A Matter of Trust: London Calling Book One (24 page)

His face flushed. He hissed, “Yes, dammit.
Yes.
It’s all you ever were, Devon. It’s all you could ever be.”

***

The words were such a blatant lie, Bennett worried she might laugh in his face.
 

He loved her, wildly and fiercely.
 

Now no matter how it might wound him in the process, he would murder every feeling he had for her. Then, it would be
over
.
 

Her eyes raked him, interrupting his thoughts. “So you used me, my body.”
 

Aggressive, Bennett nodded in agreement. He’d convince himself, by God, as well as her.

“Then what does that make
you
?”

He stepped forward, incensed, but she stopped him with one hand raised in warning.
 

“You’ll stop right there.” He planted his feet. It would already take a lifetime for him to forgive himself for touching her in anger.
 

“Now tell me what you want.”

He whirled around, furious yet unsettled. Inside, he raged, the muscles of his back stiffening until he felt he’d break. Another part of him, a separate part, didn’t want her thinking he’d hurt her, no matter the circumstances.
 

He cursed, pointing at her from across the room. “I want the money back. All of it. You go
nowhere
until you fix this. And tell
Dominic
,” he spat the name, “he’s going to prison.”

“No.”

“
What did you say?
”

“No deal. I’ll get your money back, but leave Dom out of it. This is between you and me.”

It was clear where her loyalties lay. Anguish crushed his chest, widening the ache until it was everywhere.
 

“Even now, you lie.
Do you even know how to tell the truth
?” Bennett slowly shook his head, outraged with her duplicity.
 

Pain flashed across her face, then it was gone.

“I know you had his help. For Christ’s sake, Devon, he’s an Internet and systems security specialist! Did you think I wouldn’t put it together?”

She paused, seeming to weigh her options. “Be that as it may, he will remain out of jail. As will everyone involved.”
 

She was calm and it only added to his fury. Before he could speak, she said the rest.

“I will get your money. Your clients will remain unaware this ever happened.
No one
will know you were compromised.” She was completely monotone. “Then we’ll all go back to our lives.”

Disgusted with himself, and her, Bennett stood, fists clenched as he considered her offer. When he was sure he could speak, he replied.

“
Fine
. Except for you, my sweet betrayer. You go back to nothing. Your future is
over.
”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I
N
THE
EARLY
hours of dawn, Devon realized Natalie must be the leak. Focused on finding Dom, worrying about him, had made her skip over the most essential piece of the puzzle. She was the only way he could’ve obtained the access required to carry out such devastation.

At this point, it hardly mattered whether she’d been a willing participant or not. More importantly, Natalie might know how to reach Dom, and that was more than Devon had accomplished. She’d rang him and both their fathers throughout the night without success.
 

Devon was starting to panic.

Arriving at Natalie’s flat, she loudly banged the knocker. Within minutes, Natalie jerked the door open, glaring.
 

“
What
?” She hissed the words, belting her robe as she nonetheless stood aside for Devon to enter.

“Believe it or not, I’m sorry to bother you like this. But I’m desperate, and you’re my last hope.” The words trailed as Devon caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw Dominic walking towards them, stretching his arms overhead.
 

She stormed forward, catching him off guard as she shoved at his chest. Any doubts, or hope, she may have harbored were lost after one look at his face.
 

He was guilty as sin.

“What the hell?”

He grabbed at her, capturing both of her wrists one-handed. She tried to jerk away, but he held her fast.

“You
snake
. I’ve been looking all over for you, and I find you here?
Of all places
? Do you know what you’ve
done
, Dominic?”

“Now just a minute.” Natalie interrupted, offense dripping as she took in the drama unfolding within her own home.

Devon rounded on her. “Shut up, Natalie. You’re no better. You’re lucky to be out of jail, for crying out loud.” Devon swung back to Dom. “
You have ruined me
. Both of us, if Bennett has any say.”

Natalie looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “What are you talking about?”

“The
money,
” Devon answered, sounding exactly as Bennett had. To Dom, she said, “You’re going to put it back.
Now.
”

He sighed, and the corners of his mouth turned down. “I can’t do that.”

“You most certainly can. And you will do it, or I might kill you myself.” Devon slowed down, making an effort to explain clearly. “I had to pacify Bennett, Dom. He was threatening you with prison time. I promised it would all go back.”

Natalie interjected, “What are you two
talking
about?”

They both shouted, in unison. “The
MONEY!
”

Devon heaved a deep breath, praying for calm. “Natalie, I’d say it’s apparent you didn’t know.” She aimed an accusing look at Dom. “But Dominic has hacked Sterling International.” She watched as the other woman’s eyes went round.
 

“And he has stolen an
enormous
amount of money.”

Natalie groped behind her for a chair, sagging into it.
 

Devon continued. “Now, I’m going to ensure he keeps the promise I made on his behalf.” Two sets of eyes fixed on her, one pair reluctant, the other horrified.
 

“
By putting the money BACK.”

***

Dominic tried to reason with Devon, hastily trying to explain the plan was unfinished. Devon cut him off by chopping her hand, slicing the air between them.

“I do not want to hear it. You had every opportunity to explain all this before, and you never said one word. Now, all I care about is that you fix this.”

“Devvie, you don’t understand. You’d never have allowed—”

Hearing him use her childhood nickname made her grit her teeth. Fighting for control, she murmured, “No, I doubt
you
understand. You’ve no idea what you’ve really done, what you’ve destroyed.”
 

