Page 228 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

A month later

Declan

"I’m not hiding out."

I’m hiding out.

"You’re hiding out," he says with finality.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Oh?" He places the tips of his fingers together. "Then what are you doing here, instead of being in LA?"

"I knew you were coming here, and it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, I thought I’d spend some quality time with you."

He lowers his chin and fixes me with a disbelieving look. "We’re good friends, and I like your company, but if I had a woman waiting for me, you bet your arse, I’d be with her instead of choosing to put up with your ugly face."

"Aww, now you hurt me." I slap my hand over my heart in an exaggerated gesture. "And here, I thought this was our chance to make up for some of the time we’ve lost over the years."

He chuckles. "You poor sod. You’re running scared, huh?"

"I don't know what you mean." I snatch my mug of coffee and take a sip.

"Did you realize you were falling for her? Is that why you’ve stayed away?"

"Falling for whom?"

He reaches over and claps me on the back of my head.

"Ow, what was that for?" I place my cup down on the table, then grab a paper-towel and dab at the stains on my sweatshirt.

"Stop pretending you don’t know who I’m referring to."

"Fine, I do. And no, I’m not falling for her."

"You prefer to fly halfway around the world to London instead of going to LA when you get time off, and you’re going to tell me it’s not because you have feelings for her."

"First, the shooting of the film has moved to Europe, which is why it’s easier to come to London rather than LA. And two—" I ball up the towel and dunk it in the bin. "I’m not falling for her because I've already fallen for her."

He blinks. "Hold on, so you’re saying that—"

"I have feelings for her, yes. Which is why I need to stay away from her."

"You’re not making any sense. You discovered you have feelings for her, so you’re putting distance between the two of you?"

"Isn’t that what I just said?"

He rubs his chin. "So, you’re running scared."

"I’m not scared," I scoff.

"So why aren’t you in LA telling her how you feel?"

"Why do you care either way?"

"Because you’re my friend. Also…" He trails off as he shuffles his feet. "Abby, may have mentioned it to me."

"Abby, your sister?" I tilt my head.

"She and your girl are good friends. We met the one time my father explored the possibility of striking a business arrangement with Solene’s father. A notion he later dropped." He raises a shoulder. "Abby and Solene hit it off, though, and kept in touch."

"What are the odds, huh?" I prop my ankle over the knee of my other leg.

"The organized crime world is insular. Doesn’t matter if you live in another country; elements of the syndicate keep in touch with each other. As the law has grown more savvy, so have they.

"I hinted to her that I was developing feelings where she's concerned," I admit.

"You don’t sound happy about it."

"I’m not." I drag my fingers through my hair. "I’m not ready to be tied down. Then, there are my proclivities."

"Is she aware of your tastes?"

"She came to the Club—"

"You took her to the Club?" He stares.

"Of course not. She managed to coerce Rick into bringing her."

Knight barks out a laugh. "Sounds like she’s keeping you on your toes."

"You have no idea."

He leans forward, interest shining in his eyes. "Sounds like she’s good for you, so why are you running from her?"

"I’m not—"

He narrows his gaze on me.

I blow out a breath. "Yes, okay, I didn’t expect to develop these emotions where she’s concerned.”

“So, she is aware of your fondness for BDSM?”

I hesitate, then nod slowly.

“I repeat, what’s the problem, then?”

I rub the back of my neck, “She’s young and her career is just beginning. I’m not going to sully her with how far I want to take things."

"Maybe she’s not as naive as you think she is. She comes from the Mafia. Surely, she’s aware of what happens in the wider world."

"I can’t impose my inclinations on her."

Though everything, so far, points to the fact that she might enjoy the lifestyle. But once I take it that far, there’s no returning, and I can’t risk getting so involved with her that I wouldn’t want to let her go. And that’s exactly what could happen. What might already have happened.

"You need to give her a chance. You can’t decide for the both of you."

I toss back the coffee, then slide my cup on the table. "What makes you such a relationship expert?"

"I’m not. But I’ve seen death close enough to appreciate you don’t always get a second chance."

"Seems I’m in time to lift the mood of this par-tay.

" Cade’s voice reaches us a second before he slips into the vacant chair around the coffee table.

A waiter appears at his elbow with a tumbler of whiskey.

"Thanks, mate." The waiter steps away, and Cade raises his glass. "You pussies still sticking to tea?"

"It’s coffee," Knight says mildly.

"Also, it’s not even six p.m.," I add.

"It’s six somewhere in the world.”

“The saying is, it’s five o'clock somewhere in the world,” Knight chides him.

“Even better!” Cade raises his glass, then takes a sip. "JJ keeps the best whiskey in town." He’s referring to the man who runs 7A, a reformed Mafia Don the three of us know well.

"High praise, coming from the new captain of the English cricket team," a new voice booms.

"Speak of the devil…" Cade turns to greet the newly arrived man. JJ claps Cade on his shoulder. "I’m rooting for you to take the team all the way to the finals of the next World Cup."

"You bet." Cade smirks.

