The realisation that I was having a baby, Gabriel’s baby, started to sink in and despite the circumstances, I felt a sudden rush of happiness. Even if Gabriel wanted nothing to do with me or our baby, we would be okay. Providing I could escape my ex-husband.
I sat in my dad’s kitchen and stared out of the patio doors into the garden while I waited for him to come back from the corner shop. It had been a week since I had found out I was pregnant. I’d gone to the doctor’s that morning and she had confirmed I was six weeks. Every day since I’d found out, I had picked up the phone to call Gabriel, but I could never quite manage it. Last time I’d seen him I’d been leaving him again, after he’d spent the night inside me, telling me how much he loved me. I remembered the look in his eyes when I’d left, and I wouldn’t blame him if he never wanted to speak to me again. Besides all that, I was still just getting used to the idea of being pregnant myself and wasn’t sure I was ready to have him sharing that experience with me. That was if he even wanted to share it. I had no idea if he wanted children. He had never mentioned them — although neither had I.
I wondered what type of father Gabriel would be. Would he be strict or would our child have him wrapped around their little finger? Would he rock them to sleep and change nappies? I realised I was smiling as I heard the front door opening.
‘Seb?’ I heard a familiar voice shout and my stomach flipped over. My dad had obviously left the door unlocked and Gabriel had let himself in.
I heard him walking towards the kitchen and I briefly contemplated making a run for the patio doors. A few seconds later he walked into the kitchen. ‘Seb?’ he said again and then he saw me sitting by the table instead and took a step back, as though the sight of me had physically winded him. I tried not to be too offended as I looked him over. He was wearing his grey suit — and that belt! God, why did he have to look so damn fine all the time. Couldn’t he just once turn up looking as rough as I felt?
‘He’s just gone to the shop. He’ll be back in a minute,’ I said.
He opened his mouth to speak but then obviously thought better of it and just nodded instead. We looked at each other and I pulled at the sleeve of my tatty old cardigan, wishing I had worn something a little more alluring.
‘I’ll just wait outside for him,’ Gabriel said.
‘Fine,’ I snapped and turned back to the table. Now he couldn’t even stand to be in the same room as me. How the hell was I going to tell him I was pregnant?
He started to walk out of the room but then he turned around again. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Why?’
‘You just look… a bit run down, that’s all?’
‘Run down?’ I snapped, my eyes narrowed as I scowled at him. What the hell! I was carrying his bloody baby and had almost constant morning sickness, and he judges me for being a bit run down.
‘I didn’t mean,’ he said with a sigh. ‘You look off colour, that’s all. Are you feeling okay?’
‘Yes,’ I lied.
He rolled his eyes and went to fill the kettle. ‘Let me make you a coffee.’
‘I don’t want a coffee,’ I said. I had read that too much caffeine was potentially harmful and given my history, I didn’t want to take any chances and had switched to decaf. He placed the kettle on the counter and I heard him sigh.
‘I’ll have a peppermint tea if you’re making a drink though?’ I offered.
He nodded and switched the kettle on before opening the cupboard and taking out the box of teabags. His knowledge of my father’s kitchen only reminded me of the closeness between the two of them and I felt an acute pang of sadness that I couldn’t be a part of that anymore.
‘You sure you’re okay?’ he asked again.
I had been wondering how to tell him about my pregnancy since I’d found out, and this seemed like as good as an opportunity as any. I took a deep breath. ‘Actually, I’m glad you’re here. I want to speak to you about something,’ I said.
He walked towards me. ‘Okay?’
Just then, with impeccable timing, my father walked back into the house. ‘Not a bloody hob-nob to be found in that damn shop,’ he shouted as he walked down the hallway.
‘It’s okay. It doesn’t matter,’ I said to Gabriel as I shook my head.
He frowned at me but then my father walked into the room.
‘Gabriel,’ he said as he eyed him suspiciously, which raised my hackles immediately. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I need to speak to you,’ he said.
My father nodded and glanced sideways at me.
