Page 248 of Saving Her

“It was my idea for Benji to tell you there was another woman,” she pleads. “I’d hoped it would stop you from digging further. We just needed a little more time. Once Robert was taken care of this all would’ve blown over.”

“Blown over?” I seethe. “How the fuck do you think this would’ve blown over? Your husband was ratting on your brother.”

“Layla,” Benji warns. “Let me deal with this.” He grabs her arms, attempting to drive her away. “Go back inside.”

“I can’t.” Tears form in her eyes. “This is because of me.Istarted this.”

“Layla,” Benji snaps. “Get back inside.”

She reaches for me as she’s pushed to the side. “Luca, please let me explain.”

My nostrils flare. My fucking head threatens to explode.

I don’t want to hear from her.

The only explanation I need will come from Benji. But that asshole isn’t as open to being a Chatty Cathy like his wife.

“I was a horrible person when I first met your brother,” she says in a rush. “I was materialistic and petty. Like everyone in my family, I craved money, but I wanted some for myself. Some that was my own.Ourown,” she clarifies.

“I wanted to have financial security because Dad kept telling me Cole would never succeed in taking over the business, and the thought of being poor scared the hell out of me. I was the one who put pressure on Ben to do something about it. Something above and beyond the work he did for my brother.” She blinks those long lashes at me, her tears building. “When Dad offered to pay us to keep tabs on Cole, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. It was only a father wanting to be updated on his son. At least, that’s how it started.”

“Layla,” Benji grates. “That’s enough.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I clench my fist, preparing to silence him. “At least she has the balls to talk.”

“Fuck you. I can talk fine on my own.” He tugs down his shirt, righting the crinkles as he speaks under his breath. “It was only meant to be brief updates on business dealings. I’d be financially compensated if I kept Luther in the loop. That’s all. We thought we were setting Stella up for the rest of her life in case things went south under Torian’s leadership. But before we knew it, the demands got bigger and the threats started. It went from being harmless information to phone taps and spy software.”

Fuck.“Phone taps and spy software?”

Layla hangs her head, but Benji lacks the same remorse. He holds my gaze, unblinking.

“He was like a father to me,” he mutters. “Aproperfather. He saved me.Guidedme. He gave me the chance to have a family, for once in my life. To have money and power and pride. I was a fucking man, no longer needing you and your white knight routine to save me from myself.”

I scoff. “Well, there’s no fucking white knight to save you now, is there? Nothing can help you this time.”

“You don’t need to.” Layla lunges forward, reaching for me, her fingers gripping my jacket as those eyes continue to beg. “Cole doesn’t need to know.”

I huff out a laugh. “And I guess Penny doesn’t deserve to find out either? She doesn’t get to learn how Abi really died.”

Neither one of them speak. Both remain silent while I compound their crimes.

“That’s how your scheme got fucked up, right? Robert got involved? You gave him information,” I sneer at my brother, all vicious teeth and seething hatred. “Tell me you gave him insight on Penny. Tell me and I’ll end this now.”

He doesn’t answer, and I don’t pause in my response. I nudge Layla out of the way with my shoulder and swing a fist, my knuckle pounding into Benji’s gut.

He hunches, coughing, spitting.

Layla wails, her ragged breaths pathetic when coupled with her corruption.

I lean close to my brother’s ear as he clasps his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Tell me.”

“Fuck you,” he chokes. “I didn’t tell him jack shit about her.”

“You’re a liar.” I see red. Ifeelit. There’s only heat and rage and mindlessness as I raise my fist again.

“Stop, Luca,” Layla cries. “Please. He didn’t give any information to Robert. It wasn’t him.Idid it.Itold Robert where they were.”

My brother pauses his recovery, the shock on his raising face seeming genuine as he looks at his wife. “No, you didn’t.” He shakes his head. “You wouldn’t.”

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