He froze, listening.
 

“You’re still worried about your plan. Your ignorant, destructive scheme. I knew
nothing
. You told me
nothing
. Yet, I was left to clear up your mess.” She pushed her hair back from her hot forehead. “You have no idea what it’s cost me.” Hard eyes met his. “No one would answer my calls. Not you. Not Patrick. Not even my own father.”

Dominic spoke quickly. “That was my fault. I told them not to. I was sure I’d reach you in time, before you knew.”

Devon looked at him with disgust. Seeing the look, he quietly confessed, albeit reluctantly. “I meant to text you, get you to meet me at Heathrow. But I made a mistake.”
 

Natalie stood abruptly, pushing the chair back in her haste. Devon watched, puzzled, but the other woman strode to the window, turning her back on them.
 

Devon ground out, “You are supposed to be
my family.
I am not some detail in one of your jobs that needs to be
handled
.” Dominic stared helplessly as she smacked her palm on the table. “I
needed
you, any one of you. My
father
wouldn’t talk to me, even when I left him message after message.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I can’t count on
any
of you. You left me, abandoned me.”
 

She saw the muscles in his throat work up and down as he took a hard swallow. She was exhausted.

“Please fix it, Dom. I need this to end.”

Ultimately, he did as she asked, unable to deny her anymore. As dawn crept into the flat, he finished replacing the last of the funds and erasing any leftover traces of his actions. Natalie still stood near the window, a sentry looking outward. Her posture was iron straight, despite the long hours she’d stood.
 

Dominic looked up, pushing back from his laptop. “It’s done.”

Devon closed her eyes, rubbing them with the heels of her palms. Doing so, she missed the quick maneuver where Dominic pocketed a tiny flash drive he’d plugged in earlier, unseen.

She walked to the door, unable to speak to either Dom or Natalie. She turned the knob to leave when Dominic called out.

“Devvie?”

She remained in the doorway, not looking back. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry.”
 

Her shoulders slumped. Stepping forward, she walked out and closed the door quietly behind her.

She was in her car before she pulled out her phone to punch in Bennett’s numbers. As his deep voice answered, she echoed Dominic’s earlier words.
 

“It’s done.” She turned her phone off before he could reply.

***

Bennett stared at his phone.
 

It’s done.

He supposed it was. He ached, hollowed out from the excess of emotions.
 

He needed some peace.
 

He’d have someone, at work and his home, box her things and courier them to her flat. He wanted no reminders.
 

This way, he would never see her again.

Rubbing his chest, he walked to the shower. He was meeting his grandfather today, maybe that would help take his mind off her. But first, he’d go into the office, finish things. The idea didn’t bring the relief he expected, just a dull throbbing headache.
 

It’s done.

***

As Natalie stood like a statue, numb, Dom took the liberty of showering and changing. He obviously needed to be somewhere, somewhere other than with her. He set his bag down by the door and crossed to her.

“Toff.”

The ice began to crack. “Don’t call me that.”
 

She’d turned all the possibilities over in her mind, recalling their relationship since its first day. No matter how she rotated it, the light refused to brighten his actions.

“Did you take my password?” Her voice was listless. There was no other way he could’ve done what he had. He’d needed someone inside.

“Yes.”

She’d been a fool. He’d used her, but she allowed it. Every step of the way.
 

“I have to leave now, but I’d like to come back. Explain.”

Finally, she turned her head to look at him. He could have been one of the ancient gods, with his burnished gold hair and mossy eyes glinting in the early morning light.
 

She’d remember him this way, beautiful and masculine except for his deceptive, lying lips.
 

“Go, Dominic. And never, ever come back.”

She waited until his steps faded away before allowing the first tears to fall.
 

She wept for all she’d lost, and everything she had yet to lose that day.

***

Bennett wandered through his outer offices, wondering where Natalie could be. In all their years working together, she’d never been late, not once.
 

His brow creased. She was never sick, either. Considering that, he decided to bump her pay. It was past time to stop taking her for granted.

Considering the hell of the past few days, he had a strong appreciation for loyalty.

He settled at his desk, looking up when his door opened moments later. Expecting to see his PA, he was shocked speechless to see Dominic Martin strolling in. Bennett’s jaw clenched. The other man continued, nonchalantly plopping down in a chair facing him.
 

Dominic silently scanned the décor.
 

“You have a damn nerve showing up here. You’re lucky I don’t have you thrown in jail.” Bennett grated the words, unable to believe the man’s gall.

Still, Dominic looked around, taking it all in. He reached out to run an admiring hand over the edges of Bennett’s desk.

“Mm. A classic Partner’s desk. Regency?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Yes. And gorgeous serpentine burlwood.” He glanced up. “You have excellent taste.”

“What the hell do you care about my desk, my office? Are you casing the place?”

Dom threw back his head, laughing.
 

Bennett glared, clearly not amused.

Sobering, Dominic got to the point. “I’m here on business.”

“Are you
joking
? You are unbelievable.”

“I ask that you keep an open mind, Mr. Sterling. We seem to have gotten our wires crossed, and I’ll take the blame for that.”

“Oh, I’m
Mr. Sterling
, am I? Why the formality? After all, we’re practically old acquaintances, considering the fact
you stole my clients’ money.”
The words dripped with sarcasm as Bennett seethed.
“
Hell, you stole
my
money.”