Page 212 of Savage Suit

My heart ached at his sadness. How could he have destroyed us? He couldn’t have…I grasped at straws, clinging to Graham’s belief of another explanation.

Noah swiped a thumb at my wet cheek, then dropped his injured hand to his side. “Hello, my love.”

Chapter Forty-Three

I would be forever grateful to Graham for his assistance, only obtained when I provided proof I hadn’t betrayed Ryan. I’d asked him to let me be in the office if and when Ryan arrived but he’d refused. Nicholas’ shenanigans had affected Soraya, a grave offense in Graham’s book. Understandable, because my brother’s bullshit had almost lost me Ryan.

No almost in it at the moment. She hadn’t spoken to me since I’d approached her. Seeing the top of her head surprised me. I was so used to her height in the heels she favored in public. Today, though, she wore sneakers and jeans, with a heavy jacket opened to reveal a gray shirt.

Tomorrow, we were supposed to trim the tree. I hadn’t canceled it because, until then, I’d forgotten about it.

“It’s cold,” I told her. “Let’s get into the car and warm up.” Of course, I wanted her to come with me of her free will, although I had one last savage move up my sleeve if she didn’t. “I need to talk to you, Ryan.” As much as I had rehearsed humbleness, my words still came out as a demand.

“Noah—”

“Please,” I whispered, my pulse speeding. I wanted Ryan to give in forme. Before I told her the real story or told her who else was in the car. “I know you hate me, and I don’t deserve your consideration—”

“I don’t hate you, Noah.” Tears glistened in her eyes, turning them into liquid pools. “I wish I could. I’ve tried. I just can’t unsee what I saw.”

I couldn’t unsee Nicholas and Megan either. “Come with me to the penthouse.” Unable to stop myself, I kissed her forehead.

She shook her head, and my heart sank. “I’m not having sex with you, so don’t touch me again.” She sidestepped me and it took a moment to register Wilbur racing to open the door for her and Ryan ducking into my car.

Quinn’s squeal mobilized me, and I smiled for the first time in days, then got into the car as well.

“Shhh, it’s okay, Quinn,” Ryan whispered, caressing her sister’s back as she sobbed against her shoulder. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

The car rocked into motion, but I remained silent to give Ryan and Quinn their moment.

I’d had only a couple hours sleep. After Reid’s arrival with the missing trunk, Lumley saw to my hand and cleaned up Nicholas as best he could, providing ice packs and cold compresses. My brother found it in his best interest to confess the truth and show me the videos.

“The full videos,” I’d demanded, “not the fucking spliced ones.”

He’d removed the ice pack from the side of his face to glare at me. “I don’t have—”

I’d jumped to my feet. We were still in the living room. Logan had gone upstairs to email Ryan, but Quinn refused to leave. Whether it was because of me, Reid, or both, I didn’t know or care. As I started for Nicholas, she stepped in front of me.

“Talk, fuckhead,” Reid ordered, “or I’ll tell Quinn to move out of the way so Noah can finish you off.”

Nicholas complied, finally understanding the depth of my anger. Enough money incentivized anyone to commit crimes, apparently. Aware of my schedule, my brother paid off more than a few staff members for various tasks or just to look the other way. My wine had been drugged twice. The server added a mild sedative to the bottle and Megan dropped something else into my glass.

The full video showed Megan walking into the only other room on my floor—the suite on the other end of the hallway. The decoration matched the one I’d been in, except the layout was opposite. My bedroom had been on the right; the other one had been one the left. Whoever had been in the room shooting the fucking video hadn’t been smart enough to erase the footage that set up the scene. Nicholas hadn’t bothered either. I’d expected to obtain just more extensive recording of their fucking, instead of the gold mine I’d found.

I remained silent throughout the drive, achingly aware of Ryan, her coconut scent, her thigh against mine, her voice. Even though I’d looked after Quinn for the past few days, her words didn’t register. It was Ryan, all Ryan. It seemed to take forever to arrive at the penthouse, but we finally did.

She paused when we reached the living room. She ignored Reid and Logan to stare at Nicholas’ puffy, bruised face, swollen eyes, bloated lips, and bandaged nose.

“Ryan!” Logan cried, hurrying to her, and hugging her.

“Hey, boyo,” she whispered, wrapping him in her embrace.

“You had us so worried,” he told her, his voice cracking.

“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to stay focused on her brother. Her attention repeatedly strayed to fuckhead. “I was upset and…uh…what happened to you, Nicholas?” she asked, finally giving in to her curiosity and stepping away from Logan to walk closer to Nicholas.

“I lied to you,” he confessed, barely intelligible. With effort, he picked up his cell phone from the small table next to his chair and held it up to her. She took it from him but didn’t move to look at the screen.

Quinn sat on Reid’s lap and laid her head against his shoulder.