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“When I found out you were here, fooling around with Alex, I knew there had to be some petty motive behind it. I’m not sure what you hope to achieve but I am sure we can settle it to both our satisfaction.” She pulled out a cheque book and an expensive-looking pen. “So, let’s talk numbers.”
I inhaled, trying to stop the bile from rising inside me. What the actual fuck?
“Is that what you did after Alex killed my brother? You got out your cheque book and waved some money around to make the problem disappear? Did you ever think how anyone else felt? The suffering of my family.”
She sighed as though she had to try to explain something simple to a child.
“But your brother was dead either way. It’s not like Alex going to jail would’ve brought him back to life.”
I couldn’t believe this woman. She wasn’t just cold; she was pure Arctic evil.
Even so, I wouldn’t get angry with her. I’d act just as cold as she was. She could say her piece then fly off on her broomstick and I’d never have to see her again.
“Don’t you think people should take responsibility for their actions? There are consequences. You can’t just get off scot free. Well, most people don’t.”
She gave a short, brittle laugh.
“There were consequences. Of course there were. Alex was going to work in the firm. He had a brilliant future in business and he had to leave all that behind. It’s like he’s been in exile.”
Whoa, that was too much. I folded my arms, hugging myself tight to hold in my emotions. I’m not sure Alex considered himself in exile and I was fully certain that being away from his mother was no punishment.
“Well, Jake is dead. That’s a helluva lot more consequences. And, no matter what your addled brain thinks, Alex never had any intention of working in your company. All he ever wanted was to play music.”
“A childish fancy he’ll grow out of. He has responsibilities. It’s been long enough now and it’s time he returned to his rightful position. I’m just tying up loose ends.”
Hell, I should just leave Alex to deal with his mother. That would be the greatest revenge of all. The woman was a monster. I was about to tell her to get the hell out of my apartment, to put her cheque book away because she was wasting her money. Alex would never come near me again, and I’d never go near him.
Before I could answer her, the apartment shook to a pounding on the door.
God, what next?
Alex
“Hey, Alex, your mother called me.”
I slammed my drink down on the bar and stared at Pete.
“My mother? Called you? Please answer every question I have in my mind about that.”
“For some reason, she wanted to talk to Dee. I didn’t even know she knew Dee. But anyway I told her that Dee had moved in with Sally and gave her the address. She said to tell you to ring her too.”
“Why did she ring you?”
Pete shrugged. “She does, sometimes. She likes to know things.”
I’d deal with that whole issue later. Pete being a spy for my mother was a low blow, but I needed to find Dee and get this shit sorted. There was not one reason in this entire world for my mother contacting Dee that could be good.
I’d had a difficult day. One of the most difficult in my entire life, and this was not what I needed to cap it off. I’d practically cut my own throat and wanted to revel in my own misery. The absolute last person I needed to deal with was my mother. But, for Dee’s sake, I’d do it.
I rushed into Sally’s office. She wasn’t there but I soon found her upstairs.
“Sally, what’s your address?”
“What? Why?”
“Dee’s in trouble.”
Sally quickly scrawled her address on a piece of paper and I rushed off. Hopefully, I’d get there before Mother arrived. I could warn Dee and maybe get her out of the apartment. Why was Pete such a chucklehead that he’d give Mother information like that? And what exactly did he chat to her about when she called him? The whole situation reeked. I bet she was paying him.
I got lost on the way there. The apartment wasn’t in a part of town I knew and the mapping app on my phone was being weird. When I found the place, I hoped my car would be safe in that neighbourhood.
