Page 81 of Burning Your Lies

Ray doesn’t smile. He leans back into his seat and crosses his legs. “Why don’t you get yourself out there? It’s been a while since Emery passed.” He purposely ignores Savannah’s existence in my life.

Admittedly, I have thought about finding a new queen, but between work and a screaming child, I don’t have the time to train her. “Where do I have the time to meet someone?”

“But you wouldn’t say no if the right person came along?”

I grin at my friend. “Are you going to set me on a blind date?”

He laughs. “Absolutely not. I just think it would be beneficial if you found a companion. A mother for Elise. Someone to welcome you home with a home-cooked meal.” He shrugs as if he isn’t feeling sentimental. “Just a thought, really.”

“I appreciate the thought.” I nod at him.

He juts his chin towards the marks on my neck and face. “What happened there?”

“Savannah.”

“Oh. I take it the conversation didn’t go well?”

It went exactly as I wanted.

“She attacked me when Dr Cooper told her he won’t sign the forms.”

“Is there nothing you can do?”

I can sign the forms myself, but I wouldn’t put it past her to escape and run away. Our current situation isn’t ideal, but at least I have her nearby. I can visit her whenever I want. When I’m desperate to see her smile, I can take Elise with me on a visit.

“It’s down to her nursing staff and therapist. It’s out of my hands. We’ve been making progress recently, and it seems this has set her back.” Needing to keep him on my side, I offer him a sad smile. “Maybe when you go to visit her tomorrow, you can explain that to her.”

Ray finishes the rest of his drink. “I’m out of the country for the next two days. Give her a few days to calm down. She is grieving and emotional. She’s looking for someone to blame. I’m sure she’ll apologise for…” He points at the scar on my face.

“I can’t keep excusing her behaviour. If she carries on like this, I’ll have no choice but to stop her from seeing Elise.”

“She lost her mum, Zav. I’m sure you remember how it felt when your mum walked out of your life.”

The sound of Elise crying breaks the silence.

“There is nothing greater than a mother’s love because with it comes their protection.”

“My mother protected me from nothing,” I spit.

“Or maybe she protected you from more than you will ever know.” He stands up. “Your daughter is crying for help. I’ll see myself out.”

37

Huxley

The cold weather attacksme as soon as I step out of the taxi. Compared to here, winter in England feels like summer. I pull my jacket around me tighter and enter the rundown building. The voices of two men arguing travel down the beaten hallways and I rush to room 407. Three sharp knocks from my fists hit the door.

There is silence on the other side, followed by the unmistakable sound of the locks turning. The door creaks open and instead of coming face to face with Chase, I’m staring down the barrel of a gun. The blonde smiles at me. “Nice of you to join us, Huxley Ray. Please do come in.”

I brush past her and take in the view before me. Eliana, bound and gagged, sits helplessly across the room. Chase is tied to a chair, struggling against his restraints. As she switches weapons, the mystery woman deftly slips the gun into her waistband and retrieves a glinting knife.

“Who the fuck are you?”

Her sinister smile stays trained on me as she walks over to Chase. Stopping behind him, she grabs a fistful of his hair andyanks his head back, exposing his throat. The blade runs across his skin, careful not to cut him. “Would you like me to do the honours, Chase?”

I find it hard to believe the brother of Rowan Ashford could be such a coward. He stares at me helplessly without saying a word.

“I don’t have time for theatrics.”

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