The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(113)

My eyes tear up as I sit, too stunned to speak.

That was the first piece of jewellery any man had ever given me. And he’s just thrown it away as if it’s trash.

I look forward again as a tear threatens to fall, not wanting him to see.

I’m in shock.

He shifts behind me and grabs the handles. “Like I said—”

I tune him out, not being able to hear him over the beating of my heart.

Nothing seems real. I can see it. The sea, the cliffs in the distance, and the others riding around on the skis, but I can’t hear them. I can’t focus. I can barely breathe.

My chest starts to ache, and my eyes widen.

My arm snaps out and knocks Elliot’s grip on the handle, freeing me from his confinement.

I stand from the Jet Ski and dive into the water.



Elliot





I sit and watch as she surfaces, swiping her hair as she smooths it out. She looks around the water frantically, and I think she’s looking for the others, but then she makes eyes for the beach and starts swimming towards the shoreline.

My nostrils flare as I watch her swim away from me.

“Lucy,” I bite out, swinging around the Jet Ski and pulling up alongside her. “Give me your hand, now.”

She continues to swim, and I don’t miss the devastated look on her face.

It amps up my own anger, but it’s not directed at her. I’m angry at myself. No, fuck that. I’m angry at both of us.

“Now,” I tell her, shaking the hand I have held out to back up my demand.

“Leave me alone,” she mutters.

I watch her strokes, slow and pitiful against the current.

“Get on the Jet Ski!” I yell in frustration, circling her too close and causing the water to slap against her.

Fuck.

She comes to a stop and watches me with wide eyes.

“Are you insane!”

I see her tears slip free, and I stare right back. My jaw locks painfully tight, reminding me that my heart isn’t the only thing that aches.

I stand prone on the Jet Ski as she swipes at her face and continues her way back to the shore.

“Fuck!” I roar, going hard on the throttle and flying across the water. I pass a pissed-looking Nina as I head towards the point. I don’t need to look over my shoulder to know where she’s going.

Megan circles around and picks up Mason, who had jumped into the water. They follow behind me as I round the point and head for the small cove that leads to my family’s home.

The Jet Ski flies onto the sand, and I cut the engine.

“You think Ellis needs to see you out there acting like billy big balls!” Mason snaps, pulling up alongside me.

I look across at Megan and him, then flip my hat and cover my eyes. My face remains hard, and I know they get the message.

“Are we jumping?” Megan asks, looking at the point over her shoulder.

I throw my leg over the Jet Ski and start towards the steps.

“Yes!” I hear her hiss.

“I’ll go check the rocks.”

Mason heads back out while Megan and I climb the steps to the top of the cliff top.

Scarlet and Megan are the only two who ever want to come up here to jump. Lucy is always too afraid, and Nina uses Ellis as an excuse.

“What happened before? Want to talk about it?”

I ignore her.

“She genuinely doesn’t want to hurt you, Elliot. She—”

“You think I don’t know that?” I snap, rolling my eyes.

“She doesn’t know how to make it right, not without hurting anyone more than she already has.”

“Megan,” I warn.

“I’ll shut up. I’m just saying. She knows she hurt you, and she knows it will take time to fix. She didn’t ask to be on your Jet Ski today and her being here with dickface wasn’t completely on her. You need to listen to what she has to say because if I’m being honest, you’re both being a little backwards about it now.”

“Why even start with I’ll shut up?”

“I’m done.”

We get to the top of the cliff, and I spot Mase at the bottom. He waves his arms no and shouts up, “It’s shallow as fuck, Montgomery.”

I look at the water and see the rocks littered on the bed. We’ve been coming out here since we were kids, jumping these cliffs and fucking about. We know when it’s safe and when it isn’t.

My eyes hit the horizon, and I relax my shoulders. “I’ll see you back at the lodge in a bit.”

“You don’t want a ride back with us?”

“I’ll walk back across the path.”

She hesitates at my back for a minute, and I gear up for more of her girly bullshit.

“I’ll see you in a bit then.”

I turn, catching her pity-filled stare. “Thanks, Megs.”

I end up sitting out on the cliff top for nearly two hours before deciding to go back. The air seems to shift as I walk the path to the lodge, and I can tell with the wind picking up that we’re probably due another storm.

When I get to the lodge, I find Mason, Charlie, and Vinny on the patio having a drink.

I contemplate not joining them but decide against it when Mason waves me over.

“We’re eating in the dining room tonight. Scar’s looking for you, she wants to have a black-tie sit-down whilst we’re here.”