Page 22 of Forbidden Love
“Then, tell her. She deserves the truth, Dev. You can’t keep carrying this weight on your own.”
“But what if it ruins everything?”
“Then at least you were honest,” Zack says firmly. “But she might understand, and if she does, you know she’s the real deal.”
My jaw sets. “You’re right. I have to do this.”
“You do,” Zack replies, a hint of his usual wildness creeping back into his voice. “Now go get your girl and stop moping around like some lovesick teenager.”
“Thanks, Zack. I needed that.”
“Anytime, brother,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Good luck.”
Dread and determination wash over me as I hang up.
Zack’s right—I can’t escape from this. It is impossible for me to keep hiding behind my lies. It’s time to face the truth, regardless of how ugly it is.
I know exactly where to find her—at the Oasis site. My assistant had informed me the protesters were back with a vengeance, but it was the least of my concerns.
As I drive to the project site, my heart pounds with every mile. The traumatic memory of the nightmarish night repeats in my brain—the night that changed everything and made me choose to bury Devin Wolfe and live under a false identity.
When I arrive, I’m practically vibrating with anxiety. I spot Maya’s parked car as I run a hand through my hair. Pulling down the visor mirror, I stare at a desperate man with bloodshot eyes.
It’s been a few days since my employees have seen me, but there’s only one person I need to speak with.
I find Maya standing near the job site, talking to one of the project managers. She glances upwards when she sees me and her body stiffens before she averts her gaze.
I need to tread carefully, but I can’t hold back. As I head towards her, I call her name. “Maya. Can we talk?”
She blinks, biting her lip. Finally, she nods. “Yes.”
Away from the commotion, we find a quiet spot. I inhale, gathering my thoughts for what I am about to convey. “I owe you the truth. About everything.”
She crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing as she looks at me. “Yes, you do.”
A dull ache sears the back of my neck. After massaging the tension, I close my eyelids and reopen them. I’m ready. “My real name is Devin Wolfe. I’ve been using an alias because… well, because of my father.”
Her brows crease. “How does he relate to this?”
“My father was a powerful man, but he wasn’t a good one. He was involved in a lot of dark, illegal things—money laundering, dirty deals, you name it. It all came to light after he died and I found proof of what he’d done.”
She stares at me, her pupils dilating, but she doesn’t speak.
I continue. “I knew that if anyone found out, it would destroy our family’s reputation and ruin everything we’d built. So I buried it. I embraced the duty of protecting our family’s legacy and maintaining the secret.”
“Okay.” She fiddles with her necklace before clearing her throat. “This story is a little out there. I’m not sure I buy into all this.”
My shoulders tense. “If you don’t believe me, ask my two younger brothers, Zack and Tristan. They know the truth.”
“Well, if your brothers know, why areyouthe only one hiding?”
Sighing, I tell her the truth. “Because it’s my fault alone.”
She grows still. “What did you do?”
I swallow hard, knowing I need to give her details. “After my father died, there was a deal he set up. Something shady. I thought I could handle it, but things went wrong. I panicked, and I made a choice… I paid someone off to eliminate the problem, but instead of solving anything, it made everything worse.”
Her eyes snap back to mine, widening. “What are you saying? That you were involved in something illegal?”