JJ barks out a laugh. "Cocky as ever. And hell if I don’t appreciate that."

"Haven’t seen you in a while, Knight." He and Knight clasp hands, then bump fists. "How long are you in town?"

"Shipping off tomorrow."

"Another secret mission?" JJ surveys him with a shrewd look in his eyes.

Knight’s lips quirk. "You could say that."

"I respect what you do to keep us all safe. I wish I could do more to show my gratitude."

"You do a lot." He glances around the table. "You all do, and the men are grateful."

He’s referring to the fund JJ started, and which we all contribute to monthly, the proceeds of which go to helping military vets find jobs after they leave the forces.

"Not enough. Not when your men give their lives for a cause. You have my respect. In fact—" JJ snaps his fingers and another member of his staff appears with a bottle of amber liquid and fresh glasses. JJ holds it out to Knight, but Cade intercepts it.

"Macallan 50?" He whistles. "Impressive and accepted with thanks." He opens the bottle, picks up a fresh glass, and splashes some of the liquid into it.

Knight laughs. "I second Cade; and thanks, JJ."

Cade rises to his feet and shakes the other man’s hand. "We’ve had our differences, but the work you’re doing for the vets is irreplaceable."

"I'm committed to using my resources for the greater good." He jerks his chin at me. "As for you, don’t you think it’s time to tell that pretty girlfriend of yours how you really feel?"

My jaw drops. "The fuck you talking about?"

He chuckles. "The look on your face is that of a man caught in a web of his own making."

"Your imagination is running away with you in your old age." I snort.

"And now, he resorts to using cheap insults." He clicks his tongue. "You’re definitely in a quandary."

"What’s it to you?"

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for a good love story and a happy ending." He smirks.

"Neither of which I’m looking for," I snap.

"Nonsense. Everyone’s looking for love."

"Not me."

"Especially those who protest they’re not," Cade pipes up.

"That includes you, asshole." I stab a finger in his direction.

He chokes on his drink, then begins to cough. Knight reaches over and slaps him on the back. When the coughing subsides, Cade shoots me a nasty glance and snaps, "We’re not talking about me."

"Your time will come, boy," JJ says and slaps his thigh.

"Like yours did?" I scoff.

"And I’m the happiest man in the world for it." His face lights up.

"Even though you got together with your son’s girlfriend?"

The skin around JJ’s eyes tightens, then he bares his teeth. "Jealous because I went after what I wanted? You could learn a thing or two from it."

"What-fucking-ever."

JJ laughs. "The famous refrain of a man who knows he’s lost the argument. Mark my words. There’ll come a time when the two of you are gonna have to come to me for advice."

"Advice?" I growl.

"Ad-fucking-vice?" Cade looks at JJ like he’s crazy.

"Laugh now mofos, but when it’s time to learn how to grovel to win back your ladyloves, know that I’ll be here, ready to give you an earful."

"Grovel?" I exclaim at the same time as Cade.

The two of us exchange looks.

"I’m not gonna fucking grovel to anyone," I declare.

"Is this a sign of early senility?" Cade scoffs.

"I’ll have the last laugh," JJ says with such supreme confidence it sends a pulse of anxiety down my spine.

"Anyway, what about him?" I stab my thumb in Knight’s direction.

"What about him?"

"You didn’t include him when you gave your 'learn to grovel' speech." I make air quotes with my fingers.

"I didn’t, huh?" JJ rubs his finger under his bottom lip. "It’s probably because the man’s got a lot more devils to deal with than the two of you put together."

Both Cade and I glance toward Knight, who’s wiped all expression off his face. Apparently, JJ touched a nerve there.

"But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, eh? I reckon it’s the two of you jokers who’re going to bite the dust first."

Cade scoffs, "Not in your bloody lifetime."

"A-n-d, my prediction is, he’s going to be the first to fall, but time will tell, eh?" With a wave of his hand, he moves off.

The three of us are silent in his wake.

"You believe what he was nattering on about?" Cade looks between me and Knight with a wary look in his eyes.

"Not unless there’s something you’re not sharing with us?" I narrow my gaze on him. "Is there, Cade?"

In a moment of weakness, he confessed to me about his love-hate relationship with Knight’s sister Abby. Something he hasn’t told Knight about, and rightly so. Knight would have his head if he did. But that’s not my concern.

"Of course not." He glances away, then back at me. "And you? You contemplating the ol’ ball and chain anytime soon?"

"No fucking way." I rub the back of my neck.

Knight smirks. "Why does it feel like you’re protesting this too hard. Both of you."

Cade stiffens, his muscles tense. It’s clear there’s something on his mind. Then, his forehead clears. He squares his shoulders, a determined expression on his face. "I think it’s time we celebrate Knight’s one night of freedom, don’t you think?"

"I think—"

"Declan, you selfish piece of shit!" A woman’s voice—a familiar and very angry woman’s voice—snaps.

I turn to find Solene heading in my direction. Without breaking stride, she grabs the bottle of whiskey and pours it over my head.