The Unforgettable Ex (Captured by Love Book 5) (Volume 5) (18 page)

He dropped into one of the plush seats and stared at the big blank screen. He’d been watching Tash since he’d arrived and she seemed to be having a great time with that Jarryd guy. She hadn’t even noticed Carter trying to attract her attention, too focused on laughing and carrying on with Jarryd.

Okay, so maybe carrying on was an exaggeration, but they were certainly getting along so well. Jarryd was even sitting in
his
chair. Even if he wasn’t going out with Natasha anymore, he’d expected to be enjoying Jade’s feast with his closest friends. But seeing that their table was full, he had no option but to sit somewhere else. Yes, the other guests were all very nice people, but they weren’t the ones he wanted to spend time with.

His phone buzzed and he retrieved it. “Peter,” he said, sitting up straight.

“Gavin. How’s Amber?”

“She’s good. Comfortable at my place. She seems happy to stay put.”

“Good. We’ve had another chat with Biggs. He’s still staunchly denying that he’s instructed someone else to carry on his vendetta against you and the other witnesses to his wife’s case. Of course, we can’t fully trust the words coming out of that man’s mouth, so we need to keep Amber’s existence a secret for as long as we possibly can.”

“Right,” he said, knowing there was more to it than what the superintendent knew. “I guess that if Biggs does have loyal friends acting for him on the outside, he won’t be telling the police about them.”

“No, he won’t, will he? But there’s nothing we can do until one of them makes a move. It’s not ideal, but how else are we gonna find out?”

“Yeah,” Gavin agreed. It was up to him to find a workable lead. Until then, the police didn’t have to know about the new threats. Telling them at this time would just put his loved ones at more risk.

“I’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, take care of Amber.”

“Will do.”

“And, Gavin, please don’t do anything I wouldn’t sanction.”

“Don’t worry.”
You won’t hear about them
.

“Well, enjoy yourself tonight.”

“I’m trying,” he said dryly.

He hung up, wanting so badly to keep working and find an end to this new nightmare.

But he couldn’t leave yet. He’d only just arrived a few minutes ago, and he really should help make tonight a happy one for Jade—even if happy was something he hadn’t been since he and Tash had broken up.

Reluctantly, he made his way back to the party. His gaze immediately went to Natasha’s table as he stepped out onto the entertainment deck. She was again engrossed in a conversation with Jarryd! And why the fuck was Carter laughing with them?

He averted his eyes, heavy despondence dropping on him with a thud. Not only was the love of his life moving on, but his best friend was aiding and abetting her. Could things get any worse? He was so tired from overwork and lack of sleep that all he wanted was to cuddle with his Tash and talk the case over with Carter. And. He. Couldn’t. Fucking. Do. Either.

“Hey,” Brad said, clasping his shoulder. “How’s it going?”

“Good,” he grunted out, unable to muster a smile.

Brad gave him a squeeze. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Thanks, dude. But, no.”

“Are you sure? You helped me a lot when I was in a deep bind, and I’m keen to return the favour, especially with matters of the heart.”

He snorted. “Matters of the heart?”

“Come on, bro,” Brad said quietly. “I know all’s not what you make it out to be. I can tell you’re in hell and I want to help.”

“Thanks, Brad,” he said sincerely. “I’m just preoccupied with a very sensitive case. But I’ll let you know if I need your help.”

“Good. I’ll be waiting by the phone,” Brad quipped.

Gavin chuckled, trying to inject some cheer into it.

They walked back to their respective tables and he looked around, seeing the many faces of people he cared about. Yet he couldn’t let them in for fear of the repercussions. He’d never felt so alone despite being among friends.

Natasha’s laughter floated to his ear, and he saw her grip Jarryd’s arm in her amusement.

The image was painful to watch, but at least she was happy. At least she was safe.

I’m doing this for you, baby.

And he hoped, in time, she’d know how much he truly loved her, even if it was too late to salvage their relationship.

*****

G
avin grabbed a beer from the fridge and went to sit on the couch. If Amber stuck to her usual routine, she’d be out of her room soon to catch her favourite program. He was hoping to have another conversation with her and try to pull out whatever additional clue he could from her experiences in the last five years.

