56. Declan #3
“An omission is still a fucking lie. You’d seen what her disappearance was doing to me, yet you still let me suffer. Instead of telling me the truth so we could’ve used that to track her down, you’d kept it from me. I had to find out from an investigator. A near fucking stranger, Declan.”
“Brogan, I—”
“Save your fucking lies. Go fuck yourself and get the hell out of my life.”
“I can’t do that because I love you, Brogan.”
“Love me? You don’t know the meaning of the goddamned word.”
“So nearly trashing my career to run after Layla in Mexico wasn’t done out of love?” I asked him incredulously.
“It wasn’t out of love, but out of guilt,” he countered back, and I could see how he came to that conclusion, but he was wrong mostly because he was so angry.
“Even after you’d told me you didn't want me in your life anymore—"
“Yet, here you are.”
“You’re incredibly frustrating, Brogan. Shut the hell up and let me speak my piece.”
I thought he might actually deck me again when he threw his hands up, but he waved them in a dismissive motion, which made me want to grab and pin him to the glass where I’d hold him there until he listened to every word I had to say.
That certainly wouldn’t help matters right now, so I showed some restraint.
His gaze was everywhere but on Enslee or me.
I could tell he didn’t intend to actually listen.
My words wouldn’t penetrate, and I hated when he was in these moods.
“I did it all for you.”
“Already a fucking lie. You did it to ease your guilty conscience. I'm out of jail, and I still fucking hate you, so yeah, you did it all for nothing.”
“It wasn't for nothing. Whether you ever forgive me or not, you didn't belong there—”
“And you don't belong here anymore.”
“Don't you miss me at all?” I asked as I switched tactics.
“Miss you?” he asked before releasing a sarcastic laugh. “I can't fucking stand you. I'm impatiently waiting for you to fucking disappear, and for good.”
Before I even knew what I was doing, I grabbed him by the throat, then pressed him against the glass.
“You might deny it now, but you won't be able to forever. One day, you're going to realize what I've realized long ago. There. Is. No. Life. For. Me. Without. You! And there's damn sure no life for you without me.” He looked unconvinced, so I continued. “And I’d warn you that you better come to your senses before I'm gone, but you and I both know that I’ll wait.” I leaned in but stopped when our mouths were a hairsbreadth away from each other’s. “And tonight, when you lie in your bed alone, I know you’ll stroke your cock and think about me.” He smirked at that. “You’ll picture my mouth on you and my ass stretching around it.”
“The dreams I’ll use of you to get myself off will never include your pleasure. I’ll come all over my fucking hand picturing your last breath leaving your body as I wrap my hand around your neck, and choke—”
“Go ahead and delude yourself into thinking you don't need me,” I warned.
Brogan pushed me away from him, and my hand slipped from his throat. I turned in that moment as he fixed his gaze on Enslee. She looked so crestfallen, and as the pain in my own chest squeezed once more, I was the one to glare at her this time.
I’d planned to confront Brogan, but not like this.
And not tonight. I was now irritated with her, which I think she recognized because she walked back to the island, then snatched her purse and cell phone off it.
Brogan walked past both of us, then into his room where he slammed the door behind him. I shook my head, then sighed deeply.
“Give him some time to cool off, Enslee. We need to go.”
“But you two—”
“We’ll talk another time.”
She nodded before walking over to me. From there, I led her out of the penthouse. On the elevator ride down to the parking garage, she sobbed once or twice, so when we reached the ground floor, I wiped away the tears glistening on her cheeks, then pulled her into my arms.
“I told you he’ll never forgive me, but mark my words that he will miss me.”
“He already does,” she said, and this time I let out a small chuckle.
“Doubtful, but it’ll happen. Enough about him. Do you need a ride back to your hotel?”
She shook her head. “No, I’d already ordered a rideshare when upstairs.”
“If you want to cancel it, I can drop you off.”
“No, it’s fine. I need some time alone.”
“Okay. Good night, Enslee.”
“Night, Declan.”
When she tipped her head up, I pressed my lips gently to hers, then pulled away. “Please don’t leave town without telling me goodbye.”
“I promise I won’t,” she vowed.
“Good night, again.”
She flashed a watery smile at me before walking to the sidewalk. I stood there waiting for her ride to pick her up before going to my own car. From there, I drove to my penthouse. Without You began playing, and one thought struck me as I hummed along.
What a fitting song for a miserable fucking night.
I’d been so desperate to see Brogan. Now, the two of us were in that broken place we knew only too well.
As the song continued to play, I remembered my earlier vow to him.
I’d wait for him because my life was nothing without him.
And he’d one day realize that his was nothing without me too.