Every time I spoke to my father and brothers, I felt like they could read my lies on my face, but I did my best to act normally.
The last thing I needed was for them to find out.
Chapter Seventeen
Jayden
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I’D BEEN VISITING HALLIEand the baby for what might be the last time. I felt drenched with guilt that I wasn’t telling my sister about my plans to leave, but I couldn’t say a word. Once we were out of the country, I’d let her know we were safe, but before then, I couldn’t risk anyone stepping in.
The lift doors slid open, and I exited. Immediately, I drew to a halt.
I wasn’t alone.
Bruno Gilligan sat on my dark-brown leather sofa, his legs crossed, nursing a bottle of beer that I assumed had come from my fridge.
“Hello, Jayden.”
I tensed. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you get in?”
He didn’t answer my question. “I think you and I need to have a little chat, man to man, about the fact you’ve been fucking my sister.”
There was no point in denying it. He clearly knew.
“Ivy isn’t doing anything she doesn’t want to. She’s a grown woman. She can do whatever she wants.”
“Now that part you’re wrong about. She might be a grown woman, but she’s a Gilligan, and she sure as hell isn’t allowed to be with a Wynter.” He spat my surname as though the taste of it was bitter.
I folded my arms across my chest, trying to appear nonchalant. I didn’t want this to escalate, but I knew it easily could. I scanned Bruno’s body, trying to pick out the shape of a weapon beneath his expensive suit. Had he come here armed with a gun or a knife? It would surprise me if he hadn’t. He’d clearly come here to fight, but I wasn’t going to give him one.
“This might not be what you want, but it’s what Ivy wants. This isn’t just some fling. I’m not just fucking her. I’m in love with her.”
His eyes widened, and he burst out laughing. “In love with her? What kind of bullshit is that?”
I shook my head. “I mean it. I love her, and she loves me. Nothing you say or do is going to stop us from being together. I don’t give a shit about any of this anymore.” I gestured towards the huge windows and the view of the city lights beyond. “You can take my part of the city. It’s yours. Ivy and I will go and live somewhere quiet, together.”