Chapter 43
Emma
I can hardly breathe. The joy of having my boys safe and sound is limitless.
To have Jude looking and smiling at me in that way is life-affirming.
He’s lit up from the inside. Every time one of the boys goes near him, he seems to glow brighter.
And when I get near, I can feel the white heat, the intensity. He burns with it.
I’m desperate to be close to him, but I’m pulled in for hugs and kisses from all the Greystone family. The two I haven't met in person, Jonno and Jackson, are weirdly similar in looks.
“I can’t thank you enough for looking out for the boys,” I tell Jonno, who surely cannot be the scary serial stalker and general maniac they all describe him as. He looks like a choir boy. Youthful, very open, beautiful face. He looks like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“Well, you all belong to Jude, and therefore me. And I take great care with anyone who belongs to us all.” He grins at me, and, to be honest, I get a brief glimpse into something a shade darker, something slightly unhinged.
But I just grin back. “And besides, the stunt they just pulled is perfect for this family. You’ll fit right in.
” He starts to laugh like a madman, and I turn to look for help.
“Ignore him, Emma. He’s barking.” Jackson has pulled me into him.
He looks like Jonno, but has a bigger frame. His muscles are hard underneath his T-shirt. He’s all angles, and clearly can hide his darkness well. Jude has told me his business and former profession. You would never know, he looks as harmless as Jonno.
“It’s good to meet you finally.” He smiles warmly at me.
“Your boys are quite something. We love their ingenuity.” He lowers his voice and whispers in my ear.
“My brother loves you. So give him hell.” He pulls away, grinning as maniacally as Jonno a few minutes ago.
Oh my God, they are as mad as Jude and Evie claimed.
But he kisses my cheek and hands me back to Jude.
“Ignore anything they’ve said. They’re the crazy two.” He points to Jonno and Jackson, who just smirk at us both. “But Jake is sane.” Jude kisses me as I slip back into his hold. His scent—bergamot, sandalwood, and the spice, oh the spice—it’s like a drug. I’m getting high on it.
“Come get drinks and food. Emma, you must be so frazzled.” Evie comes and plucks me from Jude’s arms. “Tell me all about it. Can you believe it, what they did, how they planned it? So good. I’m impressed.”
She actually sounds it. Why is no one here upset with them? Nigel would have gone ballistic. This lot seem to only be upset that they never shared the plan with anyone. A golden rule they have—any crazy business has to be run past someone. Other than that, it’s a free-for-all.
It’s not until after midnight that I finally have Jude to myself.
And even then, it’s not just Jude. The other Greystone brothers, Evie, Marcus Russell, and Xander Barclay are all sat in the library, waiting for me to tell my tale.
I hesitate on the doorstep, looking at them all, my trepidation at spilling all my secrets filling me with dread.
I really don’t want my weaknesses thrust into the light for everyone to examine.
Evie must see my fear, as she jumps up to come and collect me. “Don’t worry, we all debrief. Sorry if it seems a bit weird and intrusive, but we all want to help.” She kisses my cheek, but then steps past me as Tarron Barclay has appeared behind me in the corridor.
Jude ushers me into the room and settles me onto a sofa, he and Jake sitting on either side of me. Jude takes my hand in his, his smile full of comfort and love. Jackson hands us each a large whiskey. I don’t think I’ve drank so much alcohol for years as I have in the past ten months.
“Tarron and Carter are entertaining Sir Philip, so he won’t come and hear anything you have to say.” Evie steps back in and sits in between her husbands. They both grin at her, Xander leaning in to kiss her.
“I asked Dad to distract him,” adds Xander.
“I’m sure this is hard for Emma as it is, with us nosey lot all getting involved.
” He hits me with a blinding smile. Jude makes a noise in his throat that sounds suspiciously like a growl, but Xander just starts to laugh.
“Here to help,” he sniggers out, smirking at Jude.
