by Imogen Wells
They stand there, watching and waiting for me to make my decision. And though it irks me to say it, they’re right. I wouldn’t let them do it alone because it goes against every fibre of my being.
I give a small nod of my head. “Fine. But I’m not happy about this.”
My phone rings as we file out of the room, and I step back inside, holding up a finger to the guys to give me a second when I see who’s calling.
“I take it you watched the footage?”
“We need to talk, Sully?”
“Damn right we do, but you’re going to have to give me twenty-four hours first. I’ll send you the address.”
Ending the call, I join the rest in the corridor. Ryder catches my eye, and I give a shake of my head. I’ll fill him and Seb in later, but first I need to find Jess.
I spend a few minutes talking to Dad and the guys about how this is going to work before saying goodbye to him and Max.
I had a lot of time to think sitting at Jess’ bedside watching her sleep. It brought forth a lot of memories of me and Kuffs, but the most vivid one was the first time he talked about his sister to me.
* * *
“So, what about you, man, you got brothers or sisters?” I ask him as the truck rumbles over the uneven ground.
“I have a sister, JJ. She’s only eighteen months younger than me, and whilst she’s been a pain in my arse most of my life, she’s the best damn sister you could ever want.” His eyes gleam with reverence and love, but there’s a hint of sadness there too. I give him a minute, then he starts talking again.
“She’s at college doing her A-levels. Says she’s going to be a cop, and I know she will. She’s so damn smart.”
“You don’t sound so happy about it.”
“Oh, no, I am. It wasn’t what she wanted to do at first, but… Let’s just say that sometimes things happen to make you realise where you’re meant to be.”
* * *
The irony of that conversation as it replayed in my head wasn’t lost on me, and I was reminded of what I overheard between Jess and her ex, Alistair. You don’t need be too smart to see that whatever Kuffs was referring to that day is the same thing Alistair was talking about, and most likely what is sealed in Jess’ records.
I feel anger rise in me, and try to stave it off, but it sits like a concrete block in my chest.
The next twenty-four hours are going to have me run through the mill emotionally. I’m not sure how I feel about what I suspect happened to Jess. But just as I’m sure she’s terrified of what I’ll be able to tell her about her brother, she needs to know, and I feel the same about her secrets and the demons that live in her mind.
We all have demons that feed off our pain and grief, and we all live with regrets. But how we manage those demons is what determines who we are.
I may not feel deserving of love again or redemption for my failings, but does that mean I’m not worthy?
As I watch Cam and Jess in the courtyard, I’m reminded that life isn’t just black and white, it’s grey. The edges are always blurred and though you should always trust your own judgement, sometimes you need to take a step back. Marcus Aurelius said it best when he asked, ‘what fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?’ We need to walk in someone else’s shoes, wear a different hat for the day, look at things a little differently. Perspective and interpretation are and always should be objective.
“Cam, Ryder’s waiting at the entrance for you with Max and Jamison.”
I watch as she says goodbye to Jess, hugging her like an old friend, and that tiny part of me that still believes I can have a second chance screams loudly in my mind.
Cam reaches me, an amused smile stretching across her face. “She’s all yours, good luck.” She leans in giving me a hug, and as she pulls back, she says, “She’s hurting just like you, so be gentle, Rick.”
After a few minutes, she picks up her drink and climbs from the bench.
“Time to go,” I tell her as she reaches me.
“No cuffs? I am surprised,” she retorts, walking passed me.
I bite my tongue on what I really want to say and the image of her cuffed to my bed, and instead, lead her to the front entrance where Seb and Jamie are waiting.
“We’ll follow behind,” Seb says as we split up, going to our separate cars.
“What does he mean they’ll follow behind?”
“Exactly that, Jess.”
“You mean they’re coming with us? Wherever the fuck it is we are going.”
