Page 419 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

Rick

"It’s a start, but it’s not enough." Edward leans a hip against the counter in the kitchen, where we’re sharing a beer.

After giving her my bank card, I turned and left.

And that's only because if I stayed another second, I’d have thrown her over my shoulder and marched out of there.

I wouldn’t have regretted it, either. But…

I promised myself to give her space, to let her come around, to act in a fashion that would show how remorseful I am for what I did to her. And I'm full of regret, mostly.

A part of me can’t shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, she could have done a little more to prevent what happened to Diana. I’ve tried to push aside the notion, but it keeps circling around the corners of my mind. And damn, if that isn’t driving me crazy.

My phone pings. I take in the notification, then blink. Some of the blood must drain from my features, for Edward narrows his gaze. "You okay, Stone?"

I show him the message on the phone screen. He takes a look, then whistles. "Is that—"

"A million dollars? Yes."

"And she transferred it out of your account?"

"Into that of Children’s Futures."

"That’s a charity the Seven started.”

“It is?” I ask surprised.

He nods. "They're the best when it comes to supporting vulnerable children around the world. She picked well."

Another message pops up on screen, then another, and another. Ten messages come back-to-back, each showing a number with seven zeros. All of them are to different charities, most supporting causes related to women and children.

With each message, the warmth in my chest blooms, until it seems to permeate my entire being.

Edward whistles. "Your woman has a big heart."

I can’t stop the smile that curves my lips.

"For someone who’s net worth dropped by the millions, you’re ridiculously happy," he remarks.

I crack my neck. “Between my NHL earnings and my grandmother’s estate I'm a multi-billionaire—and you know what? She can transfer my entire fortune to causes she supports, and even that won’t make up for what I did to her."

Silence descends. I glance up to find Edward looking at me with an expression I can only describe as not surprised.

"You guys knew?" I ask with resignation. I’m not surprised. Between the combined power that the Seven and the Sovranos weld, there’s not much that happens that they can’t find out about.

"Your sister. We’re aware you wanted to avenge her."

I rub the back of my neck, continuing to stare at the screen.

The messages have paused, but I have no doubt, it’s a temporary lull.

I hope it’s a brief pause. I wasn’t lying when I said none of my material possessions don’t have her by my side.

I’d gladly give up everything if it meant it would make her feel better.

"Gio was the person who called the cops on my sister. She was doing her job. Anyone in her position would have done that. I realize that my sister was in the wrong to have broken into Declan’s house."

"Your sister had a fixation on Declan, enough to write a script with him in mind, then break into his house and wait for him, so she could talk to him in person." Edward leans forward on the balls of his feet. "But you don’t hold Declan responsible for what happened to her?"

I shake my head. “I confronted him when I was his bodyguard. I took on his security detail so I could have this conversation with him. But Declan had no idea about the incident. He didn’t know Diana was stalking him, let alone that she’d broken into his home.

He doesn’t manage his social media or his PR.

Gio was his PR manager’s assistant at that time.

She’s the one who monitored his social media and picked up Diana’s messages. "

“She’s the one who discovered Diana when she broke into his home.

She’s the one who didn’t listen to Diana, who called the cops on her.

A part of me understands why she did it, and yet”—I crack my neck— “yet, I can’t help wondering, what if Gio had given Diana a few seconds of her time?

What if she’d taken the script from her and told her she’d give it to Declan.

Even if she hadn’t, my sister would have felt heard.

It would have made her feel like there was a chance for her.

It might have bought her a little more time.

Enough for me to have met with Diana and understood her frame of mind.

I could have helped her. My sister would still be alive.

” The pressure drums against my skull. I grab tufts of my hair and tug. "Fuck!"

Edward scrutinizes my features. "Are you upset with Gio, or are you using this as an excuse to not blame yourself?"

"What?" I flinch.

"I’m not the best when it comes to understanding relationships but what I have is perspective. I can’t claim to know how it feels to be in your shoes, but it certainly seems obvious that you’re avoiding the real issue here."

"The real issue?" I manage to keep emotions out of my voice, not that it fools Priest, for he tilts his head.

"You married her and didn’t inform the rest of the team."

"Fucking hell." I throw up my hands. "I should have known you guys would find out about it."

"And you’re entitled to your privacy, but if you loved this woman and intended to spend your life with her, you’d have announced it to the world."

Anger squeezes my chest. "My not announcing to the world that she’s my wife has nothing to do with my sister’s suicide."

