Jeffrey cleared his throat. ‘Sour grapes. Even if any of that is true, who’ll believe you? My employers know I choose more challenging cases than other Relationship Responders. Amongst the successes of course there’ll be failures and bitterness.’
‘You don’t “choose more challenging cases”; you pick on the vulnerable and, bit by bit, you chip away at them.’
‘And if you’re strong enough and meant to be together, you survive.’
‘What about Rosie Morrison? Or your brother Bobby? Were they meant to be together?’
Their names packed a punch. Sixteen years after this all began, someone had slotted the pieces together. Rage began to build up inside Jeffrey.
‘Has your supervisor been in touch yet?’ Noah continued. ‘He seemed very interested when a group of us went to meet him this afternoon.’
Jeffrey flinched when he remembered the many calls from Adrian he’d ignored.
‘And, while I remember, you should install better security measures on your tablet,’ added Noah. ‘Because before I left the house last week, I cloned everything on it. The friend I was staying with works in tech and helped me sift through every report you’ve ever written, drafts that contradict one another and blatant lies you’ve told. I even know you’ve made voice recordings of Luca and me having sex when you said the Audite was turned off. And, on the way here, I forwarded Adrian the video you sent me tonight. That in itself is enough to get you fired.’
‘Do or say what you want,’ Jeffrey replied. His anxiousness belittled the bravado of his response. ‘I have what I want now. I have Luca.’
‘And does Luca have any say in this?’ asked Noah. ‘Is he still upstairs?’
‘He doesn’t want to see you,’ said Jeffrey, quickly.
‘You don’t get to be the judge of that.’
Before Jeffrey could stop him, Noah ran up the stairs and disappeared out of sight. By the time he reached the bedroom, Noah was already halfway inside. Noah had stopped to take in his husband, lying face down in his bed, his head resting on his forearm, his naked back, buttocks and legs exposed.
‘Wake up,’ Noah began sternly but Luca didn’t budge. He raised his voice. ‘Luca, I said wake up.’
‘He’s drunk,’ Jeffrey said quickly. ‘He passed out.’
Noah inched forward. ‘When Luca’s drunk, he vomits. He doesn’t pass out.’
‘You need to leave.’
‘It’s my house.’
‘I’ll tell him you came by.’
‘Luca,’ Noah repeated but still no answer came. He turned to glare at Jeffrey, his face paling. ‘What have you done to him?’
Noah moved towards Luca but Jeffrey grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. With all his might, Noah shoved Jeffrey in the chest, but he was no match for Jeffrey’s strength. Jeffrey grabbed him by his right arm and, before Noah could release himself, it was twisted behind his back and his face slammed against the wall.
‘I don’t want to hurt you, Noah,’ threatened Jeffrey. ‘But I will.’
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ said Noah. He continued to shout Luca’s name as he struggled to loosen himself from Jeffrey’s grip. But his efforts to kick, elbow and headbutt Jeffrey were in vain. His opponent was well-schooled in all manoeuvres.
‘This is your last chance,’ snarled Jeffrey. ‘Get out.’
‘Not without my husband,’ protested Noah.
My husband.It only took those two words to trigger Jeffrey. He was not going to allow Noah to ruin everything. He yanked Noah’s head backwards then pushed it with all his force against the wall. It was powerful enough to stun his victim because the man’s body perceptibly weakened. Jeffrey took advantage of his debilitated state and repeated the manoeuvre, again and again until he heard a crunching sound inside Noah’s head. Only when he glanced at the wall did he see smears of blood that had seeped from a gaping wound above Noah’s eye. Two more blows against the wall and he dropped the man’s body to the floor.
Noah was dead.
The strength required to kill a man with his bare hands had left Jeffrey’s arms weak and his lungs breathless. Noah hadn’t been the first person to take on Jeffrey, but he hoped he would be the last.
Now wasn’t the time for reflection, though. He must gather himself fast and clear up his mess.
79