“Emma, shall we tell you what we know, and you can fill in any blanks.” Jonno Greystone has sat down. His serious face is a bit off-putting, and I inch closer to Jude, who pulls me even closer into him.
Jude kisses my head, his voice full of love and support. “Or do you want to start, Emma.”
I’m not sure I can make a coherent sentence. So I say, “No, you go.” I smile at Jonno, who also leans forwards and gives my hands a squeeze.
“Okay, we know Nigel is up to his eyes in debt. He owes a king's ransom at his club and has no way of paying it back.” Jonno is watching my face. He must see my surprise, as he nods his head at me in confirmation. “He can’t ask Sir Philip for more money. He doesn’t pay any bills at home as the house is part of Sir Phillip’s estate.
He only has his leisure costs, so you can imagine how big those debts are.
” He makes a motion with his hands way over his head.
“He was targeting your business, and he had a spy in the camp—someone he was seeing.” I close my eyes.
Poor Amy, having to put up with that. “His wife doesn’t know, and we don’t intend to tell her.
These things have a habit of getting out, but we don’t do that sort of dirty work.
” Jonno looks around at everyone. They all nod.
“Unless it suits us, of course.” He grins evilly, and to be honest, I feel a bit scared of him.
“He thought you could be bullied. He targeted your business because he thought he could manipulate you the easiest. He had more access to you than anyone else.” Jackson has picked up where Jonno left off.
“With the woman feeding him new data weekly—all your hard work, all your networking, your great work at conferences,” He smirks at that.
Oh Christ, they know about Berlin. “He profited from it all. With zero effort. He just had to bribe the new companies.”
“You should have told me the extent of it. I only found out from this lot.” Jude points to his brothers. “And they only mentioned it the other day.” He looks daggers at Jackson and Jonno, who look a bit embarrassed.
“It was getting worse. I only have a handful of clients left. But it’s a godsend as I also don’t have any staff either. They all left. Went to work at Nigel’s.” I look down. I’m so upset at failing.
Jude looks shocked. “When did that happen?”
“This week. I also got letters from a lawyer saying the companies that left are suing me over their exit fees. And I had the police come as someone reported me for fraud and money laundering.” My voice chokes at that. The shame of the police at my door eats at me.
“The letter is a fake,” Jonno states. “Nigel got his mate to send it to you. There’s no lawsuit for the companies.
He just didn’t want you contacting the companies that left.
He knew you might if he didn’t go aggressive and make it seem as if they disliked you.
And he knew, if you asked, they would have come back to you. ”
I gasp, and Jude shakes his head and hugs me closer.
“The letter about the custody of the kids was also a complete fabrication.” Jude hits me between the eyes with that information.
“Nigel has not filed for custody. Amy would never agree. And, to be fair, he was just applying it as a lever. He wants the house to be sold. He desperately needs that money. Can you imagine if Sir Philip gets wind about him? And he will. People love to gossip.” Jude has my face between his big hands, his eyes pleading with me to understand, not to worry.
I flop backwards and look around the room. All the faces are serious and concerned.
“Lindy was a liar. Jude never saw her again after LA,” Evie tells me.
“If anything she said or did upset you, it was all aimed at getting Jude back, and you out of the way. That’s all been sorted now.
Kell and Xan have applied pressure on her music label and PR.
There won’t be any more hassle from her. ”
Evie gets up and kisses me. I could cry, the support and love in this room blowing me away.
I know I have a supportive family with Mum and Dad, and Louise, but to have these people as my family makes my heart sing.
Love, respect, commitment to me and my sons is front and centre here. It makes me feel safe.
I turn to Jude. “I saw her on Friday, when I went to your building to see you. Brandon walked me back, and she ambushed us outside the cafe. Implied she was coming to Ireland and LA. To you.”
Jude and Jackson huff, in unison, passing a look between each other.
