Restoration & Forgiveness (Renovate Book 2) (24 page)

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When I get out of the cab I muster up all the strength I have, holding my head high. I march right through the doors to James Architecture. I have no idea if Keegan will be here, but I'm not here to visit him. It's not going to be a friendly meeting either. My head feels like it's going to explode with anger, and I need to let it all out.

As I walk toward the elevator, Bob stands up and tries to greet me, but I keep walking. He ends up following me, and I ignore him.

"Ms. Brennan, I've been asked to deny you access. I'll lose my job if I let you up, plus Mr. James isn't here."

I don't want to get Bob fired, he's always so kind to me, but I've made it this far and I'm not stopping now.

"Bob, I'm not here, you didn't see me, okay?" I say, without making eye contact.

He mumbles under his breath and walks away just in time for the elevator doors to open and welcome me in. Once I step on I feel like I've just been swallowed by a shark I'll never escape.

When I walk onto Keegan's floor, I'm not even sure where Gretchen's office is located, or if she'll even be there. I've dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. No make-up, and I didn't even shower, just pulled my hair back. I figured if I'm going to get dirty, might as well not get all pretty for it.

I walk past Keegan's office and someone is at his desk; it's not him but Kaleb. I try to creep by, but our eyes meet. I start walking farther down the hallway. Her office must be close. I don't look back and I'm prepared to complete my mission.

Bingo, I find her office and I was right; it's just around the corner from Keegan's. I grab the handle, and my arm is grabbed and I'm dragged down the hall.

"What are you doing?" I ask Kaleb.

"Stopping you from getting arrested," he answers.

"Listen, if you don't let go of me right now I'm going to kick you in the junk. This isn't up for debate, and none of your business. So go back to work. I'll be out of here before you know it."

"I'll call Keegan, and maybe he can talk some sense into you."

The words sting, and I yank out of his grip. I'm angrier now, because he's interfering and he doesn't even have any facts.

"He's not going to care, we broke up."

"I'll talk to him, Aimee, and smack some sense into him."

I don't need anyone to fight my battles, or to do me any favors.

"Stay out of it, Kaleb. Really. You won't understand, and he's your brother. Keegan made a decision."

He retreats, holding his hands up in surrender. "Your funeral, don't call me to bail you out of jail. I warned you."

I turn away from him, glad that I've gotten through to him. As I approach her door, I take a deep breath, and push it open.

I spot her immediately, and notice the office is a carbon copy of Keegan's. Gretchen's sitting behind a desk, working on her computer. She doesn't look up, and I know she hears me. I wasn't quiet when I entered.

"What took you so long?" she says, her eyes glued to her computer.

"It's a far walk to wicked witch's chambers," I seethe.

"You know, I can have you arrested for trespassing." She looks up at me.

"I'd like to see you try," I say with confidence. I know how she plays, so I'm not going to be intimidated in the least.

"What do you want?" she asks, leaning back in her chair.

"You know what this is about. You couldn't just leave him alone. He was willing to give you everything. That wasn't enough; you had to make him believe he was damaged."

She inspects her fingernails like I'm boring her. I am about two seconds from launching myself over her desk and throwing her out the window.

"That's me making sure he doesn't make any more mistakes. You know, you may be this childhood fantasy for him, but it's not going to last. He's meant for bigger things."

I inch closer to her, and she stands up.

"You can't control his future. He's not your puppet, Gretchen. He deserves to be happy. I know it's all fabricated. Even if it was true, I wouldn't care."

"You think you know, but you don't. He doesn't get to create another life, especially with you. One thing I know is that it doesn't matter if you care or not. He does, and if he can't give you what you want he can't be yours fully. I have the genetic proof that he carries the abnormality, and you can't fix it."

"Just watch me. I'm not letting you do this to him. You see, one thing you don't understand is that the love I have for Keegan has no limits. I'll get my proof, and you will still be without a partner."

His hand touches my shoulder, and I know Kaleb has witnessed everything.