I unlock the car, looking at her across the roof as she opens the passenger door. “You’ll find out where we’re going when we get there. As for Seb and Jamie, yes, they’re coming with us because Jamie is a nurse, and in case you forgot, you’ve just been discharged from hospital.” I don’t give her a chance to reply before getting in the car and starting the engine.
“Fucking grand.” I hear her mutter as she climbs in beside me.
Throwing the car into drive, I pull out, turning right into traffic with Seb close behind me.
It’s been an hour since we left London, and as I look back, I spot the same car that’s been following us for the last twenty minutes in the middle lane sitting back just behind Seb and Jamie.
I flick my hazard lights on for a split second, and when I look back in the rear-view mirror, Seb salutes me. To anyone else it just looks as though he’s brushing his hand over his forehead, but this is a signal we’ve used before in similar situations.
We pass a sign for services, and I indicate left, pulling into the middle lane before dropping into the slow lane as the exit ramp comes into view a mile up the motorway.
The car follows, as I knew it would, and Seb quickly slips in behind it. I see Jess eyeing me, then flicking her eyes to the wing mirror on her side. Not getting a good enough view, she turns towards me before twisting her head and body as though reaching for something in the back seat and looking out the back window.
“We’re being followed,” she states, catching on fast.
“We are. Any idea who it might be?” I quiz, as we go up the slip road and onto a roundabout. I take the turn for the services and pull into the car park.
“No, why would I?” she snaps back, offended by my accusatory question.
The car passes us by as I pull into a space, while Jess attempts to get a better look at the driver.
“It’s a woman, but I can’t see properly.”
We watch as Seb passes too, following the car to a space further along the same row. Jess opens the door, and I grab her wrist.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m acting natural. What are you doing?” Releasing her wrist, I let her step from the car and do the same.
Fucking woman is impossible.
My phone pings in my pocket as we step through the front doors. There’s a message from Seb to say that she’s following us inside and they are behind her.
“Where are you going?” I whisper, slipping my arm around her waist and pulling her to my side.
“I’m going for a pee, darling,” she sasses, peeling away from my arm and disappearing into a door on the left, which I realise is the ladies’ toilet, before I can stop her.
Stepping to the side, I watch a woman, mid-twenties, with shoulder length blond hair enter the ladies after Jess.
Seb and Jamie step up next to me a few seconds later.
“That was her. Do you want me to go in?” Jamie asks, and I shake my head as my phone rings.
I pace outside the door as I answer the call. “Scott, what’s up?”
“I just heard from a friend on the force that they found the waiter you saw at the scene. I’m afraid he won’t be of any help to us, he’s dead.”
“Fuck! Do you have an ID yet?”
“No, and it might take some time to identify him with no fingers or teeth, and they cut out his tongue too. I’m guessing someone wanted to make their point loud and clear.”
“So, how did you kn
ow it was him?”
“They found the uniform he was wearing in the boot and a picture of Jess and one of Jake. Seems to me, Jess wasn’t his only target.”
“No,” I mumble, letting my mind wander. “Okay, thanks, Scott.”
Ending the call, I turn to see Jess and the woman who was following us coming out arm in arm.
Twenty-Eight
Jess
I slip away from Rick, truly needing to pee. I step inside the first empty cubicle and do my business. Silently cursing as my bruised body protests.
I’m surprised Rick didn’t follow me in here. I’ll give it five minutes before he storms in like fucking Action Man.
Leaving the cubicle, I start to wash my hands when I see movement behind me in the mirror. Spinning quickly, I come face to face with…Roxy.
“How are you here?” I ask, then burst out laughing when I think about how Rick is going to react.
“You know full well I put an APB out on his fucking arse. Just for shits and giggles, of course. Never mind that, are you okay? What happened?”
While I finish washing my hands, I fill Roxy in on what happened yesterday. I leave out the part where Rick practically blackmailed me in to coming with him. I don’t want her to kill him. Not yet anyway.
