Page 72 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part One
I felt coldness wash over me as I looked at my best friends. Drix had the good sense to look guilty. Damn right. He should feel fucking guilty.
“I love you guys, and before twelve hours ago, I don’t think there’s ever been a moment in our friendship when I felt ashamed to be your friend.” I let my coldness spread through my body until ice was dripping from my tongue. I looked at Hendrick. “I can’t say that anymore. If she leaves, it will be because of you. You got your wish. You made that decision for us all, just because you were too scared to let yourself feel anything.” My voice got louder and louder. “I love her, and you stole that from me. I’m not sure I can ever fucking forgive you. I will always love you, but this will always be a festering wound between us, just because you couldn’t fucking let us behappy!” I yelled. I slammed my hand down on the table, making him jump.
Drix dropped his head into his hands but didn’t defend himself. He knew what he’d done, the self-destructive bastard.
I turned my eyes to Sampson. “I know what his excuse is—he’s just a giant fuck-up—but what’s your goddamn excuse?”
Sampson scowled at me. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I found her fucking my security guard, Otto. I think I have a right to be pissed when I find my girlfriend screwing another man.”
I raised my eyebrows incredulously. “Your fucking girlfriend? She isn’t your girlfriend, Sam. She was a convenient plaything for you. Oh, the mighty fucking Sampson Rubio, who can’t do commitment, who plays with women like they’re mice in a trap, just expects a woman to know when she's finally worthy of girlfriend status? Do the goddamn angels sing and a heavenly light shines down on her head? She’s not a fucking mind reader, you pompous goddamn prick.” I took a deep breath before I said something else just to be cruel. “She was—I mean,issingle and can screw whoever she wants, and if I was her, it wouldn’t be you ever again.”
I was breathing hard as rage coursed through me. Silence filled the room, an unbearable rift spreading between us.
Sampson broke first. “I fired Evan.”
Even Hendrick whipped his head toward Sampson. “You idiot,” he breathed.
I wasn’t surprised though. It was just the kind of jackass thing he’d do when his pride was hurt.
Sampson didn’t look even a little remorseful. His jaw was set in that stubborn line and his eyes were blank.
I slow-clapped in his direction. “Well, congratulations, Sampson. You lost a girlfriend and a lifelong friend all in one testosterone-fuelled overreaction. She’s going to leave. I’m going to pay for the rest of her trip. Now that you’ve fired him, maybe I can convince Evan to stay with her so she doesn’t end up dead on some city street because of you douchebags and your self-obsession. Pack your shit. We can go home now.”
I left the room, not even looking back at them. I locked the door between the two suites, Aviva still sound asleep. I climbed back into bed with her, curling around her body and trying to stop my heart from breaking.
Chapter39
Hendrick
Istood outside the door, willing myself to knock. I needed to do this, to repent for my sins in some way. Sucking in a fortifying breath, I lifted my hand and rapped my knuckles too hard on the wooden door. I needed the pain, but I kept my face impassive as the door swung open.
Evan looked like shit. There were deep bags under his eyes, and he looked worn out. The huge shiner on his eyes showed that Sampson’s self-defense training had paid off.
“What do you want, Hendrick? If you want to take a swing, Sampson already got the free shot, so I will hit you back.”
I kept my thoughts about the whole Sampson thing, and how shit Evan looked, to myself. “Can I come in?”
“No.” He tried to shut the door, but I stuck my hand in the doorjamb. Evan might be pissed at us, but I knew he’d never hurt me. I knew it in my soul, because Evan was the best humanity had to offer. He’d seen a scared boy and left his job to become his personal bodyguard. He’d beaten the shit out of paparazzi who took photos of two best friends kissing, when it could have made him millions. He’d come to our defense over and over, and Sampson had just thrown him away. I didn’t agree with Sam even one bit, but that was neither here nor there right now.
“Come on, Evan. I swear, it will only take a moment.”
He sighed, pulling open the door and standing to the side. His suitcase was on his bed, and he looked like he was packing. Fuck, I’d been kind of hoping he’d just ignore Sampson’s hissy-fit and stay. But this worked better right now, anyway.
He went back to the bench where his weapons were spread out, ready to be cleaned and packed.
“You fucked her,” I said impassively.
Heat flushed his cheeks. “If you are here to talk shit about Aviva, you can get the hell out, Hendrick.” He sucked in a breath. “I warned you. But you cocky little shits thought you knew so much, when really, you haven’t been around long enough to know how to tug your own dicks right, let alone how to form a healthy relationship. I should have stopped it.”
Now it was my turn to snort. “Like you could stop Sampson from doing anything he wants to do. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Evan.”
I watched the older man’s jaw work. “If that’s all you need, you can go.”
Ugh, I was fucking this up too. “I need to hire you.”
The look he gave me could have flayed the skin from my bones. “Sampson fired me. I have no interest in going to work for you.”
I shook my head. “Not me. Aviva. I need you to stay with her.”