His phone rang. “Hey, bro,” he answered with a wistful smile. He hadn’t hung around with Carter for days. He missed his best friend.

“Hey, are you avoiding me?” Carter asked. “I just saw your text that you can’t join us on the weekend at this guest house in Leura.”

“Sorry, dude, but I’m just too busy.”

“That’s what you keep saying. Look, I’m still slightly mad that you’ve broken my sister’s heart again, but I know you didn’t do it out of malice. You were just being honest. And she’s fine now, anyway.”

“Is she?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes. She’s still avoiding mentioning you, which is understandable in the circumstances, but she’s been upbeat. I think it’s because of Jarryd.”

“Why?” he said in an almost-growl.

There was a pause and he inhaled deeply, cursing himself for his lapse.

“Why not?” Carter said. “You have Amber now. Why can’t she have Jarryd?”

“I don’t...” He shut his eyes. How could he explain to Carter the reason Amber was really here? The more he tried to deny a relationship, the more Carter would pry.

“Don’t what?” Carter pressed.

“Tash is still my friend, so I want the best for her.”

“What’s wrong with Jarryd? He’s a nice guy. I think he’s good for Tash, so I’m glad he’s joining us this weekend. Tash invited him.”

His jaw dropped, jealousy instantly sprouting. “Is he staying overnight too?” The thought of his Tash spending a weekend away with another man twisted his gut.

“Yes. It’s a shame you can’t come. I know it’s last-minute, but with someone else cancelling their booking for the place, we were happy to grab the chance to stay there. Cassie’s so looking forward to it. The guest house is filled with artwork from local artists she likes, and the garden apparently keeps winning awards year after year. It’s just a chance for us to chill out with friends and recharge our batteries.”

“I’m still catching up with work, unfortunately. But will there be room for me if I change my mind?”

“We’ve thrown the invitation open to the gang on a first-come-first-served basis until all seven rooms are taken. I think there’s two left at this point, so you better make your decision soon.”

“I won’t know till Saturday. If things go well, I should be able to make it. I’ll call you if I can,” he said, spying Amber coming out of her room. “Anyway, I have to go. Let’s catch up some other time.”

“How about this Friday?”

“Um, no. Sorry. I’ll be very busy then.”

Carter sighed loudly. “I don’t know whether you’re taking on too much or there’s something you’re not telling me. But okay, I won’t pry. See you later.”

“See you, bro.”

“Was that Carter?” Amber asked after he’d hung up.

“Yes.”

Amber sat on the adjacent couch. “I’m sorry you can’t see your best friend as often as you want. But I suppose it’s best. Carter knows you well and will know that you’re hiding something from him.”

He smiled mirthlessly. “I can’t keep on avoiding him, though. He’ll be suspicious and I don’t want him to be.”

“You’re right. So what are you gonna do?”

“He invited me to some holiday house in the Blue Mountains on the weekend. Maybe I should go just to stop him from bugging me about working too hard. But I’m worried about leaving you alone here all weekend.”

“I’ll be okay. You should go.”

He gave her a small smile. “I know this is hard for you too. Is there a guy waiting for you when we finally catch the bastard who’s trying to mess with our lives?”

“I wish,” she said with a laugh. “No, there’s no guy. I’ve dated guys back in Broome, but nothing serious. I just don’t see how I can allow myself to be in a committed relationship when I can’t tell the person I’m with certain truths—like why I’ve never wanted to go back to Sydney or why I don’t have any communication with my family. I guess that’s the main reason I was prepared to risk coming back here after I saw the news that Biggs has been caught. I’m sick of my lonely existence. I was safe, but I was lonely. Now I’m back and my life is in danger again. Sydney must hate me,” she added teasingly.

“I’m sorry, Amber,” he murmured with guilt. Biggs’ loathing for him was the only reason Amber was in this situation, and it truly wasn’t fair.

“Hey, don’t be,” she said, touching his arm. “I don’t blame you at all. I’m blaming Cameron Biggs and his henchmen. Anyway, do you mind if we talk later?” She indicated the TV, where the drama she was addicted to had started showing.

He chuckled. “Sure. Do you want a drink?” he asked, taking a swig from his beer.

“No, thanks. I’ll make a hot chocolate later.”

He nodded and sat back, watching the TV but letting his mind wander.

