15. Brogan
Iwas on the way back to Staten Island after I’d spent the better part of the morning talking to the team of private investigators I’d hired.
My father swore that he had some men on the job, but I couldn’t trust anything that man said.
Hell, he was no man. He was a monster, and as my dark thoughts crept back into my head, I couldn’t help but shake the idea that his venom was the same kind flowing through my veins.
Declan had tried to fuck me back to some semblance of normalcy and calm, but it only worked momentarily.
It never persisted, and while I could stay in bed with him day and night, it’d only postponed the inevitable.
Unfortunately, what my lawyer had told me yesterday was likely to happen was confirmed this morning.
“I’m dating a girl in the prosecutor’s office, and she said they’re building a case against you, Sinclair,” Abe had told me.
“They can’t hold me without any sort of evidence, right?”
“I’m not so sure about that. She indicated that the case is very compelling, and they not only are confident about getting the indictment, but a conviction as well.
I’m sure you remember a case about five years ago in San Diego where a man was convicted of killing his wife who’d disappeared three years prior.
While he’d claimed she might actually be alive, she’d stopped using her cell phone, credit cards, and all social media.
Like Miss Harte, she also left behind all her identification too.
She missed several milestones already, including her father’s fiftieth birthday.
The husband also had no alibi, and his cell phone was untraceable for several hours that night. ”
“But it’s not the same—” I’d cut in but was shut down immediately.
“Let’s look at the facts. You were engaged to this woman who was extorting you for money, all the while having a secret affair on the side.
You’re rich, powerful, and have the means and opportunity to do something with her.
Back in the day, the lack of a body was an issue, but not now as long as the evidence they present is overwhelming.
You, my friend, are the textbook example, and the state intends to make an example out of you. ”
“Fucking hell,” Declan said to me as I told him about that conversation as I merged onto 78W. “I can’t help but think this is all my fault.”
“Your fault?” I asked incredulously. “Other than possessing the wrong equipment between your legs to satisfy my father’s homophobic ideals, there’s nothing you could’ve done.”
“Still, I hate to see you go through all of this. I know Layla has to be alive out there somewhere. We will find her,” he promised me.
“We’ll see,” I said in resignation. “Where’s Enslee now?”
“She went to her room for a bit. I’m glad you’re on your way because she’s been asking for you.”
“You don’t think she’s starting to remember anything yet, do you?”
The last thing I needed was for her to blow up this case by outing me.
If she confirmed that she’d seen Declan and me together that night in my office, it’d provide the prosecutors with the motive that they so far lacked.
I hadn’t needed her money, and there’d not even been a single life insurance policy or any other financial benefit for me to get rid of her.
Her disappearance or death did not aid me with anything. Except Declan.
I could already see it now. They’d swear Layla found out about my infidelity, and either Declan or I got rid of her to shut her up so we could keep our secret.
The fact that it’d been a decade-long one would’ve been salacious enough on its own.
The fact that it was an affair between one of the wealthiest bachelors in the city and a Hollywood heartthrob.
I could already see the rumor mill spinning, as much as I could feel the metal wrap around my wrists as I was cuffed and led away in shame.
“....at all.”
“Huh?” I said as I focused back on the present.
“I’d just said that she doesn’t appear to have remembered anything at all yet.”
“We need to make sure that she doesn’t before we can get what we need for the blackmail. We’ll fuck up her life before she ever gets a chance to do it to ours.”
“You make quite the villain, Brogan. I must admit it’s turning me on.”
“You haven’t seen a villain yet, baby. That’ll all change tonight when I’m balls deep in your ass.”
“You talking like that has me hard as fuck.”
My own cock was in that state, although his deep voice through my car speakers had been enough to do that for me. I chuckled, then exhaled sharply. “Tonight I’ll back it all up.”
“Of that, I have no doubt. How far out are you?”
“That eager for my cock, Declan?”
“Mmmm, always, baby, but Enslee is anxious to go through the photographs. If you’re close, I’ll delay it a bit.”
I looked down at my GPS. “I’m about fifteen minutes out. See you in a while.”
