Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Aiden was starting to get nervous. He couldn't stop himself—he picked up the phone and called Richard.

If anyone could change the boss's mind, it was Richard.

Richard showed up fast. When he heard Clara had run off, his brows pulled together, but then a slow grin crept across his face.

His first thought? This was about to get interesting.

Clara really was pushing her luck.noveldrama

But as soon as Richard walked in and saw the look on Dylan's face, even he had to curse Clara under his breath. No matter how calm he tried to stay, he couldn't help it.

Seriously, Clara? She was living the high life at Palm Bay. Was it really so hard to just stay put and enjoy it? Why did she have to stir things up and make everyone miserable?

Richard headed for the window, reaching for the curtains, but Dylan stopped him.

"Don't," Dylan said quietly.

Richard let go, paused, then turned around. "If you're this upset, just go get her. What's the point of starving yourself? You think sulking will make her feel bad? She's probably out there having the time of her life. If you actually starved to death, I bet she'd be over it and married again in no time. You believe me?" Dylan just sat there, his hand resting on the pillow. He didn't say anything.

He couldn't eat.

The master bedroom felt huge and empty. Richard found a spot and sat down, shaking his head. "At least eat something. I'll go hunt her down for you if you want."

Dylan's suit was still perfect, every detail in place.

To everyone else, he looked as cold and flawless as ever.

Even around his closest friends, nothing changed.

"No need," Dylan said.

Richard was a little surprised. Really? He wasn't going after her?

He could actually hold back?

Dylan leaned against the bed, face pale. "Let her have a few days out there. Let her have her fun."

He didn't say the rest, but it was obvious: he'd get her back when he felt like it. She was never really going to escape him.

Richard picked up on the bitterness in his voice.

He'd never understood why Dylan loved Clara so much-so quietly, so fiercely, so stubbornly.

He still didn't get it.

But Richard had a rule: you didn't have to understand to respect someone.

He took a deep breath. "Aiden called me. Said you're not eating. We're not kids anymore, man-don't trash your health over this. Eat something. When you want her back, just say the word."

Dylan dropped his gaze. "Okay," he murmured, and that was it.

Richard didn't push. He walked out of the bedroom and spotted Aiden waiting for him.

Aiden's head was wrapped in bandages. He saw Richard and greeted him quietly, "Richard."

Richard pulled out a cigarette and lit up. "Did you find out who was behind it?"

"Yeah. It was Simon, working with Ryan."

Simon was clever—he'd gone all in against Dylan, and dragged Clara's brother into it too. Having Ryan on his side was basically a get-out-of-jail-free card.

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There was no way Dylan could go after both of them. He'd never be able to explain that to Clara.

Ryan was just the accomplice, but Simon had him totally fooled. Now Ryan was convinced Dylan was the villain who locked Clara up.

Richard's eyes went cold. Simon had been a pain for too long. Someone needed to deal with him.

"So we're just letting this slide?"

They knew who was behind it. Why not just find a reason and get Simon out of the picture?

Aiden let out a heavy sigh, clearly frustrated. "Simon and Ryan are living together now. They're holed up in Ryan's mansion all day, never coming out. If we barged in, it'd just prove to Ryan that we're the bad

guys."

Besides, right now the boss wasn't giving any orders, and Aiden didn't dare act on

his own.

Richard didn't say anything else. He finished his cigarette, a cold smirk on his lips, then headed downstairs.