‘I’m going anyway,’ I said as I stood up. ‘I forgot I have some work to catch up on.’
‘Sam, you don’t need to go,’ my father said. ‘Just give me five minutes with Gabriel, and we’ll have that brew. I bought custard creams,’ he said as he held the packed of biscuits aloft triumphantly.
‘Custard creams? Come on, Dad. They’re no substitute for hobnobs, now are they?’ I laughed as I gave him a kiss on the cheek.
‘She’s right there, mate,’ Gabriel agreed.
‘But, I love custard creams,’ my dad replied.
‘I’ll call you later,’ I said to him.
‘Okay. Bye, love.’
I walked out of the door and left the pair of them to their dodgy business dealings.
Chapter 71
Gabriel
I walked through the reception area of my office.
‘I’m going to be on an important call from ten o’clock,’ I said to our newest employee, Stuart. ‘I don’t want to be disturbed.’
I had a call with Graham Johnson scheduled. His daughter Robyn was primed to take over from him, but we had some unfinished business to take care of first. We were drawing up plans for the security for the site of the hotel he was building in Liverpool. I had learned that Graham wasn’t quite as clean cut as his LinkedIn profile made him out to be. He was a shrewd businessman, but Graham had made his way to the top of his game via any means possible, and that included paying off council officials, bribery and extortion. He wasn’t averse to getting his hands dirty to get what he wanted, and that suited me down to the ground, because neither was I.
I walked into my office and fired up my laptop. A few moments later, I connected to Skype and saw Graham’s face filling the screen.
‘Good morning, Gabriel,’ he said with a wide smile. ‘How are you?’
‘I’ve been better, Graham. How are you?’
He laughed. ‘I’m good, and I’m sure you’ll feel better when I tell you about what happened to our mutual friend, Mr Garvey.’
I leaned closer to my laptop. This was interesting. ‘Oh?’ I said and just then the door to my office opened. I looked up to see Stuart popping his head through. ‘What the fuck did I just tell you?’ I barked at him.
‘Sorry, Boss,’ he said and disappeared again.
‘Jesus Christ,’ I shook my head and Graham started to laugh again.
‘You just can’t get the staff these days, mate,’ he said.
I nodded. ‘So, tell me about our friend then.’
‘He went for a walk last night and fell off the top of an eight-storey car park.’
‘He fell off?’ I asked with a flash of my eyebrows.
‘With a little help,’ Graham grinned at me.
‘I thought you were just going to find out where he was for me?’ I asked with a shake of my head.
‘I did. And then my Robyn told me what kind of man he is, she’s always googling people, and so I asked Howie to have a chat with him.’
‘Oh?’ Howie was Graham’s longest serving employee and his own personal protection detail. ‘So how did a chat end up with him falling off a roof?’
Graham sucked the air through his teeth. ‘Well, it seemed he gave our Howie a bit of lip. They had a scuffle, he fell. End of. No CCTV. Police have it down as an accident. I thought you’d be pleased?’
I shrugged. I most definitely was pleased, but I didn’t want Graham Johnson thin
king he’d done me some massive favour. We got on well together and I sensed I could trust him, but I didn’t know him well enough yet. ‘Makes no difference to me if he’s alive or dead.’
Graham nodded. ‘Good. Now let’s get down to some business.’
An hour later, I turned off my laptop and leaned back in my chair. I checked my watch and realised I had a meeting with Nick in half an hour. Grabbing my coat off the back of my chair, I stood up and walked out of my office. Stuart looked up as I walked into the reception.
‘Next time I tell you not to disturb me, don’t,’ I snapped at him.
‘Sorry, Boss, but-'
‘I don’t give a shit why you did it. Don’t ever let it happen again.’
