The Other Side of Greed (The Seven Sins #5) - Lily Zante Page 0,84

by my side. “Oh,” she says.

“We won’t stay for long. Sorry.” I make an apologetic face. I will explain everything to her properly later, but her searching look sees through me. I introduce the two women, being extra careful to tell Kyra that Emma is a dear friend.

Surely Kyra won’t have any questions after this. Surely this will suffice? Kyra looks uneasy. I can see it in the way she is standing, hovering by Emma’s bed. It’s surreal to watch and I feel awkward as I ask Emma how she’s feeling, then ask about her family. We make small talk about Emma’s recovery, and she tells us that she’ll be able to leave the hospital soon, then tells us about the physical therapy she has to undergo.

She looks a lot better lately, and tells me that she is walking around more, and the pain of her injuries is lessening.

When Kyra steps out to take a phone call, Emma gives me a look that makes my insides shrivel.

“I’m a shitbag, I know.” I exhale, because I don’t know where to begin, and I don’t have time, and Kyra is just outside. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t ask this if—”

“You’re sleeping with her.” Her voice is thick with disappointment. It’s not even a question, but stated like a fact.

“No.” I meet her gaze.

“Something is obviously going on.”

“I’m not … sleeping with her.”

She doesn’t seem to believe me. Wise woman. “You set out to deceive this woman. Even you should know when to stop,” she hisses.

“About that … I’m going to set things right.”

She struggles to sit up, and I help her, adjusting the pillow slightly. “Is this setting things right?”

“She thought I was married, or that you and I were … you did say I could bring her here.”

The silence is deafening.

“Obviously, you didn’t think it would come to that,” I say, realizing now how misguided my actions are.

“Sorry about that.” Kyra returns, looking sheepish. She smiles at Emma. “I’m so sorry about showing up here like this. It’s my fault.”

“It’s perfectly fine.” Emma is all smiles. The two women seem genuinely friendly towards one another and I feel like an extra on a show.

“We should go. I’m sorry that this happened at all, but Brad and I were talking and …” Kyra looks to me to help her out, as if she doesn’t know how to explain her sudden appearance here.

“It’s not a problem. I like having visitors. Being on my own isn’t much fun.”

“It’s great that you’ll be able to go home soon,” says Kyra. “Good luck with the physio.”

I raise my hand at Emma, steering clear of words. She’s furious with me, and rightly so. Once more, this was all about me. My desire to prove that I am not a cheat or involved with Emma. That’s all I thought about, and wanting to set the record straight with Kyra, but if I were brave enough, I could have set the record straight by telling her the whole goddamn truth.

But to do that, I will have to go back to the beginning, to tell her who I really am, and that’s something I’m not ready to do.

Chapter Forty

KYRA

We walk back to his car silently. After a while, he asks, “Do you believe me now?”

He was obviously desperate to prove it to me. I don’t know this woman from the next stranger, and here I am, intruding in her personal space, at the hospital of all places. And this after her traumatic car crash.

The cynic in me rises to the fore. I can’t trust anyone enough to get close to them, and maybe this is what it takes. I should give the guy a break. I should let this go and allow myself to open up to someone again.

“Thank you for doing that. I shouldn’t have asked you to go this far.”

“This far?” He quirks an eyebrow. “You have doubts about me, Kyra, and I don’t blame you. There are many things unexplained; things you probably wonder about. The last thing I wanted was for you to think I was a cheat.”

He leans against the car, arms folded as if he’s not ready to get in until we’ve sorted this out. I let out a shaky breath. I’m lucky to have someone like Brad, someone who went to such lengths to prove to me that he isn’t a cheat.

He seems like the type of man who would move mountains for me, and maybe, for once, I should let myself enjoy the