Page 67 of Enchant Me

Alaine’s brow furrowed. “I appreciate that. But what are we talking about?”

“The note left at my house. And the similar texts that were flooding both my and Nikki’s message apps.”

“Oh.” Alaine leaned back, looking confused. “What about them?”

“You know that I’m a man who looks at the facts and tries to not let my emotions sway me.”

“Of course.”

“Well, one of the facts l considered was that you only learned about what happened between me and Sofia in Germany when I went public. And the fact that she was recently killed saving Nikki’s life.”

Alaine shook his head. “All true, but I don’t see your point.”

Damien sighed, knowing he just had to get through this. “I’m getting to it. Alaine, I’ve also known for years you had a bit of a crush on Sofia.”

Alaine chuckled. “Well, that is one way of saying it. Perhaps I let my heart overlook the reality, but I never saw her as broken. I know she was, but I loved her. I truly did.”

“I know,” Damien said softly. “And that’s why when all of this started, it entered my mind that you might be behind it. That you were angry that Nikki was alive and Sofia wasn’t. I know now that it wasn’t you, and I’m sorry for even thinking it. I just wanted you to know.”

“To know that you suspected me?”

“Yes. Like I said, I value your friendship. I think it’s fair that you should understand the way my thoughts were going.”

“I appreciate that, but you owe me no apology.”

“Thank you for saying that. But there’s more. I think you have a right to know who was truly behind those texts that I was receiving.”

Alaine’s eyes went wide. “You found your culprit?”

“I’d been staring at him all along. Hell, I’ve been staring at him my entire life.”

Alaine sat back in his seat. “Your father.”

“I should have realized right away. But, I didn’t initially understand what the end game was.”

“What was it?”

“To keep me and my son at odds so that Jeremiah could worm his way into Ashton’s business. So that he could skim money off his grandson since he couldn’t manage to do it off of me.”

“Tell me something, my friend,” Alaine said. “Did your father know the truth? About what Richter did to you and Sofia?”

“He did. That’s another reason I should have suspected him. The man is the lowest form of slime”

“I have to say, I believe your assessment is correct.”

“I hate the fact that I was so disloyal to you,” Damien said.

“No, please. You owe me no apology. You were protecting your family.”

“That’s true, but in the process I forgot that you’re family, too. You have been since we were children.”

Alaine reached across the table and put his hand on Damien’s. “I cannot tell you how much that means to me.”

“I mean every word,” Damien said. “I know that we don’t see each other as much as we should. We’re both busy, but it was you and Sofia who made those days bearable. And that’s meant a lot. You helped make me who I am.” He grinned. “Some people may not think that’s a good thing, but I do.”

Alaine chuckled. “As do I.”

Damien lifted his cup. “At any rate, that’s why I wanted to have coffee.”