I watched Steve’s expression change from guilt-free complacency, to shocked, to wounded, all in a matter of seconds as I spoke.
“You look offended, mate. Something I said hit home?” I was gripping the edge of the desk so forcefully that my knuckles were white. My whole body was clenched so tightly I felt like a coiled spring. I could barely stay calm and sane.
“Give it up, Stevie boy. We know everything. Do yourself a favour and just own it.”
He turned to face Cill again, and that’s when the true Steve came barrelling to the forefront, in all his vile, despicable glory. He charged towards Cill, as if he was about to go toe-to-toe with him. Cill just laughed and pushed him back, making Steve falter and fall backwards on his ass. He pulled himself up off the floor and ran his fingers through his greasy hair before turning back to me.
“I didn’t fuck you over. I don’t know what you know or what you think you know, but I’d never fuck you over.” He was gasping, clutching at anything to pull himself out of the shit.
But I’d had enough of skirting around the issue, so I pushed off the desk and stood nose to nose with him.
“We know about the cameras you planted in here. We know you’ve been talking to Ed Morris, and we know you’ve suddenly acquired fifty grand in your account this past week. Cut the bullshit, Steve.”
He started to shake and reached for the chair to steady himself. Was it really a surprise to him that we knew? What the hell did he think we were talking about? Over ordering stock?
“I already told you, I never fucked you over.”
Cill was as pissed as I was, and grabbed Steve by the scruff of his neck, dragging him across the room and slamming his puny frame into the door.
“You plant a video in here, send it to God knows who and all for Ed fucking Morris, and you think you haven’t fucked us over? What planet are you on, Steve?” Cill banged his fist into the door, inches away from Steve’s face. “You’d better fucking talk… now!”
I walked over to stand shoulder to shoulder with Cill and stare Steve down. How this guy was still justifying himself was unbelievable. He was either certifiably insane or incredibly dumb.
He took one look at me and his eyes dropped to the floor.
“I didn’t want to hurt you, not really. It was her. Everything was fine until she came along. She ruined everything.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Cill and I looked at each other like we’d just foun
d ourselves in an alternate universe. What the hell was this guy on?
“You. You’ve always been so closed off and… well, lonely. I didn’t like it, but I knew eventually, one day, you’d notice me. I worked my ass off for you so you’d notice me. Did extra shifts without getting paid so I could be here. Then she turns up and suddenly you’re never around. You’re always with her, and you… smile now. But she’s not good enough for you. She needs to leave. Ed told me he’d found a way to make her disappear. That’s all this was, Jackson. I swear I never meant for this to hurt you. I wanted her gone. I can’t stand here and watch you be with the wrong person anymore.”
“Oh my God, Steve, are you seriously saying what I think you’re saying?” Cill groaned.
“Yes. I love you, Jackson. I’ve loved you for years. You shouldn’t be with her, you should be with me.”
I sucked in a breath, feeling my throat close and my chest freeze over with an icy fear, heavy and painful. What the hell fire was going on here? This asshole thought we had some kind of connection? What the actual fuck? I despised him. I couldn’t stand the guy.
“What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t like you. I can barely tolerate you. I’m not gay, Steve, and even if I was, you’d be the last man on Earth I’d ever go near. Jesus fucking Christ, what the hell is this bullshit?” I couldn’t speak, I was well and truly gobsmacked. I couldn’t get my head around any of it.
“Please don’t hate me-”
“Don’t hate you? I can’t even look at you. I more than hate you, Steve. I fucking despise you and everything you’ve done. You’re a fucking disgrace.”
Steve started to whimper out a cry, but I didn’t buy it. The guy was fake as shit.
“Cut the crocodile tears, it won’t work with us,” Cill snapped. “You sold your soul to the devil when you went into partnership with Morris. You’re gonna regret ever going behind our backs like that. Trust me.”
“What are you gonna do?” Steve looked between the two of us, his eyes pleading for leniency.
“Jax, this one is on you. Ball’s in your court.” Cill took a step back and nodded over to me, letting me know he had my back, but he knew the final decision on what punishment to dole out to this rat was all mine.
Steve cowered as I lurched forward, but I didn’t touch him, I couldn’t bring myself to, not after what he’d said.
“You know what, I should put a fucking bullet in your head for what you’ve done. Trouble is, I’d end up having to pay out good money to clean up the floor after the skanky mess you’d make. Not to mention the stench of your filth would fill these walls forever, it’d make me puke. No, you need to leave here. Get as far away from this city as you can and never come back. If I ever see your foul, dirty, stinking face ever again, I will kill you. Do you understand?”
Steve nodded with his mouth hung open, making him look even dumber than he already was.