“No fucking chance,” Jude scoffs. “I want you. I only want to be with you. I never went out with her. I know Nigel told the boys I did. But someone posted some crap from before and used language to make it seem as if it had just happened.” He holds my eyes again.
“I’m sorry I left. I just couldn’t be there and on my own.
I needed my family. I left with Evie straight away.
” He pauses. “I’m so sorry. I should have stayed for you.
” He kisses me gently on the lips. “I love you. Only you.”
It’s as if no one else is here. He is so focused on me. I feel seen and cherished. And, oh boy, he certainly knows how to take the intensity and crank it all the way up. This here, now, is way beyond any expectation or ideas that I had. This is everything, and it’s all written in his gorgeous eyes.
“I’m sorry I shouted at you about everything.
It was so stupid. I just couldn’t think straight.
I’d been hit with all my clients wandering off, then all my staff.
The police. Lawyers, and Nigel going for custody.
He also said he was going to renegotiate for the building now he knew the price you offered me.
” Listing the crazy catalogue of events, it hits me just how conniving Nigel is.
I can feel their sympathy envelop me, understanding my reactions to having to deal with it all at once. Evie gives my leg a squeeze, as Jude captures my attention again.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. With all that lot it’s a wonder you got out of bed. I know how hard it’s been. To lose your whole life in the way you did eight years ago. I know it’s a lot to trust someone.” He shakes his head, touching my hair, my face.
I’m mesmerised by his eyes, his smile. He’s kissing and nuzzling me. Telegraphing I’m wanted, worshipped and loved.
“We’re all off.” I look up in surprise. I’d forgotten they were there.
Jonno is the last one in the room. Where did they all go?
I never noticed them getting up to leave.
But then I was so wrapped up in Jude, I never saw anyone else.
“Emma, we can fix every single one of your issues. Trust us, trust Jude. We all help each other. We tell each other all our problems. Everyone is invested in helping. We have a motto, ‘Family above all.’ And we look after our own.” He then turns to Jude.
“Love you, brother.” he nods his head at Jude and leaves the room.
“Wow, they all left quickly. Is it something I said.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
“Was probably when I started professing my love for you.” He tips his head towards me.
“I hope you can see how much they want to help. It’s not a weakness to share your issues.
We all fix each other, we support. Nobody can do it all alone.
And I don’t want you to. I want to help.
Support, enhance. That is what husbands should do. ”
He lets that bomb drop, sitting quietly while I stare at him. He’s gauging my reaction.
The tears sting my eyes. And then they start to fall.
“Oh, no. That’s not tears of a no is it?”
I shake my head. “No.” I gulp. “Jude, I want to get married to you. I want you to have the boys in your life permanently. I came to tell you. I love you. I just was so out of control. Not thinking straight. But every time I needed comfort, it was your face I saw. Your voice I heard in my head, loving me, supporting me. Please, can you forgive me? Take me back? Clearly my boys want you as well.” I smirk sheepishly at him.
“Thank god the criminal empire never crumbled. Theft of a credit card, fraudulent use of it.” He grins, pulling me into his chest. “I nearly died when they got out of that car. The little shits. So fucking proud of themselves.”
He kisses my lips, nibbling at me. My body starts to hum, and I’m sure he can hear it.
“Let’s go to bed. Let me love you, Emma. Let me show you how great things can be between us. How amazing it will be when you are Mrs Emma Greystone.” He’s smirking now as his hands travel all over my body.
“I think I’ll be Mrs Emma Lincoln Greystone,” I gasp out as I extend my neck to the side to allow him more access.
“I don’t care. I’ll be anything you want, as long as you’re with me. As long as the boys are with me. Say yes, Emma. To everything.”
He stops and looks deep into my eyes. Checking to make sure my soul belongs to him.
It does, along with my heart.
I pour everything into him as I state with full certainty and love, “Yes. I will marry you. Be with you. I love you with everything that I am, Jude Greystone. Builder.”