Page 135 of Forgotten Desires

I saw the article. It’s been more than three days. I don’t understand. “Why not?”

“Do you want them to?”

“No, of course not. I don’t ever want Layla or our friends and family to know any of it.”

“Then they won’t.” Okay, he really has me confused now. I know he’s rich and powerful, but stopping a freaking article from running seems a little much, even for him. He looks to my brothers. “I need to talk to Brynn.”

They take turns kissing my cheek and then leave us alone in the room. “Explain.”

He sits on the edge of my bed, leaning on each of the rails. “I’ll explain as long as you keep yourself calm. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Crew kisses me briefly and then sits beside me on the bed.

“I found out who it was that sold the information to the paper. It was someone close to us. Well, me.”

“Who would do that to you? To Layla?”

That was part of what hurt too. It would be damaging to her. She would have this out in the world where down the line, she’d have to someday read these things about her father.

I remember reading some of what was written, but honestly, my head was a mess that day and I don’t recall everything. I know it said stuff about how we met, how he slept with me and left when we were young. It talked about how he and I saw each other again and then a few weeks later were engaged at the urging of his lawyer.

Other than that . . . I’m drawing a blank.

“Ford.”

My jaw drops. “Ford, as in the best man at our wedding?”

“Yes.”

“How? Why?” I feel a level of betrayal that makes no sense, but more for Crew than for myself. Ford was his best friend for years. I don’t understand how he could do that to him.

“For money. He said he knew that Layla was safe now and he was in a dark place. He no longer works for me, and I doubt that there will ever be a way to repair our friendship. To sell me out is one thing, but he came after you and Layla too.”

“I’m so sorry, Crew.”

He takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I’m still not sure I know how I feel. He was my best friend for years and I don’t understand how he could do this to me.”

“I don’t either.”

As much as I disliked him, he seemed so important to Crew.

“Thankfully, I’ve had you to focus on.”

But that will end and then he’ll have to deal with the fact that his best friend betrayed him. “Still, he was important to you.”

“Not only as my friend, but in the company too.”

“You fired him?”

“Of course I did.” Crew pulls back. “Fuck him and the fact that he came after my wife. You and Layla are my world and I’ll destroy anyone who tries to fuck with that.”

I bring my hand to his face. “Calm, remember?”

“You could’ve died, Brynlee. If you . . . if I wasn’t home to see you . . . if . . . I can’t even say it, but I would’ve killed him. I know you joke about Asher and how he went after the man who hurt you and Phoebe, but I would’ve done the same. There is nothing in this world I wouldn’t do to keep you happy.”

I bring my other hand to his cheek. “All I need is you.”

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