Page 96 of Worth Every Risk

“Give me names.”

He shakes his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not relevant anymore. They’re gone. They won’t be at school next term. This” —he pulls up his shirt and I wince at the bruises—“was goodbye.”

He’s so angry that his face is red beneath the teenage pimples. He has his father’s bone structure and despite the gawky disproportion of his teenage face, he's a handsome young man. But more than that, there’s a well of pain inside him that sends a tremor through my bones.

“Please.” His voice breaks a little, and sadness tugs at my larynx, as if I’m the one about to cry. “Don’t tell my dad. I don’t want to ruin this holiday for no good reason.”

“I don’t want to keep secrets,” I tell him, but I look away as I speak, knowing I’m keeping my own secrets from him. Knowing Matt and I will have to come clean at some point if our relationship is going anywhere.

Although, perhaps it isn’t. Perhaps he’s a man in his thirties having a breakdown after a divorce. Perhaps all I am to him is a distraction. Maybe that’s why he was able to speak to me like that in front of his brothers... Maybe that whisperedeverythinglast night didn’t really mean ‘everything’ at all.

Charlie pouts his bottom lip, tossing his head like he doesn’t care either way, but the pain in his eyes gives him away. “Tell him if you want. He won’t care. He doesn't give a shit. You know what he’s like.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lucie told me he yelled at you like he used to yell at Mum.” He slides his hands into his pockets. “If you tell him about this, either he won’t care or he’ll yell at me. Like it’s my fault. He’s not a nice man, Aries. He’s an arse.”

A shiver goes down my spine. “He loves you. I know he does.”

Charlie snorts. “Whatever. I’ll make your job easy today, because I’m feeling generous. I’ll come and have breakfast. Get on the boat. Come to the beach. But only if you swear you won’t mention this to Dad. It’s not going to happen again. I’m not in pain anymore. I’m fine. This is all fine. Deal?”

I know I should say no. I shouldn't be making promises to a teenager. But the echo of Matt swearing at me at the breakfast table in front of everyone hums in my bloodstream.What if Charlie’s right and Matt does take it out on him?The last thing this kid needs is his father yelling at him the way Matt yelled at me, without listening to what I had to say. It was dismissive and soul-crushing. Luckily, I’m old enough to take it and have enough self-awareness to realise that it’s Matt’s crap, not mine. But Charlie might not have that perspective…

“Okay. Deal,” I say. “But if I see so much as a fingerprint on you when we get back to England, I’m going straight to your dad.”

As we’re wandering along the idyllic beach, not another person beyond our little group in sight, I have the unnerving sensation that I’ve made a deal with the devil. What was I thinking, promising not to tell Matt about Charlie’s bruises?

It’s my job to look after these kids. I owe them a duty of care, and I owe Matt the truth. But I’m still so fucking angry with him, angry with myself for trusting him, letting him in… maybe there’s no saving a man like that. One who can’t control his temper.

Lucie is on Matt’s shoulders as we traipse along the sand, so I’m temporarily free. Charlie is walking between Nico and Seb, and Kate is beside me.

“I’m sorry about this morning,” she says. “Matt’s been under a lot of pressure for a long time.”

“You don’t need to make excuses for him. If he wants to apologise, he can.”

Kate frowns and adjusts her sunglasses. The lenses are so large they make her look a little like a blue bottle under a microscope. A pretty one, but a large-eyed insect, nonetheless. “I’m sure he will. And about Seb—”

“Please. Stop. Are you going to do the apologising for all the Hawkston brothers? Because that’s not your role.”

Kate’s tongue runs over her top lip and she nods. “You’re right. But I wanted to check you were okay.”

“I’m fine. Plus Seb already spoke to me, so it’s just Matt…”

Kate smiles and leans in, whispering in my ear. “Refuse to sleep with him. You’ll have him on his knees in no time.”

A mixture of embarrassment and shock surges through my body, and my mouth falls open. Kate, seeing my reaction, laughs a little and shrugs. She moves ahead, calling out to Nico, Charlie and Seb. “You boys, come with me. There’s a little alcove just along here where we can set up for lunch. It’s like a mermaid cave. Lucie will love it.” Matt moves to follow but Kate shakes her head. “You’re not invited. You should show Aries around instead. If you head in the other direction, there’s a beautiful little bay. Come back to meet us for lunch.” She winks. “Here, let me take Lucie.”

She holds out her arms, and Lucie lets go of her dad’s hair which she’s been grabbing like reins. Matt lifts her down and Kate takes her hand, the two of them sinking into the sand with each step as they run to catch up with the others.

Matt pulls on his earlobe, staring at me awkwardly. A warm breeze ruffles the hair around my face, but I’m anchored in place by the force of his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I—”

I turn and begin to walk uphill. I have no idea where I’m going—and I’m definitely not headed where Kate pointed—but I need to get away from him.

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