Chapter 35 #2
“Is Cassidy sick?” I don’t waste time with pleasantries. “She hasn’t been here in a while. I just wanted to make sure she was okay.” Yeah, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Holt lets out a short, jagged bark of a laugh that has zero humor in it. He steps closer, invading my personal space, his height making the overhead lights cast a shadow over my face.
“She’s not here. Cassidy doesn’t work here anymore,” he adds, each word hitting like a physical strike. “Which you would know if you two had a better relationship.” His words cut through me like a knife.
Cassidy doesn’t work here anymore.
Suddenly, my chest begins to ache. She’d said she lived here. “Where is she?”
“Somewhere safe,” Holt answers in a biting tone, his eyes narrowing.
“She’s getting her life back on track. And as far as I can see, if she didn’t feel it was important to share where she was headed, that life doesn’t have room in it for you.
” He turns to walk away, but I reach out, catching his arm.
It’s a mistake. He bristles instantly, and for a second, I think Gianni’s security team is about to witness a very public beatdown.
“Holt, wait,” I rasp, my composure cracking. “I fucked up. I know that. I’m working hard to fix it. Just tell me she’s okay.”
Holt looks down at my hand on his sleeve, then back at my face.
Some of the red-hot anger fades, replaced by a weary kind of pity.
“My sister is stronger than you think. But she deserves someone who appreciates how incredible she is. I couldn’t care less how much money you have or what type of company you own.
Don’t waste her time unless you’re going to treat her right. ”
I fight the urge to drink my sorrows away and head back over to the VIP section, where my friends from the Billionaire Boys Club are waiting. Each of them is staring at me as I approach. What the hell? Is this some sort of an intervention?
Lala flutters around, depositing tumblers of scotch and a humidor of cigars in the center of the table. Becket, Derek, Devon, and Ben are all here.
“Where’s Brodie?” I ask feeling on edge, shaking each of their hands, hoping I’m wrong.
“He’s still at the hospital after the fallout from all of the commotion last week,” Becket answers.
“I was in the cath lab that day,” Derek adds, “but I heard it was a madhouse after everything transpired.”
They make small talk for a minute, reviewing the events as they experienced them following the attempted abduction of Matteo’s ex-wife. But the mood isn’t the usual jovial atmosphere. The tension is thick. Or at least my neck and shoulders are at the moment.
Finally, Gianni approaches. “Max, we’re worried about you.”
“Here we go,” I splutter into my scotch.
“C’mon, man. I consider you a brother. Tell me what the hell is going on. What do you need?”
“What are you talking about, G? You’ve given me enough. You let me work here when I can’t manage the chaos in my own office.”
“And why is that?” Slick Willy asks. “You seem to be here working a lot. Why can’t you concentrate there?”
I look at each of them. The men who’ve befriended me without pushing for my backstory. Men I respect, who’ve found their own versions of peace. Loretta’s words come back to haunt me, and I decide to let them in.
So, I tell them everything. About the cruise, Isla, my parents’ slow decay into anger and depression.
How Secure Sphere was built on the bones of my grief.
I tell them about falling for a girl who worked here, who seemed to know how to quiet the storm.
How she makes me want a future I’m terrified to reach for, both for fear of hurting her, and me.
“She deserves far better than a rage-filled vigilante,” I finish, my voice thick.
“Then fix it,” Derek says, his voice unusually assertive.
“Be the man she deserves. It sucks what your family has been through, Max. Trust me, I get it.” He looks away, likely thinking of his own wife.
“But you have the chance to get help. To win your girl back. I’d do anything for one more chance.
” There’s a break in his voice that is doing something uncomfortable to my heart.
“You work on that while we help you look for Isla.”
“You know we’ll do anything we can to help,” Ben adds.
A single tear escapes, and I don’t bother to wipe it away. “Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t share this sooner. This was the only place I could come to block out the nightmares.”
“Well, we’ll put our heads together,” Devon adds. “My UK security team is top-notch. Maybe not as good as Gianni’s, but they may be able to examine the international landscape from a unique perspective.”
“And Matteo has been working with his cousin in Rome to monitor Vincenzo’s illegal exploits. I’ll have them look at his sex trafficking ring,” Gianni adds.
“Thanks, G.”
Slick Willy puts a warm hand on my shoulder. “But, Max? Get with someone. Talk this shit out. You can’t find her if you’re gone from the stress.”
I nod. “Already happening.”
A chorus of “good,” echoes about the table.
I should be relieved. Feel a little lighter. But the one person I want to share this with isn’t here anymore. How had I managed to completely fuck this up?