My laughter cuts off as that thought takes shape in my mind. I quickly brush it away and think of better things. Like him fucking my mou—
“Earth to JJ. Hello!”
“Sorry.” I shake my head in apology. “Come on, he’s waiting outside, and I’d rather not have him bursting into the ladies looking for me.”
Roxy laughs, linking her arm through mine as we head for the exit.
The look on Rick’s face when Rox and I walk out together is fucking priceless.
“You have got to be shitting me!” Seb exclaims before throwing his head back with a laugh.
Jamie eyes the pair of us like she could simply whisper the word death and her bidding would be done.
Rick stands there with his arms folded across his chest, and an ill-amused expression on his face.
“Care to fucking explain,” he demands.
“After you,” Roxy counters, matching Rick’s pissed off stance.
“Okay, let’s take it down a notch, shall we,” Seb reasons, having got himself back under control. Turning to Roxy, he introduces himself. Well, tries to, but she beats him to it.
“I know who you are, Sebastian Roberts, son of Judge Charles Roberts and Lillian Roberts, deceased. One part of the trio that owns Triple R Security, served seven years in the army under the command of Major Richard Cole.” Next, she turns to Jamie. “You are Jamie Morgan, daughter of Dominic and Louise Morgan, previously a nurse who now works for Triple R and the partner of Sebastian. And that makes you Rick Sullivan, son of Robert and Elizabeth Sullivan, one third of the Triple R company, a Lieutenant in the army, served seven years also. Married to Samantha Weston, deceased, and you have a son, Max. Did I miss anything?”
“Yes, you missed out who the fuck you are.” Rick grinds out between clenched teeth.
Stepping in quickly, I block his view of Rox, who stands proud as punch.
“Roxy,” I warn. “Let’s just grab a seat and have a chat like the adults we are.” I grab Rick’s hand, leading him away.
I hear Seb mutter behind me, “How the fuck does she know all that about us?”
Once we are seated, Rick demands to know who she is, and she obligingly tells him.
“Roxanne Whitmore—Roxy to those I consider a friend—I’m one of the youngest and best CID detective sergeants in the Met.”
“Hold on, are you telling me that you’re Lord Chief Justice Whitmore’s daughter?” Seb asks.
“Illegitimate daughter, yes. I’ve been clear about that. I didn’t get where I am today riding the coat tails of my father’s name.”
My father’s opinion about Rox being from the wrong side of the track isn’t based on where she grew up, although she was raised on a council estate, it’s purely based on her legitimacy.
Rick looks uneasy as he listens to Roxy talk about how we met, who her mother was and her climb up the ranks of the police force.
“See, it’s not just you who has contacts in high places, Rick. Just because my father and I aren’t on speaking terms doesn’t mean I don’t know people. So, I’ve done my explaining, now it’s your turn.”
Rick tenses beside me at her words. “There’s nothing to explain. We are simply going away for a few days.”
“Oh, please, and my mother is the damn queen. Jess already told me about the car bomb, brake tampering and a certain Jake Danvers, who is a definite person of interest.”
Rick’s disapproving gaze shoots to me. “Don’t give me that look. You have your friends.” I wave a hand towards Seb and Jamie. “And I have mine.” When he still doesn’t look convinced, I lean over to him, so only he can hear me. “I trust her with my life.”
Turning his head, our lips barely an inch apart, he says, “I don’t trust anyone with your life but me.” My breath catches in my throat, and I struggle to swallow. He turns back to Roxy. “You want to help, then find out everything you can about Jake Danvers, and I want to know the identity of the body you found this morning.” Rox frowns. “Missing a few body parts and his tongue?” Rox nods as realisation blooms.
“Okay, done. But now you do something for me.”
“Go on,” Rick urges.
“I’ll let you walk out of here, but you best keep her safe. You bring her back to me in one piece or I’ll come for you, all of you. I’ll dig up every infraction you’ve ever committed and bring your house down, are we clear?”
