Chapter 31 Lies Don’t Work On Me
LIES DON’T WORK ON ME
SEBASTIAN
Peter collects me from the airport, raising an eyebrow when I tell him we’re making a detour before heading to Rose Hill.
“Sinclair’s Offices? Senator Sinclair?” he asks when I give him the address.
“One and the same,” I reply, scrubbing a hand over my face.
I’m fucking exhausted. If I thought I wasn’t sleeping well in the weeks after Lily’s arrival, this week has been a thousand times worse.
Every time I’ve seen her, it’s been a constant internal war between my emotions, with one half wanting to run far away and the other desperate to bury myself inside her.
Suffice to say, sleep has been elusive.
Needing to deal with something I can control, I’d decided that this trip to Sydney was going to be more than a simple business trip.
Pulling up out the front, Peter turns to look at me. “Want me to wait, or come back in a bit?”
I shake my head. “This shouldn’t be a long visit.”
“Okay, I’ll go find a car park somewhere along the street. Message me when you’re ready.”
I nod and step out onto the curb. He pulls back into the stream of traffic along the busy street, and I glance up at the large sign above the door, declaring this the offices of Senator Joseph Sinclair.
He’s come up a long way since I last saw him. He was a local councillor back then, but he’d always had loftier goals.
I wonder how Lily’s father had felt once Joseph was no longer the one in charge of development in the electorate.
I have to admit, I’d had a bit of a chuckle when the news broke that Joseph had stepped away to run for senate, imagining Dylan St. Clair’s utter disgust. That was the only thing about the whole situation that made me smile, though.
Letting myself inside, I nod towards the young woman on reception.
“Sebastian DeLuca, here for my 11am appointment with Joseph,” I tell her.
She looks at her computer, then back at me, frowning. “I’m sorry, I don’t seem to have anything noted for Joseph at 11am.”
“We only made the appointment yesterday.”
I know how to play these games, and show no signs that I’m bluffing through my arse.
She bites her lip, glancing between me and her screen a few times, then nods. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”
I nod. “Please do.” Taking a seat on the leather couch in the waiting area, I keep my eyes trained on her as she lifts the receiver on the phone beside her.
She smiles at me, her eyes lowering as her cheeks turn pink.
I’m not stupid. I’m very aware of the affect I have on people, and this is one of those times that I have no problem using it to my advantage.
I run my thumb across my lower lip as I watch her, and she clears her throat, her eyes widening. “There’s a Mr DeLuca here to see you,” she says breathlessly into the phone. She’s quiet for a moment before shaking her head. “No, Sebastian.”
Bet he was hoping for Daniel. Especially as I know he’s been having my brother followed.
She hangs up, clearing her throat again. “He said to meet him in his office. It’s the second one on the right,” she says, waving towards the hall.
“Thank you.” Rising to my feet again, I make my way down the hall, steeling myself for what’s to come.
I open the door to find him sitting behind his desk, glaring at the door with his arms crossed.
“DeLuca,” he says gruffly, watching with narrowed eyes as I step into the office and close the door behind me.
“I’m not going to bother with any pleasantries, because we both know you don’t deserve those,” I say, my expression neutral as I take in his changed appearance.
He’s let himself go since we were last in the same room, thickening around the middle. The extra weight, coupled with the ridiculous moustache he’s grown makes him look like a walrus.
A pissed off walrus.
“Don’t you dare come in here, throwing around accusations,” he spits out.
I raise an eyebrow, allowing a smirk to play across my lips. “What was I accusing you of? I didn’t utter a single accusation. Perhaps you simply have a guilty conscience? I don’t need to make accusations, though, do I? Because we both know it’s all true.”
“I don’t know what that little bitch has been whispering in your ear,” he starts, but I step forward, my hands balled into fists as I rest them on the desk opposite him.
“Do. Not,” I say, my voice low and lethal. “Your lies don’t work on me, remember. You’ve never been the good Christian you’ve claimed to be. And we both know that Lily is the only innocent person in all of this. An innocent person who you’ve put through years of hell for your own sick amusement.”
He lifts his chin, glaring at me. “She’s my wife. I know her better than you ever have. And I can do whatever I see fit. She belongs to me, after all.”
It takes every ounce of my self control not to reach forward and smash his face into the desk.
“She belongs to no one, you arrogant arsehole. And you know it. There’s a reason her disappearance from your life hasn’t been plastered all over the news.
Because you know the truth of your actions would cost you everything.
What was it you were telling everyone? That she’s on an extended holiday in Europe?
Interesting, considering she doesn’t even have a fucking passport and you never even allowed her to leave this city. ”
The muscle in his jaw clenches, and I’m satisfied to see his face turning red, anger getting the better of him. Perhaps he could just do us both a favour and have a life-ending heart attack right here.
“Fuck you, Sebastian. Just because you wanted her all those years ago, and she chose me instead.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t give me that bullshit. We both know that regardless of any feelings back then, I never would have abandoned her. So you made sure I thought she wanted nothing to do with me. I know all about your little message. We’ve had some very interesting conversations.”
“Where is my wife? I could have you and your dickhead little brother up on kidnapping charges, you know? Or perhaps… sex trafficking. Yeah, I think that’s what it should be. No doubt you’ve got her fucking her way around those whorehouses you own.”
I cross my arms, straightening as I smirk again. “Try it, and see how far you get. One word from Lily and it won’t be me that the cops come after. And don’t forget, you’re not as powerful as you think you are.”
He doesn’t have a leg to stand on, and we both know it.
“What are you doing here, then? If it’s not to return what’s mine?” he asks, knowing full well that is likely going to get him a punch to the face.
Fucking arsehole.
Knowing he’s trying to goad me into punching him, I don’t bite. “I’m here to tell you to stop having Daniel followed. Lily isn’t in Sydney, and following him around isn’t going to get her back. You’ll never lay eyes on her again.”
He sits taller in his seat. “Look at you. Always the protector. But you and I both know you’ll never be the man she wants. Not with how you live your life.”
I shake my head. “Goodbye, Joseph. Remember, I know everything, and the second you step out of line, all your shit is going to be laid bare.”
Not bothering to listen to any further bullshit that he’s likely planning on spewing out, I turn and walk out again, nodding to the woman at the desk as I pull my phone from my pocket and message Peter to come and get me.
I just have to hope this is enough to get him to leave us all the fuck alone.