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How could I have been so selfish? What I’ve put him through is unforgiveable.

A tear escapes and I swipe it away with my free hand. I will not cry. He doesn’t need that emotion on top of everything else. “I’m so sorry. If I had any idea you thought that… I should have told you, I’m so sorry.”

“Why? Why didn’t you?”

I clear my throat. “I wanted to but how do you tell your husband that his best friend conned his wife out of all of their life savings? You gave up everything for me—”

“I didn’t give up anything for you, woman. I’ve told you that. You don’t give up anything when you choose to be there for the people you love.”

God this man, this beautiful selfless man. I wipe the tears from his face with my hand. “I know, I just wanted to give something back. Make sure you had the funds you needed to make your new business successful and he made it all sound so… Guaranteed.”

“When? When did this happen?”

“You were on that expedition, with your old army mates. Looking into expansion possibilities for the future,” I sigh. “I really wanted that for you. I wanted to make it work for you. So, when he approached me—”

“Bastard,” he shouts, slapping his hand on the table, standing abruptly. “I’ll kill him.”

“Lennie—”

“This isn’t your fault. You should have told me but it isn’t your fault.” He shakes his head, kicking off his boots and swapping them for his trainers. “I need to clear my head, I’m going for a run.”

Chapter 35

Bri

I'm exhausted and I'm pretty sure my feet have developed their own heartbeat. The courtyard is still warm from the summer sun, and I can't wait to change out of my dirty dungarees and trainers—though a glass of wine sounds almost as good right now. I settle into the outdoor sofa beside Ember, who's already pouring us each a glass before I've even properly sat down. We've barely raised them to our lips when Saint appears, looking uncharacteristically solemn. Luna and Lennie arrive close behind him, and whatever easy quiet we'd just settled into disappears. Saint clears his throat. He needs the lodge, he says—a moment alone with Jax—and he'll explain everything later. I want to ask if he's okay, but he's already gone before I can get the words out, and Enzo slides into the space he's left behind.

Lennie continues walking towards his room, seemingly oblivious to the tension that's just settled over the courtyard, and Luna follows a few steps behind, quieter than usual. I'm reminded of her confession this morning and hope that whatever's happening between them, they can find their way through it.

I glance back toward the lodge, Enzo is pacing under the veranda, mumbling to himself about pizzas and security, caught somewhere between hosting duties and whatever's going on inside.

“Is everything ok?” I ask, taking a sip from my wine.

“No. Jax come with security. Kicks me out.” He keeps pacing, occasionally glancing towards the doors. “I’ve pizza to cook and guests you need look after, no? What is this?”

Ember and I exchange a look.

Neither of us says anything, because neither of us knows what there is to say. Security. Jax. Saint. None of those words belong in the same sentence, and yet here we are.

Is this about what I told him yesterday? My worries about Saint, the odd things I noticed, the way I couldn't quite explain why something felt off? Did I cause this? What if I've made something so much worse by opening my stupid mouth?

The knot in my stomach pulls tight, then tighter, until it's the only thing I can feel.

“No idea.” Ember shrugs. “But why don’t you join us for a glass of wine,” she says gently to Enzo. “Whatever it is might take a minute and there’s no use you pacing the whole time.”

“I shouldn’t,” he says, grabbing a water glass from the dining table and pouring himself a large glass of wine. “Just one, for the nerves, si.”

I offer him a small smile but inside I’m panicking. What is happening? I’m worried about Jax. Saint. Luna and Lennie.

We make small talk until our glasses are empty and there’s no sign of the others. I stand and stretch announcing that we need another bottle of wine, marching towards the lodge before anyone can stop me. Inside the air feels… Tense. Low voices drift from the lounge, where two security guards flank the entrance. I stand on my tiptoes and can just make out Jax and Saint on one of the sofas. It looks like they’re crying and my heart wrenches. Instinctively I walk towards them and am immediately stopped by one of the security team.

“What’s going on?” I demand.

“Nothing to worry about ma’am. Please go back outside and wait until we’re done here.”

“Done here,” I echo. “My friends are upset, I’d like to check on them, so if you could just let me pass,” I demand, trying to sidestep him, only for him to block my path again.

“As I said, nothing to worry about,” he repeats, gently shoving me back the way I came.