“For what?”
“For me.”
“It’s good for business. He might be an asshole, but judging by the clientele I saw yesterday, the club makes money hand-over-fist. What I did for you, was for you.”
“That’s a lie. What you paid for me was a power play. What were you trying to prove?”
I didn’t want him to treat me like some dumb blonde, I knew something deeper was going on here.
He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “I need to just be here with you right now, okay? We both have our shit. It happens.”
I sat up straighter, “Owen what’s going on? Why did we come here?”
He shook his head. “It’s out of the country.”
“Shit. What did you do?”
“Nothing! And technically this place is owned by a United States company, it’s an asset. So, if they wanted to come get me, they could.”
“For what?”
“The DA thinks I’m involved in money laundering. I was at the club to take a picture of him.”
“Wait you’re blackmailing the district attorney of Chicago?”
This wasn’t happening.
“Sydney, it’s not like that.”
“Like hell it isn’t. So, what was the money for? What you paid for me?”
“A show of power. I wanted him, and Lawson, to know I hold the power.”
“Great, I’m a pawn. Why ask me to stay? Why include Declan in this mess?”
His eyes became soft. “I am not fucking with your brother. I promise Sydney. I am doing that for him, for you. What I paid for you might have been a move, but getting you here, having you to myself? That’s because I want it.”
I rolled my eyes. “I want to go back to the house,” I said grabbing my clothes and going into another room change.
Chapter 18
Sydney
As we got back to the house I was so annoyed with Owen I could barely look at him. How could he do this to me? To Declan.
I was just another business arrangement to him he’d made that so clear. I had been such an idiot. Thinking some millionaire could fall for me so fast.
I was dumb.
But as I looked at my phone, all those thoughts disappeared. There were seven missed calls from the hospital! My hands shaking, thoughts rushing through my head, it took me a moment to hit redial. I waited, feeling as my face turned red. I had fucked up! Something had happened to Declan while I was out having fun! I prayed it was nothing serious, but of course they wouldn’t have called otherwise. I waited, counting the rings. Six, seven…
“Hello? This is Sydney Mercer, calling about Declan Mercer. How is he?” I wanted to ask ten more questions and say sorry for having missed the calls, but the calm voice on the other end gave me a break.
“Miss Mercer, I’m glad we could get a hold of you. Declan is sleeping right now. But his condition has gotten worse. We’re keeping an eye on him, and he is stable, but you should come to the hospital as soon as you can. He needs you.”
Tears were streaming down my face. All the guilt I had been suppressing for the past two days suddenly rushed back in. This was on me. I should never have left him. Fallen into the stupid fantasy.
“I’m on my way,” I said, and hung up. I had to get out of there.