CHAPTER 23 #3
“Please don’t give them to my dad, Bobby,” she broke down.
“I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry I cheated on you.
I just couldn’t marry you. I couldn’t be the wife you wanted me to be.
I’m not ready to settle down, and you wanted a house and kids; I just couldn’t do it.
The closer the wedding got, the harder it was to call things off. ”
“You could have talked to me. I would have been hurt, but I’d have understood. You didn’t have to sleep with my best friend, and then blame everything on your brother.”
“But you two were having an affair as well. Dillon saw you kissing. He said Gabriel chased you and wore you down.”
“Dillon lied to you,” said Gabriel. “I’ll be honest and say I had a crush on him from the first day you introduced us, but I would never have acted on it, even if Bobby had expressed interest. You’ve known me your whole life, Alex.
Could you ever imagine me doing something like that to anyone, let alone my own sister? ”
She shook her head. “But why did you get married?”
“A drunken mistake. That’s all it was. We didn’t even think it was legally binding until we got home and saw the marriage certificate. Neither of us can remember it. We were that drunk.”
“But you’re together now, aren’t you?”
“For all of two weeks. That note you took, which referenced our ‘first date,’ was because that’s what we were about to have.”
“Oh, I didn’t pick up on that.”
“This is fucking bullshit,” said Dillon.
Bobby had forgotten he was there for a moment. Mr M looked angry, but then he had warned Dillon about swearing in his home.
“Come on, Alex, we’re leaving.”
“I want to stay and talk to my family.”
“You don’t believe all their lies, do you? It’s all fake.”
“That isn’t,” she said, pointing at the photos and text messages Bobby was holding. “I need to think about the rest.”
“You need to come with me now, or we’re done. Pick a side.”
Bobby’s fists tensed, and again it was Gabriel’s touch that calmed him down.
“What are you talking about? I just need a little time to talk to my family. You can go if you want, and I’ll call you later.”
“I don’t think you heard me correctly. You either get your arse outside now, or you can get fucked.”
Bobby had to react quickly as Gabriel flew at Dillon.
“Like a poof could do any damage.”
The collective intake of breath across the room was loud.
“That was you on the recording,” said Alex. “You really think all those things. Is that what you think of me as well?”
Dillon looked at everyone, and it was as if he knew he had nowhere else to go. His face turned into a sneer as he turned to Alex.
“I only went after you to fuck his life up,” he said, signalling to Bobby.
“That cunt thinks he’s better than everyone, and he needed showing that you can’t have everything turn out perfectly.
I had no choice but to go with those other women.
Why the fuck would I want to be with someone as frigid as you? ”
Gabriel grabbed Dillon this time. Bobby had never seen him look so angry.
“Lay a finger on me and I’ll make sure you do time. Your kind always gets the book thrown at you.”
That was enough for Bobby, and he had a hold of Dillon as well. He’d never wanted to hurt anyone so badly in his life.
“Boys, let him go. He’s not worth getting arrested over,” said Mr M.
He was right. Dillon was vindictive enough to make sure they got prosecuted. Yes, it would no doubt feel very satisfying to hit him, but what would the cost be? They both let go of him, and he had the audacity to smirk at them.
Before Bobby could realise what was happening, Dillon was on the floor, and Mr M was standing over him with a clenched fist.
“Me, however? I’ve retired and don’t give a fuck about my career. Sorry, dear,” he said to his wife, who rushed over and hugged him.
“Get up,” said Bobby to Dillon, who was going to have one hell of a shiner tomorrow, based on the current bruising. “I’ll escort you out.”
Dillon didn’t hesitate to leave. He seemed shocked that someone had actually hit him. Once they were outside, Bobby gripped his shoulder.
“I’d think carefully before you go to the police. I can always get the guy I used to do a bit more digging into your life and make sure your employer finds out about it. Just sleep on it would be my advice.”
Dillon shook him off, a scowl back on his face. He stalked off, not looking back. Bobby wasn’t sure if Dillon would listen to him, but if he prosecuted, he might have to ask Daniel for another favour.
Walking back into the house, he could hear Alex sobbing.
He’d never heard her cry like that. What she’d said about them not being right for each other was true.
He hadn’t seen it either, but he wished she would have spoken to him.
It could have saved them a lot of pain. But then, would he be with Gabriel now if they hadn’t been through all they had together?
He wasn’t sure, and that was something he wouldn’t change for the world.
As he entered the kitchen-diner, he wasn’t surprised to see that the person whose arms she was sobbing into were Gabriel’s.