Chapter 1 #2
“Only our best people do this.” He flattened his palms on my desk. “Everyone else is on a need-to-know basis. I need you to get this right on the first try. Take your time so there are no mistakes.”
The high stakes surrounding us heightened our intuition.
We couldn’t afford to have Diego intercept Marchello and Lissia.
Now that Diego had possible alliances with Boston, Chicago, and Philly, his reach was going to be further.
It was best to have Marchello here. The three of us were stronger together.
Each of us had a unique skill set that complemented one another.
My intercom buzzed. “Milo,” Angela said. “Sorry to interrupt you while you’re with Nico, but Sable wants to see you.”
“She’s here?” I glanced at my father whose tight expression displayed his annoyance.
“Send her in, Angela,” my father answered for me.
“Sure, Nico.” Angela lifted her finger off the intercom button.
I stood and buttoned my jacket. Why is she here? The twisted part of me was intrigued that she would cave and come to me. The other part, the one that was a little more rational, knew that she shouldn’t be here, because this could only end one way.
“This won’t take long.” I came around my desk. “Then I’ll focus on Marchello.”
“Take all the time you need to get this out of your system.” He straightened his tie that really didn’t need to be adjusted. He was too meticulous for a crooked tie. “After today, whatever this is between the two of you needs to be resolved. She’s either staying or she’s going. No in-between.”
I nodded, but there was no way Sable and I would ever be resolved. We couldn't be together. We were the epitome of a tragic love story. We had no future.
“I don’t have an opinion either way,” he said. “I just want you to do what is best for you.”
Sable is best for me, but her brother is a detriment to my family.
Angela tapped on the door before opening it. When she stepped out of the way, I lost my breath at the sight of Sable. Her cheeks were rosy from the February chill in the air and her silky, mahogany, windblown locks framed her face.
“Come in, Ms. Flynn,” my father said.
Sable took her time as she looked around the office before entering.
Her body was clothed in items that I didn’t buy for her.
She wore a black hoodie, because she didn’t have a fucking coat, and faded jeans that should have seen the trashcan two years ago.
Her black combat boots were scuffed and worn down.
The designer princess I’d created had disappeared in a matter of days. We might not be together, but I would not allow her to go without.
“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting.” She looked at my father. “But I need a few minutes with Milo if that’s okay.”
“Take all the minutes you need.” My father nodded at me. “Remember what I said.” He turned and exited the office, closing the door behind him.
Resolution. How could I forget?
Now that I stared into Sable’s eyes, the resolution I wanted was to kiss the shit out of her and make her forget what I did to her in that cabin.
“Your head.” She delicately ran her fingers over the lump on my forehead. “I’m sorry that happened to you while you were searching for me.”
Another one of her brother’s stupid choices. He brought Sable into enemy territory during a storm, leaving her vulnerable and in harm’s way.
“Just a mild concussion.” I backed away from her because I couldn’t accept her kindness. Not after I had left her behind. “I’m fine.”
She dropped her hand by her side and stepped back. Wounding her made me feel like a pile of shit.
“Don’t look like that,” I said.
“Like what?”
“Defeated and hurt.”
“I’m not hurt,” she said, raising her voice. “I’m pissed.”
“Why?” If she didn’t constantly defend her fuck up of a brother, we wouldn’t be in this position.
“You paid my rent.” She glared at me. “And somehow you managed to deposit money into my empty bank account.”
“So?” I leaned against my desk, trying to figure out what I had done wrong. “I’m going to continue to take care of you even if we’re not together.”
“Except I don’t want anything from you.”
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to grab her and make her understand that I could do whatever I wanted.
She had already shredded my heart, doing more damage than any of my enemies could.
Hell, a bullet to the head would have been easier to endure.
The pain she inflicted was foreign to me.
She had left my heart exposed when she ripped opened my chest and tortured my soul.
After everything we went through, she had the audacity to tell me she didn’t want my help? She doesn’t get to tell me what to do! If I wanted to support her, then that was what I would do.
“I don’t want your money, and I don’t need you to pay my rent.” She reached for the clasp on her bracelet. “And I’m not keeping this.”
“Don’t you dare.” Blind rage devoured me over the thought of losing my only link to her. The one way I could keep her safe. I lunged toward her and grabbed her wrist. “I told you never to take that off.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.” She struggled against my firm hold. “You lost that right when you walked out on me.”
“That’s not how this works.” I yanked her toward me, and with my grip still firm on her wrist, I leaned into her face.
“Stop acting like you own me,” she said.
“What makes you think you’re the one calling the shots?”