Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“Is that any way to greet your old man?” Gavin turned, arms wide open as if to embrace me.
“Touch me and I’ll knock your teeth out,” I told him calmly.
His expression instantly changed. Ugly hatred gleamed in his eyes. “Ungrateful wee arsehole.”
I sighed heavily. Once upon a time, I’d tried to remind him that he’d had no hand in my success. Now I didn’t bother. The man was a delusional prick. “It’s time to leave.”
“Not without what I’m owed.” He stepped toward me, and I was very much aware of the people in the room, listening to this conversation.
“You’re owed nothing. Now leave, or I’ll have you physically removed.”
“All I want is a cut.” Gavin leaned into me, sneering. “You’re rolling in it while I’m struggling day-to-day. How’s that fair?”
“Maybe if you didn’t piss it all away on drink.”
He curled his upper lip in a snarl. “How did I raise such an arrogant wee fucker?”
“You didn’t raise me, Gavin. My mum and dad raised me and then Caley United did the rest. Now get the fuck out of my club.”
Gavin considered this, something turning over in his mind. I could see the deviousness in his eyes. “I saw photos of you online with the Carmichael girl.”
My stomach knotted.
He smirked. “Did you know I used to be pals with her dad? Aye, you’ve got a lot in common with Braden. He thinks he’s better than me too. I showed him how wrong he is.”
I kept my mouth shut, not giving him ammunition.
Still, Gavin continued, “Aye, that Carmichael girl … she’s fit like her mum. Wouldn’t mind seeing a sexy wee piece like that in the flesh.” He licked his lips. “You’re playing the game there, lad. Quite proud. Got yourself in there with the money … and I bet that pussy’s nice and tight. I’d like to see that up close too.”
The threat in his tone was like a fist in my face.
And for the first time, I retaliated.
I grabbed him by the collar of his T-shirt and the adrenaline pumping through me was like a superpower. I lifted Gavin off his feet and slammed him into the wall like he barely weighed anything. His head cracked off it, his eyes wide with shock as I shoved my face in his, teeth bared. “You come near Beth or her family or me ever fucking again, and I will ruin you!”
Hands were on me, pulling me off. At first I struggled against them.
Then Baird’s voice was in my ear. “Calm doon, Callan. Calm doon, pal.”
Vik and Danny had a hold of Gavin and were practically carrying him to the exit as he struggled and swore and cursed.
I realized the arms around me, holding me back, were Baird’s.
I slumped. “I’m fine.”
Baird let me go and I stepped out and turned to find my friend and the gaffer at my back.
Embarrassment cut through my fury. “Sorry.”
The gaffer squeezed my shoulder. “It’s okay. You say the word, and he’s banned from the grounds. I’d prefer it. I can’t have that man fucking with your head, Keen.”
I wanted to nod and tell him to do it. To ban him.
But with Beth on Gavin’s radar and the fact that I’d reacted to his threat against her … I was afraid if I banned him, he’d retaliate where it would hurt me. So I shook my head and turned away.
As Baird walked me back to the shower room in silence, I knew the only real answer to this was to let Beth go. I didn’t want Gavin anywhere near her, and I knew for damn sure her parents didn’t either.
However, I didn’t pick up my phone to text her that we needed to talk. Instead, I looked at my calendar. Our six-week deal ended in two weeks. And I wanted those two weeks.
I couldn’t give them up.
I couldn’t give her up.
Not yet.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
BETH
I’d been dreading this night.
We hadn’t spoken about it out loud, but the Friday of the last night of our six-week deal arrived before we knew it. The past two weeks we’d avoided talking about it, instead burying ourselves in work and in each other. My solicitor had sent a cease and desist to the author who slandered us and requested a public statement retracting claims, or we’d take legal action. It turned out the author, realizing with no evidence to back her up because she was a liar, issued a social media statement. She said she was dealing with depression and had lashed out with lies against Social Queens when we dropped her (she made no mention that we’d dropped her because she hadn’t paid her invoices) and apologized for any harm she’d caused. We also issued a statement on social media acknowledging her apology.
Callan was right—the furor blew over, and Iain Erstwhile was still interested in discussing social media management for the Edinburgh store. He was back in London but would be returning to Edinburgh next week. We were trying to get a meeting on the books.