Page 60 of The Devil's Detail
“Why did you emphasise ‘Join in'? My brain has just moved to a different place now. A different type of joining in.” He’s looking at me like I’ve taken leave of my senses.
I huff out. “Well, I get to the doors, and I hearhim.”
“Who?”
“Fucking Bonney. They wanted me to ‘join in’ with him.”
Kell's eyes are wide. He gasps. “Fucking Bonney. No way. He was there in the room? No wonder Carter was asking you to join in.”
“If only it were that simple. I walk in, and there’s a young guy, good looking, sitting with Carter's agent. Only his lips are not moving, but the voice is still talking. Telling a woman he loves her. So fucking posh. Even more than you and Xander.”
“Surely not,” he says in his poshest accent, smirking. “And why was Bonney telling a woman he loves her, when clearly he likes men? Was it the young guy?”
I shake my head. “No. I start shouting, asking who the voice belongs to. Asking about Bonney. Freddie is shouting out that he can’t tell me, as I haven’t signed an NDA. Which I fucking had.” Kell’s eyebrows are going nearer and nearer his hairline. “Then the young guy tells me, he’s fucking next.He’ssigned all the NDAs andhe’sbeing primed for the part. The next victim for Bonney.” I’m trying to keep my voice moderate, as I have Rio asleep. But I’m struggling. “Take her, Kell. I need to stand.”
He shakes his head at me. “Stand with her, but keep her with you. You need her, Jax.”
I stay seated. The baby is more important than me, and I’m not sure I won’t be able to keep a lid on it if I stand.
“Did you hurt the guy, Jackson? Your eyes have gone a bit hazed.” His voice is quiet. Soft. He knows me well. But then I suppose he would. He’s known me since I was ten years old.
I blow hard on that one. “I had him in a chokehold up against the wall. But I didn’t hurt him. I wanted to, though.”
“So if he wasn’t Bonney. Who the fuck was?” Kell is getting straight to the point.
I reciprocate. “Carter.” My voice is low. Dejected. I sound so pissed off.
He’s shocked. “Wow! Fuck me. Really? Did not see that one coming. But to be fair, I have heard Carter's posh English voicebefore. He modelled it on Xan and me. Needed it for a part a few years ago. He never got it, but his voice was totally different. Amazing really. No wonder you didn’t recognise him from his voice.”
I look amazed at what Kell just said. “Yeah, well, he tricked me. Told me he wanted to be with me, said he wanted no secrets between us. What a twat. He knew he wanted me, because he’d already had me. Wanted a round two. Even contacted me as Bonney to set me up. Fucking tosser. Then he’s so fucking brazen, he’s got my replacement all signed up. Younger model. What the fuck did he expect me to do? Agree to it?” I’m shaking my head in disgust. “Thought I’d say yes to him as Carter, and let him just fuck someone else as his alter ego dictates. Not a fucking chance.”
“What did he say? What was his explanation?” Kell asks.
I stare at him in amazement. “What do you mean? Explanation. Have you not listened to what I’ve said? Here Kell, take her. I’m off.” I’m brusque, curt.
I stand and Rio makes a sucking noise as her little lips pout, as if sucking a dummy. I melt, and I see Kell smirk. He knew I wouldn’t be able to resist her. She’s so beautiful, so like Xander, her colouring is exactly the same. But not her mouth. She is my sister's double.
“Look, I know you’re angry. But I’m sorry, Jackson, that doesn’t make sense.”
Honestly, at times Kellen Russell just does not listen. “How can it not? I’m asking about Bonney. They’re jabbering about NDAs, keeping all that fucker’s secrets.”
“It doesn’t. Why would Freddie, his agent, get involved in that sort of shit? And who was the young guy? And not in the next victim way. What was his name?”
“Henry Blake.” Ash walks into the room and I look over at him. “He’s been around a bit, on FaceTime mainly. I’ve heard Carter talking to him. He’s an actor.”
I laugh out sarcastically. Of course he is. “Another one for ‘Bonney’ to get on side no doubt.”
Ash is shaking his head. “I don’t think so. I’ve got a feeling he’s involved on the acting side only.” Ash is trying to keep me calm. He’s failing. Because all I can think about is that deceitful shit.
“Now, don’t go berserk on me. But do you think for one little nanosecond you might have jumped to a few conclusions?” Kell has his hands on his hips. That has got to be the best statement that has ever come out of his mouth.
I give him an ‘oh really?’ look.
“Yeah, well, as a person who has been known to go a wee bit teeny tiny overboard on the wrong thing at times, I think I can ask you that. Because, to be fair, Jackson, I have to say, this is not all adding up. Freddie, the actor chap, Carter going to get bottles to celebrate. Why would he do that if he was going to sack you off in favour of Henry Blake?” He pulls his phone out of his jeans and searches. “Is that him?”
His smiling, snivelling face is on the screen. “Yep. That’s the one.”
Kell is shaking his head, looking down at the phone image. It starts to ping.Ping.Ping.Ping.It’s non-stop.