I swallow down the little giggle that wants to escape and mentally high five Rox for her balls and having my back.
“I don’t need your threats to ensure her safety, Roxanne, but you have yourself a deal. And just for the record—” He leans over the table, eye to eye with Roxy, and lowers his voice. “She’s mine.”
Rox nods as a satisfied smile slides over her face.
“Err, excuse me, I resent being referred to as some sort of deal, and, hello, kick-arse CPO here who can take care of herself, thank you very fucking much.”
Neither of them acknowledges my words, but Jamie has a smug look on her face that irritates the fuck out of me.
It’s only then that Rick’s last words to Roxy make it to my brain. I surge to my feet, but I’m pulled back down instantly.
Before I can protest, the atmosphere in the small cafe we are sitting in changes, becoming tense and eerie, like a mist rolling in, and I turn to see two men in the main atrium.
Taking them in, they are dressed in cheap shirts and trousers with black dress shoes and slicked back hair. One is carrying a small holdall, and the other has his hands in his pockets as they stroll past.
Every one of us at the table is on high alert, primed and ready to act.
“Get the hell out of here.” I hear Rox say to Rick as the grip on my arm, which I hadn’t even noticed, loosens. “There’s a fire exit through the kitchen.”
“Fuck that! I’m not leaving you here,” I mutter through the side of my mouth.
“You are. Now move,” Rick orders, grabbing my hand and slowly rising from his seat. I rise alongside him, knowing I need to act natural and not draw attention to us. Seb and Jamie do the same.
Roxy pulls me in for a hug. “Don’t argue with me. Now, go, get out of here and do what you need to, but you come back, you hear me.” She squeezes me tight before releasing me.
“Rick, I’ll be in touch,” she says, before striding out of the cafe in the direction the two men went.
We move for the door to the kitchen as shouting begins out in the atrium, and Rick pulls me through the door as I try to turn back.
The kitchen staff hurry to get out of our way as we weave in and out.
“Where’s the fire exit?” Rick shouts to a nearby kitchen hand. He stumbles backwards, pointing just beyond a huge fridge as the sound of gunfir
e breaks out from behind us.
We burst through the door and round the side of the building as several police cars race into the car park, including an ARV.
My heart pounds in time with my feet on the ground as we run for the cars, reaching Rick’s a second before Seb and Jamie get to theirs. Gunfire sounds again as we get in, and I watch as people dash from the building in every direction.
I’m going to fucking throttle Roxy when I see her.
As we slip back onto the motorway, half a dozen police cars and an ambulance pass us on the other side. Turning in my seat I watch them as they speed down the slip road.
“Are you okay?”
“Am I okay? No, I’m not fucking okay. Nothing about any of this is okay, Rick!” I snap incredulously.
There’s a moment of silence as Rick changes lanes, then he pulls his phone from his pocket, dropping it into the hands-free holder.
“What do you need?” he asks, flicking his gaze to me briefly.
“What do I need?” I snort, rubbing my hands up and down my legs as adrenaline continues to surge through me. “There are a hundred things I need, and top of that list is some fucking answers.” I shuffle in my seat unable to settle. “Coming a close second is something to purge this fucking adrenaline. You fancy a fight, Rick?” I laugh.
In my job, spikes and surges of adrenaline are par for the course, but my job also provides ways to expel the excess. Running away from a fight is something I haven’t done for years, and this wired feeling with no outlet is making me itch beneath my skin.
“No fighting, but I can think of a few other ways to use up all that extra energy and adrenaline.”
I raise my brow at him and see his mischievous smirk. My eyes skim over his muscular arms as he grips the steering wheel, over his torso and to his thighs.
Rick catches me as my tongue swipes out, wetting my lips at the thought of what’s beneath his jeans, and I may have let out a small groan that has Rick shifting in his own seat.
I drop my head back to the seat, closing my eyes and muttering under my breath, to which Rick just laughs.