He nodded and I walked out of the office. I didn’t want to be late for my meeting with Nick at O’Malley’s. He was still digging into Jackson for me but we couldn’t meet in his office any longer in case Samantha saw us. I felt a tightening in my chest as I thought about her. The last time I’d seen her a few days ago was in Sebastian’s house. It had been awkward and she’d looked at me like she couldn’t bear to be around me. I was beginning to wonder whether Jackson was behind her decision to end things, or whether she just didn’t want to be with me. I didn’t want to believe that she didn’t love me at all, it was too much to contemplate that our whole relationship had been a lie. But maybe she was right when she said she wasn’t ready for a relationship.
I opened my car and climbed inside. I had to stop thinking about her and start to face the reality that she might never come back to me. She wasn’t mine any longer — and maybe she never had been.
Chapter 72
Samantha
It had been two days since I’d seen Gabriel at my father’s house. I’d had every intention of telling him about my pregnancy but my dad had come back and then the two of them had started acting strangely. I’d thought about phoning him later that evening but I reasoned that it was a conversation better had face to face.
I’d gone to his office earlier that morning only to find the reception being manned for a change, by a stocky man who refused to let me into the back. He told me Gabriel wasn’t to be disturbed. I had insisted and told him, quite assuredly, that his boss would want to see me. The stocky man had disappeared then and I had been sure that he would return with an apology and allow me through, but he only told me that Gabriel had refused to see me. So, I supposed I’d have to wait a little longer. Maybe it was for the best not seeing him right now. I was constantly nauseous and that seemed to make me permanently cranky too.
I walked out of our conference room in Donovan Cook to find Beth waiting for me.
‘DS Phillips is waiting in your office for you, Samantha,’ she said.
‘Oh? Did he say what he wanted?’
‘No. I told him you were in a meeting, but he said he was happy to wait.’
‘Okay, thanks Beth.’
I walked into my office to see him holding a mug of tea which I assumed Beth had made him.
‘Good afternoon, Sergeant,’ I said as I walked in. We had been on first name basis but I hadn’t seen him for a few weeks, and I also didn’t know why he was there to see me.
‘Hi, Samantha,’ he said with a smile. ‘And please call me Carl.’
I smiled back as I took a seat at my desk opposite him. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’ I asked.
‘I thought you’d want to know that we’ve found Anthony Garvey,’ he said.
‘Oh? Is he back in custody?’ I asked.
‘Not exactly,’ Carl replied. ‘He’s dead.’
‘Dead?’ I asked and I felt my stomach drop through my knees, remembering Gabriel and my father’s suspicious conversation a few days earlier.
‘Yes. We had a call from our colleagues in Liverpool. He was found early this morning.’
‘Liverpool?’ I asked.
He nodded. ‘Yes. Do you know if he had any contacts in Liverpool?’
‘No,’ I shook my head, but I knew two men who did. ‘How did he die?’ I asked, trying to keep the tremor from my voice. I felt guilty by association and was desperate not to say anything that might incriminate Gabriel or my father.
‘Suicide, apparently?’ he said with a shrug.
‘Suicide?’
‘Yeah. He jumped off an eight-storey car park. Obviously, he decided he could no longer live with being a scumbag and ended it all.’
I sat back in my chair and let out a long breath. My heart hammered in my ears. Had he really jumped off a building, or had he had a little help?
‘Are you okay, Samantha?’ Carl asked as he leaned forward in his seat.
‘Yes. It’s just a bit of a shock, that’s all.’
‘Well, it must be a weight off your mind. I thought you’d want to know as soon as possible. The world is a much better place without him in it as far as I’m concerned.’
I smiled awkwardly. I didn’t know how to respond to that statement. Was he interviewing me? Why had he come here to tell me that himself and not sent one of his constables, or phoned me? Or was I just being paranoid and he was simply being nice?
‘Anyway, we’ll be closing the case now, so I wanted you to know,’ he said and then he started to fidget awkwardly in his seat.
‘Thank you, Carl. I appreciate you coming to see me.’
‘I was wondering, now that we’re not involved in any official capacity, if you fancied going for a drink some time?’ he asked.