"Hasn’t it?" He meets my gaze with a challenge in his eyes.

I look away, then back at him. "Our marriage is a farce. I proposed the arrangement so I could get my grandmother to go through with a life-saving procedure and so she could get revenge on her douche ex."

His gaze stays steady. He doesn’t seem surprised by my revelation.

"What?" I scowl.

"I’ve heard that before," he drawls.

"You’re not making sense."

"It seems to be a common theme where my friends are concerned.

Men who conveniently use the front of a 'fake relationship'"—he uses air quotes—"to deny their feelings for their woman, until they come to their senses and realize their mistake. And then need to grovel non-stop, and sometimes, that isn’t enough to make things up. "

"Is that what happened to you?"

"Me?" His expression turns bleak. "I never got that far. She decided I wasn’t the one for her. And she was right. I would have made a poor life partner. I hadn’t sorted out the stuff in my own head.

How could I focus on anyone else? How could I fulfill her needs when my own were so twisted out of shape? "

"And now?"

"I know I made the right decision. I’ve loved and lost and realized, it’s not for me. I’m better off focusing on other things. Things that impact a wider number of people."

"Hence, you took on the role of the General Manager?"

"I did it because I could." He hesitates. "Because it gave me the sense of purpose I was looking for. Because I could give direction to the team, and I hoped it would help me find my own direction."

I chuckle. "You always this philosophical?"

"If that’s what’s needed."

"Is that what I need?" I can’t stop the skepticism from creeping into my tone.

"Isn’t it?" His lips quirk. "You need to man up to your feelings. You’ve used every possible excuse to stop yourself from committing."

"My sister’s suicide is not an excuse," I bite out.

"It’s not. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be in your shoes right now. You’re blaming yourself for what happened to your sister. You’re taking that out on Gio.”

“I’m not.”

A knowing look enters his eyes, “You’re filled with guilt about your sister’s death. You think you could have prevented it if you were there. And now you’re trying to hang the guilt on Gio so you don’t have to blame yourself. You need to confront your feelings.”

“Feelings? I’m Stone, I don’t have any feelings or emotions, remember?” I scoff.

Edward frowns. “Surely, you’re not going to take your reputation to heart?

Being Stone, the controlled one, the cool as ice man, who plays on ice is a myth that belongs in the rink.

Off it, you’re human. A man who’s susceptible to making mistakes.

A man who’s been beating himself up for being away when his sister needed him.

A man who’s denying his love for his woman in the hope of punishing himself.

You don’t want to commit to Gio because she is a living reminder of the fact your sister is dead.

So you’ve decided you need to punish her as much as yourself. ”

My heart slams against my ribcage with such force, I’m sure it’s going to break out of my chest. My pulse crashes against my temples. Sweat breaks out on my forehead, and my vision wavers.

Edward must notice my reaction, for he touches my shoulder.

I shake it off. “What gives you the right to analyze me, huh? What makes you think you have the answers to the challenges I’m facing?”

He lowers his arm to his side, and a bleak look comes into his eyes.

“I don’t.” He looks away, then back at me.

“But I’ve been where you are, and I stumbled.

I lost the woman I loved, and my life has never been the same.

I don’t want any of my friends to go through what I did.

It’s why I’d rather risk pissing you off and telling you what you need to hear now than not. ”

I scowl at him. He looks at me with a steady gaze—one in which there’s pain, but also determination.

"I’d tell you to piss off, but I know you have my best interests at heart,” I say slowly.

He nods. “I’m the General Manager of the team, but also your friend.

I never met your sister, but I’d wager, she wouldn’t be happy that you’re beating yourself—or anyone else—up over her choices.

You’re stopping yourself from moving on with your life, and that’s doing you and the people around you—that includes your wife, your grandmother, and your team—a disservice. "

My stomach heaves. Acid laces my throat. He’s right. There’s a ring of truth to his words I can’t deny. If only I could do the right thing moving forward.

"It pains me to admit it, but you’re right.”

“I am.” His lips curve slightly.

“Doesn’t negate the fact it’s fucking easy to be the one giving advice." I drag my fingers through my hair. "I can’t wait to return the favor."

He laughs. "A situation I’ll never find myself in. My path is set. There's no room for love."

I shake my head. "You’re right about perspective. It’s easy to spot the problem when you’re not caught up in it."

He seems taken aback, then slowly nods. "Which is why you know I’m right when I tell you to stop pissing about and confront the fact that your life is not your own anymore.”