Page 47 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

“So, you have to believe me when I tell you this. I didn’t know. Okay?” I look straight into her eyes, and I can see the hurt and the anger.

“When I met you, and you were with your friend Chelsea, I didn’t know she was connected. That is the God’s honest truth. I only found out from North after you started to ask questions. I was really surprised that no one had told me about her.”

“So, it’s true, then? She’s not really my friend? She’s there because of my overbearing brothers?”

“Yes, it’s true in some ways but not entirely how you think.”

“She is either my friend by choice or not. There isn’t an in between, Zed.”

“There is actually. She is your friend first and foremost, but South got worried about you being in New York with no protection and the rest of us always being thousands of miles away. So, when you were out one day, he spoke to Chelsea and asked her to watch out for you. South being South opened his wallet and coughed up a fair amount of money to keep her quiet. She was only supposed to keep an eye out and let them know if you were ever in trouble. That’s it. No more, no less. She doesn’t spy, and she doesn’t tell them anything other than you’re okay.”

She squints her eyes and looks at me, searching to see if I’m telling her the truth or not.

“Well, at least I know now. She’s not really a friend if she can be bought by my brothers.”

“Brother, East,brother. North and West didn’t have anything to do with this. They found out a while back and told South to call it off. He said it was only for your protection, and I think that’s what sold it to West, but North has been against it from day one.”

“So, how come he told you but wouldn’t tell me?”

“East, when you asked him, he had just found out you had accidentally got married. I don’t think he was in the mood to get into more of South’s fuck ups.”

“When South came to stay with me in New York, I knew there was something off. He kept disappearing and then coming back all sulky. He hardly said two words the whole time he stayed with me. I couldn’t stand it, so I told him to leave. He didn’t like it, but I sent him home to London. I am so sick of them all, you know? They think I’m still a baby. I’m twenty fucking six for Christ’s sake. They think that I have to be protected. And this, this fuck up between us, hasn’t helped at all. The sooner we sort this out, the better…” Her angry voice trails off at the end.

Listening to her, I can see why she is pissed off, but I never had anyone to look out for me that way until I joined the Army, so in some way, she’s been lucky.

I reach for her hand and again she moves it and pretends to fiddle with her hair.

This cold shoulder shit she is giving me is not fooling anyone, and it’s starting to irritate me. If she wasn’t in this bloody hospital, I’d give her something to be bitchy about.

But she is, so those filthy thoughts of fucking her so hard until she screams will just have to wait.

“Do you promise me that West and North had nothing to do with Chelsea?”

“Yes. That’s what North said, and you know North. He can’t lie for toffy.”

“Okay, well, can you pass a message to South?”

“I think I know what the message will be but, yeah, of course.”

“Tell him to stay the fuck out of my life. He interferes in everyone’s lives because he doesn’t have one of his own. Well, he fucked up with West and North and now me. I don’t want to ever speak to him again.”

I nod. I knew that was going to be the message. South mouthed off to North about Sutton and Kara, and he said some despicable things that ended with Kara leaving North for a while. It nearly destroyed North and their relationship. I honestly thought West would never forgive him, but things kind of got back on track when Kara returned. Until now. Why can’t that meddling arsehole just keep his fucking nose out?

East is right, he pisses about interfering because he doesn’t have a life of his own. There was something dodgy going on in London before I left. South’s ex nearly killed North when she drugged him to cause a distraction for a job I was doing in Mexico. He has no room to judge anyone. He’s made some fairly bad decisions along the way.

“I know this has really upset you, but in the few days I’ve spent getting to know you, you are one hell of a woman, East. You don’t take shit, you’re tough, and you could probably put me on my arse if I pissed you off enough.” My lips curl into a small smile. It’s the truth. She’s a little pocket rocket, and the more time I spend with her, I’m realising I’m not quite ready to part ways.

She spends two more days in the hospital, and the frustration is killing her. She’s climbing the walls. The only person she is happy seeing is Kara. I asked the doctors if there was any chance of her being discharged early, but they want to keep a close eye on her. It might have something do to with West already lodging a lawsuit against them, and the private room she is staying in is costing three hundred thousand dollars a night. A nice little earner for the hospital. She doesn’t need any care apart from help with personal care, and I’d gladly help with that.

Stop it, you fucking perv.

I’ve managed to negotiate with the hospital that she can be discharged on Saturday afternoon. I haven’t told her yet; I don’t want her being disappointed if they change their mind or anything goes wrong. It’ll be nice to have her around. The hotel is so quiet without her. I miss knowing she’s on the other side of the adjoining door.

It’s late on Thursday evening, and East has been sleeping like a baby for the last few hours. I find it difficult to leave, but I’ll be no use to anyone if I don’t get a good night’s sleep myself. We should have a big day tomorrow.

North has a strong lead on Margarite. If all goes to plan, we should have her nailed down by the time dawn breaks.

Chapter 19

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