Oh, now that explained it all. I looked at him. He seemed nice. He was handsome and smart, and he seemed kind too. He was just the type of man I should have been thinking about dating. ‘I’m sorry, Carl. That’s very nice of you, but I’m kind of involved with someone at the moment,’ I said. It wasn’t a complete lie. I was pregnant with someone else’s child.
‘Oh, okay. Beth told me you were single,’ he said as his cheeks flushed pink.
Beth! I could kill her. ‘Well, we’ve been kind of and off,’ I said.
‘Well, if you’re ever off again, you’ve got my number,’ he said as he stood up.
‘Duly noted,’ I said with a smile.
Chapter 73
Samantha
I had spent the whole night tossing and turning. At first I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Anthony Garvey’s death. Had he committed suicide or had he been pushed off that roof? Now, I would never know if someone else was behind his attack on me. Unless, that person decided to strike themselves? No! I must have misheard him. It wasn’t Jackson, so who else would want to hurt me like that? Then I began wondering how I was going to tell Gabriel about my pregnancy, realising that I’d have to tell him soon. He deserved to be the first to know and as much as we had our differences, it was unfair to keep it from him any longer.
By the time the morning had rolled around, I had decided that I was going to tell him as soon as possible. I entertained a fleeting notion that I’d suggest we move far away and start a new life, just the three of us. Somewhere Jackson would never find us? But that was completely unrealistic. And besides that, I wasn’t sure that Gabriel wanted to be with me anymore. He’d dismissed me from his office yesterday when I’d gone to speak to him, without even the courtesy of telling me to my face. I supposed I couldn’t blame him after everything that had happened between us.
I showered and dressed quickly. I ate a piece of toast to stave off the nausea and then I grabbed my handbag and walked out of the door, determined to see Gabriel and tell him my news before I changed my mind again. It started to drizzle shortly after I left, the soft droplets bounced off my arms as I walked down the road. I contemplated turning back but hailed a passing taxi instead.
My stomach was in a knot by the time I reached Gabriel’s house. The closer I got, the more anxious I became. I climbed out of the taxi and was crossing over the road when I saw the door to his house open. A blonde woman stepped outside. She was clearly wearing clothes from the previous night. Unless mini-skirts, vest tops and six inch heels had become the new norm
al Saturday morning attire. How ironic — that had been me five weeks ago — leaving after a night of sex. She looked like Fiona, Gabriel’s date from my father’s engagement party, but I could see even from across the street that she wasn’t. Clearly Gabriel had a new type! I suddenly realised why he’d refused to see me yesterday — he was probably screwing her on his desk.
The rain was getting heavier and I regretted leaving the house in such a hurry. I had no coat and no umbrella and was beginning to get soaked, but at least the rain would disguise the tears streaming down my face. I started to run. I had no idea where I was going, but I was desperate to get home. I rounded the corner and almost crashed into him.
‘Gabriel!’ I said.
‘Sam! What’s wrong?’
‘I was at your house. I saw her leaving...’ I started babbling at him, like some sort of lunatic.
‘Saw who leaving? Why are you crying? Sam?’
‘The blonde girl,’ I sniffed.
‘She’s your dad’s latest conquest. He couldn’t take her home, could he?’
My father! God bless him and his inability to remain monogamous.
‘Wait! Did you think?’ he said as he ran a hand through his wet hair. ‘God, no! Is that why you’re upset?’
I nodded and fell into his arms. He pulled me into a shop doorway to shield us from the rain. God, what was it with us and shop doorways! He stroked my wet hair from my face and looked at me. His green eyes piercing into mine. I swore that man could see into my soul.
‘There’s something else. I’ve never seen you cry in my whole life, Sam. What is it? Is it him again?’
‘No,’ I sobbed.
‘Then what? Tell me.’
I shook my head. It had sounded so rational earlier. That I would just tell him I was pregnant and we would run away together. But, right there, in the dingy doorway, that smelled faintly of urine, it just didn’t feel right. As if reading my thoughts, he released his grip on me.
Dark Angel: A Dark Romance: London Ruthless Series Book 1 (The London Ruthless Series) Page 26