He’d started entertaining the possibility that someone was setting up Biggs, hoping to get away with whatever crime they were planning to commit. But even if his instinct told him to follow that train of thought, his brain was telling him it was highly unlikely, given that the new threats carried a specific message—that even though Biggs was now in custody, his vendetta against Gavin was far from over. He wondered if other people that Biggs used to target had also received similar threats. If they had, they certainly hadn’t told the police about it. Perhaps, like him, they wanted to ensure the safety of their loved ones while they waited for new instructions to arrive.

“Do you think Carter suspects that something’s going on between us because I’m staying with you?” Amber asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“He does think I’m with you again and that I’m avoiding him because I broke up with his sister. But he doesn’t seem to suspect anything regarding this new threat. I can’t keep fobbing him off, though, or he might start digging deeper. So I think I should join him and the gang in the Blue Mountains this weekend.”

“Will Natasha be there too?”

“Yes, but so will her new boyfriend. Apparently, she’s started going out with someone else,” he murmured, letting some of his emotions show.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Amber said with a sympathetic frown. “But you know what? Hard as it is, you breaking up with Natasha is kind of a good thing. You at least have a reason for being cagey with Carter.”

“I guess.”

“So are you any closer to figuring out who sent the letters? I’m still scared that they’ll know I’m staying here with you.”

“There’s little chance of that happening if you don’t leave the apartment until I can have one of my guys accompany you. And of course, wear that disguise every time you do.”

Amber nodded. “I should have stayed put in Broome. Do you think that you received those threats because they found out I’m still alive?”

“I’m hoping that their next set of instructions will contain more clues that will help me find them,” he said with a comforting smile.

“Do you think telling the police about the threats will help find them quicker?”

“It could, because of the extra resources. But there’s nothing for them to go on. I’ve tried tracing the messages back to the source and I couldn’t, and they’ll only likely reach the same dead end. So there’s no point in telling them at this stage, with the risk much greater than the benefits if they knew.”

“As long as we’re safe,” Amber said, looking slightly relieved. “But is it okay with you that you’re stuck with me indefinitely? I seriously don’t know of any other place where I would feel safe.”

“I don’t mind,” he said, knowing how important it was for Amber to feel welcome—so she’d stay to help put Biggs in jail for the rest of his life.

But he hoped that
indefinitely
would only be a matter of days. He and Amber both had lives they wanted to live. And for him, it was to be with his Tash—who might already be falling in love with another man.

Damn it. Could he really sit back and let it happen?

N
atasha’s face lit up with delight as she walked into the century-old mansion that was to be their home for two days. “This is beautiful,” she said, checking out the crackling fireplace and the elegant country-style decor.

“I know,” Cassie gushed. “Did you see the paintings in the hallway? Wow!”

“Good thing we’re the first to arrive,” Carter said. “The master bedroom is ours.”

“Hey, I stepped foot inside first,” Natasha teased.

“Oh?” Carter said, raising an eyebrow at her. “You want to impress Jarryd by grabbing the master for yourselves?”

She widened her eyes at her brother while Cassie snorted. “Did you think I was going to share with Jarryd?”

“Aren’t you?”

She turned to Cassie in panic. “You didn’t count me and Jarryd as sharing a bedroom, did you?”

“Of course not.”

She breathed a sigh of relief, glaring at Carter. “Very funny.”

“I wasn’t joking,” Carter said, forehead creased in confusion. “I thought you and Jarryd had started dating, and that was why you invited him this weekend.”

She chuckled. “Sometimes your detective instincts fail you, my dear brother. He’s just a friend.”

“I see,” Carter said, pursing his lips. “Does that mean that if Gavin turns up, there’s no room for him?” he asked Cassie.

Natasha’s breath left her. What?

“You didn’t tell me he was coming,” Cassie said with a frown.

“He wasn’t sure if he could. He said he won’t know until today, depending on how his work pans out. And I thought we still had one room available for him because I assumed Tash and Jarryd were sharing.”

“No. I even had to turn down Tristan and Simon. Anyway, the two bedrooms upstairs both have two single beds pushed together to make a king-size. We can ask the caretaker to reconfigure them to two single beds again, I guess. Problem is, everyone’s expecting that each single person or couple would get their own room.”