up at it. It rang for another four beats and stopped.
“He’s going to come here looking for you. He has to know you’re back now.”
“So?” Destini shrugged. She turned and lifted the box from the stove and brought it over to the kitchen table. “I don’t want to see him, and I don’t have to.”
“You are going to leave without talking to him?” Naiya asked.
“Yes.”
“Dez, are you sure it was him?”
Destini sighed. “You saw what he did to Russell. And now my teaching license will be snatched from under me. I’ve been fired from Gaylor. All because he thinks I love Russell and not him. He’s a controlling monster, just like his father. I can never trust a man with such hatred and anger in him. I don’t want to ever be—”
“Like his crazy-ass mother?” Naiya asked.
Destini felt a sting at hearing her friend speak of Bryce’s mother that way. Not because it wasn’t true. But she felt as if her confession to Naiya was a betrayal of Bryce on some level. She didn’t trust Bryce anymore. As if she ever did. And she definitely didn’t trust herself with him. Leaving wasn’t just an option. It was necessary.
The phone rang again.
“Answer the damn phone, girl. I’ll go in the room and give you privacy.”
Destini sighed and lifted from the chair. She picked up the phone and closed her eyes. “Yes?”
“Hi.”
“What do you want?” she asked.
“To see you.”
“No,” she said.
“I’m on my way down there.”
“No. Don’t come here. I’m... leaving. I will meet you in the school tomorrow. Before the movers.”
He didn’t speak.
“I’ll talk to you then,” she said.
Destini hung up the phone. She dropped on the kitchen counter and crossed her arms.
“Is it safe?” Naiya peeked out.
“Yes, it’s safe.”
“That was cold, girl. You thinking of leaving like that?” Naiya asked.
“Yes. Now get dressed so I can take you to the airport.”
“I don’t think I should go.”
“You have to go to work tomorrow. Besides, the movers will be here first thing in the morning. I’ll be out of here tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you’re okay, Destini?”
“Yeah. I am.” Destini forced a smile.
***
Bryce had to meet with his family attorney. He’d signed all the papers. Everything. He just needed to tell Destini of his decisions. What his father and brother had conspired and done was just as despicable as his own actions. He understood that now. He would fix it. If she would she just put her faith in him once more, he’d change it all for her.
Bryce hopped on his motorbike and rode over. Her car wasn’t there. The lights were off in her cottage. For a minute, his heart sank. But a glance through the windows showed her place to be stacked with boxes. She was there. She hadn’t left him just yet.
Bryce let himself in. The sight of her packing to flee him chipped away at his cool. He wouldn’t allow himself to think that she would run from him and that she had completely given up on them. There was no way he could believe that. He set aside several of the boxes. Taking a seat, he had a clear view of the door when she entered. He should have brought flowers. Maybe he should set up a dinner? A flash of car lights as someone pulled into the drive washed over the living room. There was nothing to do but wait.
***
Destini had found it harder to say goodbye to Naiya. Her friend had been her rock for the past several weeks. And though she said repeatedly that she was fine, the truth was much sadder. She was crushed. Starting again would be even harder to do with her heartbreak. Those thoughts fled her mind when she noticed his motorcycle. She parked and sighed and got out of her car. When she entered her cottage, she found him once again waiting for her. This, she’d expected. It was the real reason she pushed hard for her friend to leave.
“You don’t look surprised to see me,” he said, standing.
“I knew you would come.”
She closed the door. She didn’t bother with the light. She ju
st needed to get it done and over with. Setting her keys on a stack of boxes nearest the door, she made her way around them to the open seat on the sofa. Bryce immediately came to her side. He sat.
“I guess you think we should talk?” she asked.
“Destini, it wasn’t me. You know that don’t you? I would never expose you. Never.”
“But you’d try to kill a friend of mine. I heard about what you did to Russell.”
Bryce bit down on his bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”
“Who cares if you’re sorry, Bryce? I’m sure Russell doesn’t. I know I don’t.”
He heaved a deep sigh. “I didn’t expose you.”
“Right, your father or maybe your brother did. Is that what you want me to believe?”
“YES!” he said, his voice pitched with desperation.
“I don’t believe you. Even if it were true, and I doubt it, it’s even sadder that you were either too weak or too unfeeling to stop them when you knew they would come after me.”
“That’s not fair.”
“FAIR?” Destini glared at him, moving away from him on the sofa. “What about any of this has been fair? You pushed your way into my life. From the moment we met, it was all about you, and what you wanted. I tried to convince myself that I fit in there somewhere, but even I’m not that stupid.”
“Sweetheart you are so wrong about me,” he said.
“Go to hell! Wait. No. You can’t, can you Bryce? Because that’s what being Mitchell Gaylor’s son has meant for you, huh? Hell? Is that why you attacked me that night, why you attacked Russell, because you can’t feel anything unless you’re inflicting pain?” She stood. Suddenly sitting next to him wasn’t that appealing. Not when she planned to say the things she knew would forever turn him away from her.
That’s the goal. Isn’t it, Destini? You want to get rid of him. It’s too hard, and you can’t be in the business of fixing another man. Besides, they eventually leave anyway. Why waste the effort on this bum? He’s psychotic. Right?
