Page 126 of Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

The fake partying in Milan’s most exclusive club.

The angry outburst I have, resulting in flipping a table and breaking bottles everywhere.

The bouncers escorting me out of the club and throwing me on my arse outside.

The paparazzi called by yours truly to be there at the same time, filming my demise. My fake drunkenness will be plastered across every social media platform by tomorrow morning.

I allow the rage to consume me as I mourn the life I wanted. I’m sober for every damn second of my downfall, wanting to remember the pain. I deserve it, knowing exactly how much it will hurt Elena when she wakes up to realize I betrayed her in the worst way.

She might not believe I love her after everything I did, but I feel it seeping out from every nerve in my body. Love isn’t about the mushy feelings someone gives you. Screw the butterflies and shit. Fuck movies promoting unrealistic endings where the guy gets the girl, no matter the drama and obstacles in their way.

Love is dangerous and lethal. It’s about sacrifices and a willingness to protect the people you care for at all costs. Elena may not see it that way, but I want to save her.

Elena’s nightmares have nothing on the one I’ll become one day. To save her, I fuck my relationship to hell, with me along with it.

44

Elena

I wake up to my phone falling off my nightstand after vibrating over and over again. Forcing myself out of bed, I bend over to grab it, hoping whoever is calling me at 5 a.m. has a good reason.

I have four missed calls from Connor, eight texts from Elías, and multiple Twitter notifications. Before I have a chance to check, my phone rings again, flashing with Connor’s name. I answer without a second thought.

“Hey, Connor. I just woke up and saw you called me?”

“Where the fuck were you last night?” Connor’s irritable voice hits me like a shot of caffeine.

My heart rate escalates. “Sleeping in my hotel room?”

“Why weren’t you watching Jax?” he snaps.

“Jax? He’s with his parents.”

“Check your messages.”

I put Connor on speaker so I can open the texts he sent me. Each message gets progressively worse, from Jax partying with a group of strangers to him flipping out and going on a rampage. I battle to get oxygen in my lungs.

“Why would he do this?” The words come out in a wheeze.

“I don’t know, but you have to understand why I need to hire someone else to finish this job. I need someone who is objective about the situation. It was a mistake, thinking you could work together after you both started developing feelings. I’ll own up to that.”

“Wait. Please don’t tell me you’re firing me?”

“It’s nothing personal. You know I think you’re exceptional at your job, but Jax...you’re too emotionally invested and I need someone to fix this ASAP.”

“Let me be the one to fix this. Please.” I hate begging. It goes against everything in me, but I’m willing to do it for Jax and Abuela.

Connor sighs. “I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“But…” My strained voice makes me cringe.

“I truly am sorry to terminate your contract early. I absolutely hate to do this, especially since I’ve enjoyed having you around.”

“I understand.” Which makes this whole experience all the more painful. I failed. Plain and simple. I failed so horribly that I hope my career can recover from this. “Thank you for the opportunity. I’m the one who is sorry about what happened.”

“Elena, please don’t let this termination or Jax knock down your confidence. You truly are incredible at your job.”

Who cares about being incredible when I won’t have enough money to help Abuela long-term?