"What is wrong with Keegan?" he asks me.

I turn and look into his eyes. There is concern all over his face.

"Nothing; well, nothing that's true." I glare at Gretchen.

"Can you escort her off the premises, Kaleb?"

"Don't bother. I'll leave. Just know this: If I catch you pulling any more shit, I will find out all your secrets, and I know you have them, and plaster them all over this city."

Gretchen stares at me, and a glimpse of fear flashes across her face. If I didn't know before, I now know she's got something to dig up.

I go to leave, but Kaleb blocks my exit. "Wait, why would Keegan have a genetic test unless…"

I can see him start to piece it together. He needs to know, and since he's witnessed this I have no choice but to tell him. Keegan may be furious, but it's not fair to Kaleb.

"Keegan and Gretchen had genetic tests done when she was pregnant with their baby."

"What happened to the baby?"

I shouldn't be telling him all this, it should be coming from his brother, or from the witch in front of us.

"There was a car accident. The baby didn't make it," I finish.

"When?" he asks.

There is a long silence, and I'm appalled that Gretchen isn't jumping in, at least to save face.

"Well, tell him. I wasn't there." I stare at Gretchen.

"In college," she adds.

I'm out of here. "Look, I just found out not too long ago. If you want answers, ask her or Keegan." I remove myself from between them. I've done enough damage for one afternoon.

I reach the elevator, and as I step on I let out the first breath in what seems like forever. My heart is still beating from the adrenaline of the confrontation with Gretchen.

As the doors are about to close Kaleb runs through them. He stares at me with… I'm not sure. Anger, fear, regret, a combination of all three.

The elevator starts to move, but Kaleb stops it by pressing the emergency button, and I cower in the corner.

"Aimee, for the love of everything holy, what the hell is going on, and you know I can't ask Gretchen. I don't trust her, but I trust you."

"I told you, I just found out. Keegan told me when we were back home. They didn't tell anyone, and were on the way to her family when they had the car accident. Keegan blamed himself, and the rest is in the past."

He runs his hands over his face in frustration. I know this is a shock to him, so I tell him as gently as I can everything about what Gretchen told Keegan yesterday.

"So he broke up with you last night?" he asks.

"He's a mess, and I couldn't get through to him. I don't know if I can," I concede.

He pulls me in to him, and holds me close. The hug is filled with so much emotion I almost break down right there.

"I'll fix this. I promise."

I pull away just so I can look into his face. I can read his sincerity, and it means the world to me. All I want is for him to be there for Keegan, not on my behalf, but as the brother I know he needs right now. I make Kaleb promise me that, and he agrees.

I leave James Architecture surprisingly lighter, but not at all whole. I don't think I'll ever feel that way again. I've already set things in motion, and I know there's no going back. I take comfort in the fact that I'm not doing any of this for me, but for Keegan

Chapter Twenty-Three

I walked a lot today. I visited all the places that I fell in love with when I moved here. When I reach Belvedere Castle; I remember the night Keegan brought me here. I look at the stars, at the very top. It's much more crowded, and as the wind blows against my face, I cry a little more before leaving, because I miss him, and it hasn't even been a day. He's so much a part of me; even during all those years we spent away from each other, I always held him close.

I'm not sure what time it is when I get home, but Reese is waiting. I can tell by the look on her face that Kaleb has told her everything. I'm relieved I don't have to rehash it all.

"Come here," she tells me from the couch.

I do as she asks, and she pulls me in. No words are exchanged, and after a long while she whispers that it will be all right. I'm hoping for that same outcome, but it's too soon to tell where the chips are going to fall.

"Where's Kaleb?" I ask.

"With Keegan."

"Good." I smile. The first one all day.

"You know what a kind and beautiful person you are, Aimee? How did I get so lucky to have you as a best friend?"

"Good karma, I guess." I smile for the second time.

Reese laughs at me with a twinkle in her eye.

"I talked to Liam today. He's visiting again for a few days." She eyes me.

