Page 77 of Blindsided
Santino’s eyes narrow. “You don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to Tilly and me.”
“I know everything I need to know.”
“You don’t,” Santino growls, his hands clenching into fists on his desk. “What happened between us was a complicated mistake.”
“A mistake that you wanted to fucking end,” I growl, gripping the arms of the chair like I could turn the wood into dust.
Santino sits back and shakes his head. “You don’t know the full story, and I’m not going to tell you. That too is personal, and I don’t owe you anything, Maclay. I owe your sister a lot.”
“Is that why you sent fucking money to Scotland so she could have an abortion at a private clinic, you bloody bastard?” I growl, standing up and shoving my chair back.
Santino stands as well, his dark eyes slits as he stares back at me. “I did what I thought was right.”
“You did what was convenient for you!” I snap, my upper lip curling up in disgust. “Had she not miscarried, what were you going to do then? Force her to end that wee bairn’s life? What kind of fucking monster are you?”
Santino inhales a shaky breath. “This is none of your business.”
“My sister and my family are one hundred percent my business.”
“Then talk to her about it,” Santino growls, losing his steely composure for the first time since I arrived.
“She pretends it never happened,” I exclaim and shake my head at him in disgust. “Whatever mindfuck shite you did to her changed her, and for that, I will hate you until the day I fucking die.”
The two of us stand, eye to eye, breathing heavily while the tension vibrates between us.
“What do you want from me?” Santino asks, his face looking desperate for the first time since I walked in here.
“I need you to make this transfer to Scotland happen with Vaughn.”
I can’t stomach the idea of facing my manager, Vaughn, and telling him about my decision to leave. In fact, I can’t even bring myself to tell Roan yet. As much as I know this is the right decision for me, I know that anybody who cares about me would try to talk me out of it. Hell, even the Harris Brothers would probably band together and do one of their ridiculous Harris Brother Shakedowns.
But the truth is, this is what’s best for my family and me. And I’ll never regret gifting my grandad his one dying wish.
“Maclay, if I’m going to bring Vaughn on board with this crazy idea, I’m going to need some information.”
My jaw clenches, and the muscle in my cheek tics with agitation. Knowing that I probably can’t get away with not sharing something, I reply, “My grandad and I are very close. I just found out he’s sick, and it’s his dying wish to see me in a Ranger kit.”
Santino’s brows drop. “Shit.”
“Yeah, shit,” I reply, clearing my throat and pinning him with a serious glower. “I just need you to do your lawyer thing and make Vaughn believe this transfer is for the best. I know him. He’s going to try to act all fatherly with me, but my mind is made up. And after everything you’ve done to my family, this deal is literally the least you can fucking do.”
Santino stares back at me for a long moment like he wants to argue. Like he wants to stop me from doing this, even though I hate him and being farther away from him would be best for both of us. But then he nods and says, “Fine. It’s your career, I suppose.” He steps back and slides his hands into his pockets. “I’ll talk to Vaughn, and we’ll get this deal done one way or another. Further negotiations will be made between your agent and us, so you and I need not communicate any further.”
“Thank fuck for that,” I grind out and turn to walk out of his office. I pause as I hold the doorknob and turn back to look at him. “And it goes without saying that you’ll stay the fuck away from Freya after I leave.”
Santino shakes his head. “Just go.”
“I need to hear you say it.” I turn on my heels to eye him again. This is the one thing I’m most terrified about leaving behind in London, and I need to have some form of comfort when it comes to her, or I don’t know if I’ll be able to go through with all of this. “The Harris Brothers assure me you’re a man of your word, so say the fucking words.”
Santino exhales heavily and levels me with a glare. “I’ll stay away from Freya.”
With a sound nod, I turn and walk out of his office and away from Bethnal Green F.C., possibly for good.
Last night was the first night Mac and I didn’t stay together since our arrangement began. Allie and Roan wanted to be separated the night before their wedding, so Allie came to mine, and Mac went back to his. I missed him more than I should admit. It’s incredible how, in only a matter of a couple of weeks, I’ve become so completely dependent on his warmth in my bed. My, how things have changed.
Now, we’re hours away from walking down the aisle together, and I feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety niggling away at me over seeing Mac again. It’s almost like I’m terrified that spending one night apart is going to break this spell we’re under, and he’s going to look at me and realise what a mistake he’s made in being with me. And the fact that all week we never spoke again about what our relationship is really doesn’t give me any comfort.
I shake away those melancholy thoughts and stare at my stunning friend, Allie. She looks beautiful in her tiered tulle wedding dress. The top is a deep V with an intricate lace applique that I helped Leslie stitch by hand. Her golden blond locks are pinned half up, and her makeup is dewy and absolute perfection.
