The Contract

Chapter 29

Donovan arrived to pick me up at 11 am, in a sleek black car, outside of the agency building, 'Desire'.

Once I got inside his car on the passenger side, Donovan sat in the driver seat, wearing classy black suit pants, a white shirt with two buttons undone, rolled-up sleeves, no tie, and black sunglasses.

Despite not seeing his eyes, I knew he was looking right at me.

"Thanks for taking me." I mumble out awkwardly once he starts driving.

Turning to glance at me, Donovan smiled. "I said I would."

An awkward silence fills the car, the only sound is coming from the sound of the wheels on the road and the sound of my heartbeat, beating loudly in my chest.

What was I expecting? I almost sucker-punched him in his face.

His sister, Alex... I spent all night thinking about what I was going to say to her parents, Donovan's parents, wondering if this was a good idea or not, if I should just forget it and move on, or get the answers to the questions I've always asked.

Alex Steele... from what I could put together, she was troubled her whole life, by drugs, and alcohol, but online she was basically the young daughter and sister of the Billionaire Steele family, she was beautiful, smart on paper, and loved by all... on paper.

Yet I knew the bigger picture, I was living it with my mom, who herself has her own demons she's fighting, just like Alex, I know the pain, and hurt this does to you, and to those you love.

"You don't have to be worried, I'll be with you the entire time."

I look at Donovan and see his eyes focused on the road as he drives further and further away from the city of New York.

I know I'm going to regret this, but I had to know, even though I know going there will only open up new wounds.

They're obviously not good people, good people don't hide evidence of a murder, even if it is their child... my father deserved justice, and my mom deserves some peace of mind, even if it a small amount, to see that she'd be happier knowing what really happened... it would make this all a little less difficult.

My mom...... I had planned on telling her last night, having her come with me, but I quickly changed my mind when I thought just how badly this could go, especially how she'd react.

She's not been the same since his passing, learning of what happened would crush her.

"Why did they agree to see me?" I ask, staring outside the window at the passing cars. "Aren't they worried I'd tell the police?"

Donovan glances at me and then back to the road. "No." He simply says, making me turn to face him with a frown.

"I get it you're all rich, but nobody can hide from the law." I say. "Even if you have billions in your bank account."

"It's not that." He tells me. "I think it's best you talk to my parents, only they know what really happened Evan."

What the hell does that mean? "I thought you knew everything?"

Shaking his head, he sighs out. "I knew Alex hit him with her car when she was drunk, but things don't add up, it's probably best we see what my parents say before I can verify my suspicions.'

"Just..." He sighs heavily. "Just let me know when you're ready to leave, but try and hear them out."

"Easy for you to say." I snort out. "It wasn't your dad's death that was covered up."

"You're right." He says calmly. "Nothing I can say could justify their actions, nor bring Richard Beckett back."

"Sometimes I think about that night and wonder, if I had done more to stop Alex from spiraling, could I have prevented this?" He laughs bitterly. "If I was a better brother, she'd be alive, and you'd have your dad."

The car falls silent and I don't know what to say back to him after that outburst, I could try and say he's wrong, that he tried his best, but what would I know?

There were plenty of things we all could've done right, heck I could be a better son, but I avoid my mom, and let her carry on her ways because I swore to myself long ago, that I didn't want that toxicity in my life.

We didn't speak for the rest of the car journey, I stared out the window as cars passed me by as my mind went completely blank.

Donovan stopped at a gate, that led up to a large house up ahead surrounded by trees and nature, and although I should be nervous, meeting the parents of the man I've been sleeping with, and the parents who hid their child from the law, I wasn't...

In fact, I felt confident and proud for coming to face them and hear their side of the story.

"Are you okay?" Donovan asked, shutting his car door and then coming over to stand next to me.

"Yeah... I'm good." I say, watching him open the large gate.

He nods his head, not believing me. "We'll walk from here."

I nod my head and follow next to him up the long stone driveway, leading up to a large, beautiful house, that looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale, with beautiful flowers surrounding the house.

"They bought this place when Alex died." Donovan says, as I turn to face him, that's when I notice he was following my eyes. "After her suicide, they retired and came out here, I don't see them much, only on birthdays."

I hum, remembering that we had a fight on his birthday, at my old apartment, that was the day I realized I loved Donovan Steele, and I was way over my head with him.

A few steps away from the front door, my heart starts rapidly increasing, because the front door opens, and out walks an older woman, who looked really sweet, and gentle.

"Donovan." She smiles warmly at him before her eyes meet mine.

"Evan Beckett?" She asks, coming closer as I nod my head.

She holds out her frail hand and smiles softly as her gray orbs look into mine, taking me back slightly at how kind, and welcoming she is being towards me, despite the circumstances.

I shake her hand, and notice Donovan is watching us with an uneasy expression on his face.

"I'm Mary Steele." She says, smiling with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Please, come inside, my husband is making lunch for us."

I felt way out of my depth, following his mom inside, I felt a tightening pain in my chest, and hoped.. no prayed that I get out of this house with answers and the reason why they thought their actions were justifiable.

I'm getting a weird feeling, but I'm going to ignore it, I went this far and I wasn't leaving until I knew what really happened.

So I follow her inside, each step heavier than the other because I did not come all this way just for lunch... I came for the truth.