"I know. I called him. I need his help, and he's willing."

"Aimee, can you tell me what the plan is, so if it blows up in your face, I can at least cover you from the explosion." So I tell her what Liam is doing to prove that Gretchen is lying about the genetic tests. I confess that a small part of me wonders if it's true, and how much it scares me for him.

We talk well into the night, and just as I'm about to get into bed there is a knock on my door. I think it may be Kaleb, but when I open the door it's not.

"Hi," I say.

"Hi," Keegan answers. I step aside to let him enter. He looks tired and worn. Nothing like the carefree and charismatic man I know.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"No. Can we talk?"

"Of course," I answer. We both sit on the couch.

"Look, I know this is all hard on you, and I'm sorry, but what were you thinking going down to my office today?"

The mood in the room suddenly shifts, and I don't like the way it makes me feel.

"I was thinking that it's time for someone to go to bat for you," I answer.

"You know you're lucky Kaleb was there, or you may have been arrested for trespassing."

"I don't care, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Keegan, can't you see it's all part of her game?"

"It may be, but it doesn't change anything, Aimee. You have been through enough. You don't have to fight my battles."

"And you don't have to fight mine, but you have been doing it since we were kids," I retort.

Keegan lets out a frustrated breath. "This would be so much easier if I didn't love you so much."

His eyes change, and for a split second, I think he's going to change his mind about our future. As quickly as the look comes, it goes, taking another piece of my heart.

"I don't want you to stop loving me, Keegan; I never will," I say.

He runs his fingers down my cheek. "If things were different, Aimee, but they aren't."

"They could be, if you just let me help you."

He stands. "You have, and I just want to help you to have the life you always dreamed of. I can't do that for you, not anymore. There won't be a day that I will ever stop loving you."

He kisses me on the top of my head, and walks out the door, and my life. This was his goodbye, and for the second night in a row I end up crying myself to sleep. This time though, Reese crawls in next to me and holds me close.

"My fantasy, two girls in bed together," says an annoying voice.

Reese is still fast asleep, and has stolen all the covers. She's wrapped up like a burrito. Kaleb is at the foot of the bed with a smirk on his face.

"Once a pervert, always a pervert," I say, launching my pillow at him. He catches it in midair.

"You're going to have to wake much earlier than that, missy," he returns.

I sit up, and notice he has dark circles under his eyes and is wearing the same clothes as yesterday. I expect it's because he spent the night with Keegan.

"I have the coffee brewing, if you want some." He holds his hand out to me to help me out of bed.

The last thing I want to do is get out of bed, but I need to ask Kaleb for a favor.

Once we enter the kitchen I smell the rich aroma of the coffee. Kaleb and I fix our coffee and sit.

"You look like you had a late night," I observe.

"You could say that."

"He came to see me yesterday," I tell him.

"I heard. You know he's miserable, right? All of this is the last thing he wants, but he thinks he's doing the right thing. I mean, I told him he was stupid, but once he gets something in his head there is no reasoning."

Yes, I know this. He can be one stubborn mule. It has irritated me since we were kids.

"Just take care of him, Kaleb. He needs you."

"What he needs is you, Aimee."

"What do you think I should do? He broke up with me. He made it clear to me last night," I reiterate.

"Fight for him, slap him around a little, tie him up, seduce some sense into him."

I laugh a little at his list. I would consider some of what he's just said if I thought it would work.

"If I ask you for a favor that maybe could get you into trouble, would you consider it?" I ask hopefully.

"I would do anything for you, Aimee, you don't even have to ask."

He may change his mind after he finds out what I'm asking. He's the only one I trust with this, and my only option.

"I won't be offended if you can't do it," I say.

"Now you have me intrigued." He eyes me with curiosity.

I go into detail about what I need from him. He listens to me and doesn't tell me I'm crazy. I kind of expected him to talk me out of it, but he doesn't. He agrees to do what I ask, and shoots his way up my list of favorite people.