Bedmates Soulmates novel Chapter 534

He looked at Austyn. ‘Besides, are you sure you want to see her arrested? She could be the mother of your son, after all.‘ 

“That’s yet to be verified.‘ Austyn did not want to think too much about this. 

Not now. 

“You two used to be engaged, though. You’ve seriously moved on?” 

Damian recalled how Austyn always got down in the dumps around Deborah’s death. anniversary each year. 

He mourned for her for so long. 

Could he really let go that easily? 

‘You know me,‘ Austyn said. ‘I can’t tolerate betrayal.‘ 

Like the way his father betrayed his mother. 

If Deborah had not cheated on him, Austyn would have honoured his promise and married her. 

But she did. 

Austyn broke off the engagement, but he would have continued to look after her if she had not ‘died.‘ 

For the seven years after that, he mourned for her out of guilt. 

Deborah’s father died protecting Austyn’s mother. 

Austyn had an obligation to take care of her, just like he had the same obligation towards Kayleigh. 

But both women were not content with that. 

They wanted more, and they were willing to betray him. 

That was where he drew the line. 

‘I know.‘ Damian nodded. 

He grew up with Austyn. 

get it. 

He knew Austyn could be fiercely loyal to his own people, but just as vicious towards his 

enemy. 

Deborah had pushed herself from the first category into the second. 

Damian used to be quite fond of the soft–spoken girl with a gentle demeanour. 

But she had changed. 

Deborah only had herself to blame if Austyn decided to cut all ties with her. 

‘But what about the boy?” Damian asked. ‘Do you think she’s lying about that?‘ 

‘I don’t know.” 

Deborah had lied about so many things. 

Austyn had to take every word she said with a giant pinch of salt. 

Damian’s face grew serious. ‘Have you considered the worst–case scenario?” 

‘Which is?” 

‘She’s telling the truth. The boy is yours. What do you plan to do then?‘ 

Austyn looked away. 

He felt blood throbbing in his temples and a headache coming on. 

He didn’t reply because he didn’t have an answer 

In the not–so–distant past, he had prided himself on his ability to solve problems, be they business or personal. 

The last time he had been so flustered and confused was when he confronted his feelings for Kira. 

His heart told him he loved her. 

His mind warned him of the inevitable disaster if he confessed his feelings to her. 

That battle had ended with the heart claiming victory over the mind. 

But he knew his troubles were far from over. 

In fact, they were just beginning. 

Time marched on. 

The day was unavoidably drawing near. 

The day he would be forced to choose his mother’s life or his marriage with Kira. 

He was bound to lose either one or the other. 

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 

Austyn forced himself to focus on work and live one day at a tim 

For the first time in his life, he chose to be a coward. 

He ran away from the problem. 

But now, before he had sorted out that problem, a new one was on the horizon. 

Austyn shot to his feet and started pacing. 

Anxiety, frustration and dread took turns pounding him in the head. 

He was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. 

He pinched the space between his brows. 

He’d kill for a smoke right now. 

‘Sorry I asked.‘ Damian backed off when he sensed the waves of irritation emanating from 

Austyn. 

He knew Austyn had not slept much for three days in a row. 

Any man would have trouble dealing with such a bolt from the blue. 

‘I’ll go back and brief my men.‘ Damian stood up and hauled up the black duffel bag. ‘Thanks for the arsenal. You should catch some Zs. We’ll meet at zero five hundred hours sharp.‘ 

Austyn just nodded. 

Damian left the room. 

Austyn remained seated for another ten minutes before finally getting to his feet. 

He went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. 

Then he came out and used the landline. 

It was seven am in Stamford, but Cyril answered the phone on the first ring. 

Austyn told his vice president he and Kai were away on an urgent business trip. 

They would be back in two days, three at the most. 

Cyril was to hold down the fort till then. 

After he ended the call, Austyn held the receiver in his hand, hesitant. 

Kira was probably awake by now. 

Should he call her again? 

Kai returned before he could make that decision. 

He carried four paper bags filled with burgers and wraps. ‘Most of the restaurants nearby are. closed. I hope you don’t mind fast food.‘ 

‘Deliver these to Damian. He’s in Room 2015. He and his men probably haven’t had dinner, either.” 

“What about you, Boss?” 

‘I’m not hungry.” 

He was too strung up to keep down any food. 

It wasn’t the meeting with Santoro that worried him.. 

It was the boy whose face he had yet to see. 

Deborah kept photos of Aiden on her phone. 

Austyn turned her down when she offered to show them to him. 

He was afraid to see a face that resembled his. 

Kai didn’t push. 

He knew his boss could be a picky eater at times. 

Before he left, Austyn said, ‘Check if there’s a flight back to Stamford tomorrow afternoon. If there isn’t, book the next available flight.” 

‘Yes, Boss.‘ 

‘You should catch some sleep after that. You’ve had a long day as well. We’re meeting Damian 

at five am.‘ 

Kai nodded. ‘Good night, Boss.‘ 

‘Night.‘ 

Austyn took a five–minute shower. 

He lay on the bed in the dark, staring at the ceiling with an unrecognisable floral pattern. 

It reminded him once again that he was far from home. 

He couldn’t wait for morning to come. 

Once Santoro was arrested, he could leave it to Damian to take care of the rest while he would be on the first flight back to Stamford. 

Austyn closed his eyes but was too restless to sleep. 

He glanced at the landline phone on the nightstand and resisted the urge to call Kira. 

If things went according to plan, he would be back in Stamford in forty–eight hours. 

He would explain everything to Kira then. 

Telling her everything face to face was better than doing it over the phone. 

Austyn grabbed the pillow under his head and tossed it away, feeling hot. 

Kira must be furious with him. 

Blumore had plenty of shopping malls. 

He wondered if he could find something she would like, something to appease her.