Page 37 of Savage Redemption

Work has resumed when we arrive at the construction site, under the watchful eye of Bex Bartley. At her side, Nathan Darke also surveys the activity, clipboard in hand. The pair of them converse quietly but pause when we appear.

“Everything all right?” Bex calls.

“Yes,” I reply. “Safely delivered.”

“Okay. We need more concrete. Give Richards a hand, will you?”

Harry Richards is a chargehand and a shit-hot bricky. It’ll probably take two of us to keep him supplied with cement, so I drag over a sack of coarse sand while my workmate digs out a the sacks of cement. We empty both into the cement mixer, throw on a couple of buckets of water, and stand back to let it do its thing.

“Dad.” A female voice echoes across the site.

I duck behind the cement mixer and find it necessary to retie the laces on my steel toecaps. Concealed from view, I have thechance to observe as a familiar figure picks her way carefully through the piles of bricks and timber.

Rosa — no, Rosie — has gained a little weight, and it looks good on her. Her dark hair is longer and caught back in a low ponytail. She wears jeans and a thick sweater, protection against the stiff breeze that never seems to let up.

My first sighting of her since we were attacked in that cottage on Tenerife, and I’m pleased she appears so well. And happy. No sign of Erin, though.

She reaches her father, they exchange a few words, then she leans up to kiss his cheek before negotiating a path back through the construction materials again.

I wait until she disappears around the edge of the castle before emerging from my hiding place. I’m not the only one to notice Rosie’s presence on the site. More than a few interested eyes watch her departure, and Harry Richards lets out an appreciative whistle. Not loud enough to draw attention, but I hear it and barely manage to stifle the urge to sink a trowel into his eye. I’m consumed by an unexpected and uncharacteristic wave of protective possessiveness.

Mine! Every impulse and nerve ending screams at me. The urge to go after her is almost overwhelming.

“Okay, the fun’s over. Get on, you lot.” Bex puts a stop to any further ogling.

I reach for the bucket and go in search of more water.

I never doubtedthat she was here, but a positive sighting seals the deal. Now all I need to do is work out where on the island she’s living. I need to create an opportunity for a really good scout around.

The following morning, I phone Bex at five o’clock to tell her I’m sick.

“What’s wrong with you?” she wants to know.

“Must have been something I ate.”

“Ugh. Right. See you tomorrow.”

I spend the day on the dark web digging around for any and every snippet of information I can find about Ethan Savage. He runs a tight ship, and I draw a blank, pretty much. Time to try a different approach.

I had been hoping to identify a time when he’ll be off his island, ideally with most of his men. Failing that, I’ll have to manufacture the opportunity.

I resume my usual entrepreneurial persona and conjure up a business deal he won’t be able to turn down. A prime slice of Dundee waterfront which I acquired several months ago, ripe for development, price negotiable. I offer it to him. Naturally, he wants to view the site, with his preferred architect.

Two birds with one stone, just the sort of deal I like. I arrange the meeting for a couple of days’ time and invite him to bring his wife. After the site visit, we can discuss terms over a decent steak.

On the appointed day, I turn in for work as usual. We arrive on the island, and I take up my usual duties with the cement mixer, one ear cocked for the sound of the helicopter.

The drone of rotors has only just faded into the distance when I make my move.

CHAPTER 11

Rosie

“Areyou sure you’ll be all right? I don’t have to go to this jolly.”

“We’ll be fine.” I give Eva a reassuring smile. “I was thinking of a stroll along the cliff path, then maybe a swim.”

“Well, it’s half-decent weather for a change.” She peers out of the window. “We should be back by late evening. It depends how long it takes Ethan to seal this deal.”

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