From there, I disconnected the call, then shifted in my seat. These small sports cars were hell on my frame. I practically dwarfed the damn thing, but bad boys loved their expensive toys.
“If you don’t want to lose everything, you’ll forget all about that boy. Am I understood?”
“Lose what? I’m a Sinclair by blood, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“I’ll take everything you love away from you until you’re left with nothing. We’ll see if that boy wants you then.”
“I only need him. And he won’t desert me.”
“Say goodbye to your credit cards and every expensive toy you have, including your car and motorcycle. I’ll fucking ruin you, and there’ll be nothing left.”
“Go to Hell,” had been the last thing I’d said during that conversation with my father before he had his goons inject me with something that burned as it rushed through my veins.
I raked a hand through my hair. He’d meant to torture me, and I knew he might’ve even succeeded in killing me had I not eventually given in.
I was then returned to my life, but one that had felt much emptier.
I couldn’t even be friends with Declan at that time, and remembering how hurt he’d been when I’d ignored him upon my return made me want to dig my own father’s grave that much more.
If I wanted to get rid of someone, it would’ve been the old man.
I forced them out of my head. Stanley Sinclair had resorted to brutal methods to keep Declan and me apart, and if he hadn’t had his own private investigator tailing me, he would’ve never known that I’d rekindled things with Declan and had been with him for years by that point.
The only thing he had in his arsenal to threaten me with had been Sinclair Pharmaceuticals, and it was his only ace in the deck.
I needed to see things through with the company, and with any luck, maybe my second dream would finally come true.
The first was being able to live freely and openly with Declan. Once my father was gone from this earth, the company would be mine and his threats to dismantle it would be over. I’d be at the helm, and finally able to live the life I’d deserved with the man I loved.
I could hear the steady ticking of the clock.
Either my father would meet his demise, or I would.
All I knew was I’d continue to fight to hold on to all that I had, until I could eventually have everything.
Layla had been a wild card from the start, and Enslee was a problem I could least afford right now.
One fucking story or article about Declan and me, and our careers and lives could very well be over.
After all, I hadn’t forgotten how terrified she’d been of us that night as she’d fled from my office. We’d chased after her although I hadn’t known what I would do once we’d caught her. That choice had been taken away, and I did the only thing I could at the time.
I was notorious for making rash decisions throughout my life.
I’d also overcome every last one of them as I would now.
We might’ve kidnapped her and were now feeding her lies, but she’d play into our hands.
There was no other option. There hadn’t been for me when my father had broken me, and there wouldn’t be for her, even if I had to break her to ensure it.
My exit approached, and I needed to get my mind on something else.
Thoughts immediately turned to Declan and how he’d looked last night as he’d rode my cock.
My dick still ached from those damn cock rings, but I’d come so hard in his ass that it made it all worth it.
As my shaft hardened even more, I realized sex was the wrong thing to think about as well.
Luckily, I approached the gated neighborhood where Declan lived, then passed through the private one for his estate. I’d then pulled into the garage and could now rest easily. There were no watchful eyes to evade here. This home was definitely an escape from the city for both of us.
I made my way inside, and when I did, I saw both Declan and Enslee sitting on the couch. They both looked up at me, and while my lover oftentimes smiled at my arrival, the biggest grin was from her.
“Brogan,” she said before rising to her feet. She came over to me, then paused when inches away from me. “Do we… ahh… hug?”
I reached out to stroke the side of her face before slipping my hand under her chin to tip her head back.
As I stared down into her upturned face.
I grinned back at her. “We do more than hug,” I told her, then surprised both Enslee and Declan when I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her briefly.
I eventually pulled away and brushed my thumb over her quivering lip.
“So Declan said you wanted to see some pictures of us.”
“Yes,” she said breathily. “I’m hoping these will trigger something inside this broken head of mine.”
“I know all about broken heads,” I murmured, and she looked up at me in question. I still kept my grin on my face. “But that’s not anything you need to worry about.”
“Shall we?” she asked, and at my nod, we both moved over to Declan.