A Matter Of Justice (Grey Justice #4)(9)

“Simply that I’m no longer part of your life. In Texas or anywhere else. I’m no longer a part of your life, period. It’s over…we’re over.”

This wasn’t the first time they’d had a discussion like this. Living in each other’s pockets, as it were, meant they often had to take a break from one another. This was the longest break they’d ever had, though.

“We haven’t had anything between us in almost two years. You’re severing a tie that doesn’t exist.”

His words hurt her. She gave no discernible indication, but he could tell from the widening of those lovely eyes. He had said those words to get a reaction. He had expected fireworks, at the very least a denial. Instead, he got a hole punched in his heart.

She placed a ring on the table and pushed it toward him. He stared down at the thing, barely able to comprehend its reason for being there. The ring was a symbol of many things, one being their commitment to each other. That no matter what happened, no matter how far apart they were, they would always be, in some sense, together, connected. They’d exchanged rings several years ago, when things had been calm between them. There had been peace then. They had been working toward something worthwhile. And now it appeared she didn’t believe in those things anymore. At least not with him.

He was surprised by how calmly he was able to say, “Why?”



Irelyn considered herself a good actress. Having lived most of her life pretending to be someone else had trained her to handle anything with poise and confidence. But this? This was killing her. She couldn’t let the pain stop her. Grey needed closure—he needed a way out. Severing their ties meant he could finally have a real life. And Irelyn? She would accomplish the goal she had set out for herself, and then she would see.

She told herself to get it done. Be quick. And, to have the most effective result, be cruel. “We’ve used each other as much as possible, don’t you think?”

“Is that what we’ve been doing all these years? Using each other?”

“Haven’t we?”

“No. But it’s interesting that you see it that way.”

She gave a twisted smile, knowing it wasn’t her best, but right now it was all she could manage. “Let’s not get maudlin. We’re both adults. We knew at some point this had to end.”

“Friendships don’t always end.”

“Friendship?” She forced a laugh and inwardly winced at the hollow sound. “Really, Grey, we’re going there again?”

“What would you call it?”

“A mutually beneficial association that has reached the end of its usefulness.”

Blue eyes pierced her, and she swore he could see through to her soul. Grey could read her better than anyone. If she didn’t pull this off, he would never let up. And that would be dangerous. She would die before she let anything happen to him. This had to end now.

She took a breath and plunged the knife for a killing blow. “I’ve heard that cutting off the head of the snake is the best way.”

“The best way for what?”

She shrugged. Dammit, couldn’t he just let go? “To end things.”

“And who’s the snake in this particular scenario?”

“I think the past reveals that quite well.”

Another piercing stare, this one with more than a little anger. He pushed his chair back and stood. “Very well.” Picking up the ring from the middle of the table, he dropped it on an empty saucer in front of her. The clatter of platinum seemed to echo through the suddenly quiet restaurant. “Throw the damn thing away for all I care. Goodbye, Irelyn.”

He walked away then. Irelyn stayed for several more moments, looking down at the small token of everything they had meant to each other. She should get up and leave. She still had so much to do. Instead, she stared at the ring, vaguely wondering why her vision was becoming blurred.

“Will there be anything else, ma’am?”

The polite question from the waiter at her side shook her from her frozen stance. She shook her head and stood. “No, thank you.” She placed several large bills on the table and took a step away.

“Wait. Your ticket has been paid.”

Of course it had. Grey, once again. She shrugged. “Keep the money for yourself.”

She stepped out onto the sidewalk and, drawing in a shaky breath, refocused. It was done. The hardest part was out of the way. Now to move forward with the rest. The part that would most likely get her killed.





Chapter Four





Dallas Texas

Grey Justice Building





“The Abernathy award ceremony is a week from Thursday. The coordinator called this morning to confirm you’re bringing a guest. Is that right?”

The question shouldn’t have caught him off guard. He had known about the event for months. The Abernathy Humanitarian Award was a prestigious honor. Even though he didn’t seek the limelight and being rewarded for doing the right thing never really set well with him, he understood its importance. Garnering both publicity and additional funds for the Grey Justice Victims Advocacy Foundation was an important part of his everyday job. Just because he didn’t like it didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it.

A few weeks ago, he had carelessly told Molly Evans, his executive assistant, he would bring a date to the event. Had he secretly thought that Irelyn would be back home by now? He rarely did anything without knowing why, so he wouldn’t lie to himself now. Yes, he had expected she would be back home. He had hoped their meeting in Dublin last week would result in a reconciliation. Instead, it had split them even further apart.