Page 95 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

Kyle burst into tears, as he pressed himself to my chest. I soothed and stroked his head, trying to make it seem like it was all going to be okay.

Only it wasn’t going to be okay.

Kyle had seen Lucien bury the journal.

And David? He’d dug it up.

Chapter 32

Conor (Lucien)

I sat in the chair, staring at the firelight. There was a glass of whiskey in my hand, but I hadn’t taken a sip.

That morning, I’d been out looking at the site of the hospital. I acted as if it was business as normal. A spiteful part of me had wanted to see what would happen if I told the police about David.

But on reflection, it was too dangerous. Like this, David would never tell anyone what he’d done. I’d get away without my true identity becoming public knowledge. That was what mattered.

But what about Laura? What would she do? And who would she tell? How far would she go to find out what had happened to Conor?

I gazed out of the window. Surely not. After all, Laura had run away from Conor. He wasn’t some lost love. He was just a guy she’d known. She couldn’t even tell me why she’d run away from him in the first place.

And me? I was no one. I was Lucien Barnes. I had everything I’d ever need. I could leave town.

Even if I desperately wanted to stay.

The doorbell rang, and I looked up. A pair of headlights had appeared outside.

I walked to the front door and pressed the intercom button.

“Who is it?”

“David. Can we talk?”

I paused, staring at the microphone. Wishing I could see his face.

“Okay,” I said. “You know the passcode.”

I turned and went from the door. A minute later, I heard it open. I stayed in the chair in my living room, not wanting to get up. Not wanting to move, not to give a single part of my thoughts away unless it was absolutely necessary.

David walked into the room. He looked at me, slowly. As if he was seeing me with new eyes now.

At once, I realized what had happened. And my heart dropped in my stomach as he lifted up the diary.

“So it is you,” he said.

I looked at him. I could do nothing but smile. David had always been too goddamn clever for his own good.

“How long have you known?” I said.

“A while, I guess. I just couldn’t…I mean, I didn’t.”

I gestured at the chair. “Sit down,” I said.

Hesitantly, David crossed the room. He eased himself uncomfortably into the armchair, and looked into the fire.

“I guess the first time I saw you I couldn’t help but think…”

I nodded.