Page 31 of Save You

“Cillian!” Jacob calls out to the younger man who is currently staring lustfully at Sadie like she’s his next meal. “Yes, I know, she’s very pretty, isn’t she?”

Sadie stares back at the young man, but I’m not sure if it’s because she shares the attraction or if it’s because she’s feeling just as scared as I am. Tom, on the other hand, is now clenching his jaw; he doesn’t appear to be at all impressed by Cillian’s reaction toward his sister.

“Snap out of it! Go!” Jacob barks at him.

Cillian confidently looks Jacob in the eye with a cocky smirk before slowly following his father out the door.

Jacob’s eyes dart to Tom as soon as Cillian has left, just as I rush to Mrs Topple, who is still on the floor, out cold. I nudge her, but she doesn’t move. Her hand is cold and limp inside of mine, but still, I keep trying to nudge her and shout out her name. As more moments pass without success, I begin to fall into a panic. However, when it becomes more than obvious that she is no longer with us, I relent, and finally begin to cry, still calling her name in the hopes that she might wake up. Two hands eventually rest on my shoulders when I lean back and give into heart-wrenching sobs.

“She tried to stop them getting to Mal,” Sadie explains quietly, “they pushed her out of the way, and she hit her head hard when she fell.”

“Oh, God, this is all my fault!” I cry and lean into her arms, where we both let it all out for the dear old woman who wouldn’t hurt a fly, and who definitely didn’t deserve any of this.

“I wouldn’t give yourself that much credit,” Jacob says calmly, “I’ve seen worse from Mayfield. I believe you probably have too.” I can only nod through my blurred vision. “I would appreciate it if you waited until I left before calling the police.” He smiles at me, looking genuinely warm and sympathetic before turning back toward Tom with a more serious expression. “Have you reconsidered my proposal, Thomas?”

“No!” Tom replies bluntly, folding his arms defiantly at the older version of himself. “You know my stance on the sort of business you run.”

“Yet you call on me when you need it?” he asks rhetorically but smiles with the same mischievous grin which Tom has obviously inherited. “But I respect your decision. Pity!” He smiles with a long, drawn-out sigh. “I think you would have made an excellent replacement for me. And now I will have to train up some lusty, pimply teenager; your cousin, Cillian!” He tuts before making his way to the door. “Call me if the bitch goes back on her word. I love a good brawl with cunts like Mayfield.”

Tom nods and looks at me before Jacob wishes us goodnight and leaves.

When Tom returns, I run and throw my arms around him and let everything out in one long howl against his shoulder. He grips onto me tightly before pulling me away to see if I’m ok, then checks on Mal. Thankfully, he still asleep on the sofa and is taking on more of his usual skin tone. Tom then moves over to his sister where he carefully removes the knife that she’s still clutching hold of and hugs her too.

We waited twenty minutes before calling the police to report poor Mrs Topple’s death. They took her away and questioned us, after which they concluded that our intruders were probably looking for cash or jewelry.

When we finally got back home, it now being nearer to dawn than night, Tom and I climbed into his bed and held onto one another. We were unable to sleep, speak, or do much else for a good long while.

“Thank you,” I finally whisper against his chest, “that must have been hard for you to do.”

“Course, sweetheart,” he replies and kisses my head with reassurance, “I’d do anything for you and Mal. Even if it meant calling on my bastard father.”

“When did he come back into your life?”

“About three years ago,” he sighs, sounding matter of fact about it. “I guess he decided he needed an heir, and I was it. I only half thought he’d come tonight seeing as I have made it very clear I have no interest in entering the family business.”

“Do I want to know about said business?”

“No,” Tom answers with a soft laugh, and I leave it at that. “Rose, we can’t stay here.”

“I know.”

Chapter 12

Beth, now

Something’s up. Xander’s ability to hide his anxiety from me is paramount to a dog trying to hide the fact it’s rolled in horse manure. Not only is he rubbing at the back of his neck every two minutes, but his deep-set frown has become a permanent fixture over the last few days. Of course, every time I try to question him about it, I get the obligatory ‘I’m fine’ before he shuffles away into another room in the hopes that I’ll stop asking. It’s beyond frustrating, and while I’ve tried to give him space, and let him come to me about whatever it is, I know I’m going to have to use the old pregnancy card.

The rain outside is only making him look all the more grey today. Given the fact he hasn’t touched his homemade soup, and he’s now staring at it with eyes that tell me he’s lost in a daydream, I feel it’s finally time to break his stubborn silence.

“Talk!” I order, giving a no-nonsense glare just as he snaps out of his intense one.

“Huh? What?” he replies, trying to shift his facial expression into something more laid-back, foolishly thinking I’ll let it slide. “I’m ok; are you ok?” He tries to reach for my hand, but I pull it back too quickly for him to catch hold.

“Something’s up, Xander Fenton!” I huff, now pointing at him with the same hand he just tried to grasp. “You’re hiding something from me, which is a pretty big mistake considering I’m virtually eight months pregnant and completely hormonal. Talk, Xander, or I’ll open up a can of crazy on you!”

He laughs, and it takes all my willpower not to kick him underneath the table. I’m being beyond serious and am now feeling more than ready to let my cocktail of emotions out onto somebody. Especially when said somebody is frustrating the hell out of me.

“Do you need me to rub your feet, baby?” As he leans his arms onto the table to get closer, I instantly draw back against my chair, cross my arms defiantly, and raise my brow as if daring him to try and bullshit me again. “Beth, don’t look at me like that. I love you, that’s all that matters!”

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