Chapter 36 #3
“What did you just say?” The dry tone cut in from behind, and I whirled to face Cooper, certain his venom wasn’t meant for me.
“You need to learn some respect, Evangeline,” Preston added, an edge of disbelief to his words and a glint of satisfaction in his glare.
“Don’t fucking say her name,” Cooper’s voice boomed, his eyes glazed as they narrowed in on his father.
And now there was no mistaking who he was talking to.
I caught the shock in his father’s eyes before I turned my full attention back to my fiancé.
Stepping towards him, I fought for his focus, knowing he was slipping from me.
“Don’t tell me you actually care about this money hungry whore,” Preston scoffed from behind me and even Portia had the decency to look offended.
“Look at me,” I soothed, resting a hand on Coop’s chest in an effort to halt his rage.
“Cooper, you better shut her-” his voice edged closer, and when Cooper wrapped an arm around my waist pulling me into him, I knew if I turned, Preston would have been right there.
“Touch her and you’ll regret it.” His voice was colder than I’d ever heard, void of any warmth. The laughter and light he saved for those who mattered, extinguished, his face expressionless. This was the same Cooper I saw at that club all those months ago. The one who was far from controlled.
“Oh, come on honey, this is ridiculous. You barely know her,” Portia tried, but even I could hear the tremor in her voice. The edge that told me she knew they were on a slippery slope and was digging those perfectly manicured nails into anything she could to avoid the fall.
“Are you going to let this thing come between our family?” Preston seethed, and I tapped my fingers against Cooper’s chest.
“I’m here,” I whispered against his skin. “I’m okay,” I promised.
“This thing,” Cooper mocked his father’s tone sardonically, his grip around my waist tightening as the other hand came up to hold me to his chest, “Is the woman I love, so I’d be very fucking careful when choosing your next words.”
“Love?” Preston scoffed, as if the thought was ridiculous. “Trust me, son, this isn’t love.” The condescension whipped through me and the venom was spewing before I had a chance to stop it. I spun, remaining in his arms, but turning my attention elsewhere.
“You have no right to call yourselves parents. Especially of someone as incredible as Cooper. You, and you,” I said, turning to a clearly stunned Portia, “should be ashamed of yourselves. You don’t even know the man you keep calling son.
You don’t actually deserve to know him. And Preston,” I sneered, knowing I probably looked manic, “even someone like me, ‘a money hungry whore from Moorway,’ can see how fucking amazing this man is. How despite you both, he is full of love and light and has created a hugely successful business. Despite-you-both.” I emphasised, into the otherwise silent room.
“You two are the problem here, which means it is up to you to find the solution.” My chest was heaving, my mind racing.
“Now if you’ll excuse me,” I said, stepping out of Cooper’s embrace, and delicately brushing my fingers against his hand in an act of solidarity, “I am done here.”
I fled as quickly as I could. Away from my brother and our friends, away from the man I loved, away from the fallout of whatever the fuck that was because I had somewhere I needed to be. And it couldn’t wait.
“Xavi, you there?” I asked as soon as he answered my call, his whispered acknowledgment unnerving.
“I’m here,” He whispered.
“Where’s here?” I whispered back, running towards the car we’d arrived in, although unsure why I was matching pitch.
“In my car and you won’t believe what I’m seeing.”
“What?” I asked, already feeling stressed.
“I’m parked across from sexy Fight Club and Grant is literally unloading five fucking barrels of whiskey from a truck.”
“What?” I hissed before giving the driver the address for The Cellar.
“Literally. There are two other guys helping him unload them while he speaks to someone I can’t see.”
“Xav, you need to be careful,” I warned, “I’m on the way though.” The Cellar wasn’t far from here, although I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do when I did arrive.
“Ummm, Evs, with all due respect, how do you think you’re going to help?” He asked, reading my mind.
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully. “But I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Babes, I am practically a shadow with cheek bones, but I’m not moving.
One of them looks like someone cloned a pit bull and gave it a lifetime membership to the gym and the other has a neck like a tree trunk.
I am not going anywhere near them. But I would like to see your lethal woodsman have a go. ”
“Wait until I tell you everything that happened tonight-”
“Oh my God,” he interrupted. “The walking protein shake literally just picked up a barrel and put it on his shoulder,” he hissed, sounding entirely impressed.
“Do not move.” I warned, knowing he was a sucker for an athlete. “How many barrels do they have?” I couldn’t believe Grant had taken more. Even after I’d made subtle comments about discrepancies and miscalculations, he was still involved in stealing from Cooper.
“I think six. Oh, they’re closing the side door, but Grant is still outside on the phone.”
“I’m almost there.” I said, as I spotted Grant standing alone, pacing the darkened sidewalk and Xavi’s silver hatchback a little further down the street. “Xavier, your interior light is on!” I scolded, just as the driver pulled up outside.
“Relax. I put a piece of paper in the back window saying Uber. I’m good.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed at his absurdity before hanging up and quickly forwarding both Coop and Seb a message. While I didn’t necessarily want saving, I also wasn’t an idiot.
Coming here alone, aside.
Thanking the driver, I stepped out of the car and headed for the lone man who was still talking into his phone, unaware I was approaching.
My heels on the concrete gave me away at the same time as I heard a car door close and saw Xavier walking over.
“Evangeline?” Grant asked shocked, ending his call. And in that split second, I saw it. The guilt that crossed his face before it vanished behind a furrowed brow. His gaze swept behind me, as though he expected someone to be with me.
No prizes for who he was looking for although when Xavier came and stood next to me, his confusion deepened.
“Are you working tonight?” I asked, looking at the truck parked at the kerb, the Golden Spades logo broadcasting his employer for anyone who walked by.
“Oh,” he said, flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just needed the truck for a bit. Had some personal stuff to move, but Coop is always fine if we ever need to borrow things.”
“What personal things?” I asked, feeling slightly emboldened with Xavi by my side, arms crossed as if he was a local detective who’d uncovered a serial killer.
“Ummmm,” he scratched his head, looking unnerved, before the panic showed itself.
“You might be engaged to the boss, but I don’t answer to you.
So, I think I’ll get back to my personal business.
” He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing sharply and I instinctively took a step back.
How was this the same man I’d been working with for the past four months, now trying to intimidate me.
“You better back the fuck up!” Xavier said, putting his body in front of me in a protective way I’d never seen.
He appeared five inches taller and slightly crazed and even Grant looked uncertain as he shifted unsteadily.
“You know damn well that what she is asking is entirely valid so it’s time you remember that’s your boss’ future wife you’re speaking to and start showing some fucking respect. ”