Page 211 of The Black Trilogy

“Which is partly why I didn’t tell you. Bad enough that it happened, without it affecting the rest of my life. I promise I won’t react like that again. Crunch just surprised me, that’s all.”

Black turned me on his lap and cupped my cheeks in his hands. “Emmy, you need to talk in future. Seeing you practically catatonic on the ride back scared me half to death.”

“I didn’t mean for you to worry.” My fingers twisted in the remains of my shirt. Dare I ask? I didn’t want to, but I had to know. “Is there a future, then?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s nearly been six months. I’m not sure if you want me to stay.”

“Of course I want you to stay, you mad little brat. Never doubt that for a moment. You’ll be a big part of the business going forward. I’ve spoken to Nate, and we want to offer you shares in the company if you’ll join us permanently.”

“Even after my performance tonight?”

“Especially after your performance tonight. You were battling demons no one else knew about, but you still got the job done. Will you stay?”

“Yes, I’ll stay.”

“Thank goodness for that.” He pulled me tighter against him and held me until the chiming of the hour broke the spell. Then he pulled back and looked me in the eye. “What happened to the man who attacked you?”

“Men.” The muscles in his jaw clenched, and I hurried to continue before he cracked a tooth. “Two different ones, two years apart. I don’t know what happened. I never saw either of them again.”

Black fetched another glass and filled it almost to the brim. No ice, just fifty quid’s worth of Jura. Then he made me tell him everything I could remember about my mother’s boyfriend and the care worker who’d attacked me. I’d never had much faith in the old adage of “a problem shared is a problem halved,” but as I spoke, a little of the tension that wound around my guts loosened. Perhaps there was some truth in it after all?

“Do you believe in karma?” Black asked once I’d finished spilling my soul.

“Do you?”

“I believe in justice.”

Exhausted as I was, his words barely sank in. And the next morning, he was gone.

At seven a.m., Alex walked into the gym, drinking a smoothie rather than his usual protein shake.

“Today we do running. And maybe some weights. Just the light ones.”

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you being so nice?”

He shrugged. “Boss told me to take it easy.”

Oh he did, did he? Because of last night? Because he thought I couldn’t handle the load? Well, screw him. I didn’t want special treatment over something that happened four long years ago. That made no sense.

“Forget Black and his ‘take it easy.’ Train me how you normally would. No slacking.”

Alex picked up the pace, although I knew he was still holding back. Nobody crossed Black, even a brutal ex-commando.

And speaking of my darling mentor, where was he? I asked Nate when he stopped by after breakfast to pick up some files.

“Have you seen Black?”

“Something urgent came up overseas. He said it wouldn’t take long.”

I didn’t bother asking for details because I knew I wouldn’t get any.

The next day, a courier arrived with an envelope. Apart from a Christmas card from Jimmy and Jackie, that was the first piece of mail I’d received. Ever. Inside, I found a statement for my new bank account, balance two hundred thousand pounds, as well as a charge card for Black’s account and a note from him saying to spend whatever I wanted. After the initial temptation to buy myself a shiny new sports car wore off, I vowed not to use any of his money. I decided I’d rather make my own.

After all, I’d done it, hadn’t I? Somehow, against the odds, this little girl from the rough end of London had crossed the Atlantic and survived.

That sense of achievement beat any buzz I’d get from buying a Ferrari.

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