48. Ethan
I sigh as I drop my car keys on the kitchen counter.
“I’m back! Sorry I’m late,” I call out as I make a beeline for the fridge, grabbing a beer and chugging down half of it before I stop for breath.
It’s been a busy day, and it’s far from over.
I’m in half a mind to reschedule our visit to the Devil’s Den, but Cassidy won’t stand for it.
I’ve had enough time to cool down and realize she’s at the point I was a few months ago. I shouldn’t have been so hard on her—it’s difficult to accept that the ones we love don’t always love us back.
I met with Parker at Glenmont today to sign the purchase agreement for the manor. I thought hell would freeze over before Donald Parker ever impressed me, but he closed a deal on the manor in record time, and I’ll be making a handsome profit on the sale. Even better, the new owner wants occupation by the end of the month, so he’s arranged a lease on the manor until the sale goes through.
Soon, that heap of bricks will belong to someone else.
Parker said the new owner was some shell company, which he thought was hilarious, because I bought the manor through a shell company myself. I guess whoever bought it prefers to remain anonymous, just like me.
But Parker’s wrong if he thought I gave a shit. The devil himself could move into Glenmont and I’d still be raising a glass.
Shit, that reminds me. I made a deal with the fucking devil, and now that he’s done his part, I’ll have to do mine. And I know exactly what Myles wants.
What will Cassidy do when she finds out I’m obligated to do one last job at the Devil’s Den?
I set down my beer, frowning.
Where is she, anyway? We left things a bit heated, but I’d have expected her to come and greet me already.
“Cassidy?”
There’s a hollow echo in my voice as it bounces around the penthouse. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Cassidy!”
Sharp pin pricks invade my fingertips as I sweep through my penthouse. An icy dread settles deep in my stomach the further I search, the longer the silence stretches.
She’s gone.
I know it before I’m even done searching, just like I knew it the moment I stepped into Glenmont Manor all those months ago and realized it was empty, too.
I’m already expecting to find a bare closet. Suitcases missing. A note.
That motherfucking note.
I committed it to memory. Not purposefully, but if you read something enough times, trying to decipher it, it sticks.
Ethan
I cannot live a lie anymore.
I have met someone who has shown me more happiness, joy, and love than I ever thought possible.
I know you will find this hard to believe because I worked so hard to pretend that I loved you. I had to until I knew it would be safe to leave.
We both know what would have happened if I’d stayed.
Yours no more,
Becks.
Where would Cassidy have left hers? On the nightstand? I didn’t see it on the kitchen table.
Becks left it on the bed. Casually tossed on the unmade sheets like an afterthought.I couldn’t bear to wash them. Couldn’t bear to throw them away. They’re in that box, along with the rest of the junk she left behind.
But when I charge into my walk-in closet, her clothes are still there. The tightness in my chest eases a little, but I don’t let myself relax just yet. She’s definitely not here, but where the hell would she have?—
I rip my phone out of my pocket and try to unlock it.
It’s dead.
I’ve been so busy today, I didn’t even think to check if it was charged.
How long did Cassidy wait before deciding I wasn’t coming back when I promised?
She must have gotten tired of waiting.
I know exactly where she’s gone.
After our fight yesterday, I’m not even surprised. She thinks I don’t care about her mother’s disappearance. But of course I do, because I care about her. Cassidy filled a void I was convinced would remain empty until the day I died, because I was actively pushing everyone away, refusing to let them get close. Cassidy wouldn’t allow me to push her away, stubborn woman. She had her own agenda, and thank God, because I became powerless to resist.
What started as a distraction quickly became an infatuation. Until yesterday, I was still in a state of disbelief about how perfect we were together.
But I guess we still have some things to work on.
Fuck. When did she leave? A few minutes ago? An hour ago?
My concierge didn’t mention that she had left, but maybe she’d exited in the lobby and he hadn’t seen her. He knows I always exit on the parking level so I can avoid the people mingling around in reception.
I hurry back to the elevator, stabbing the button for the parking level and willing the contraption to get going. As the doors close, I let out an incredulous huff.
The audacity of my Cassidy, walking into the Devil’s Den by herself.
But she’s no lost little lamb anymore.
She’s a fucking wolf.