Page 88 of Savage Protector

“Leila? Leila, are you all right.”A gentle hand on my shoulder gives me a small shake. “It’s time to come home now.”

I raise my gaze. Ruth is here, looking down at me, a soft, sympathetic smile on her face.

I blink, confused. “What are you doing here?”

“Gregory phoned the mansion. He thought you might need a ride home.”

“But I have your car. It’s parked outside. I need to go to the university…”

She shakes her head. “You’re in no fit state to drive or do an exam. We’re taking you home.”

We?For the first time, I notice she didn’t come alone. Her husband is lounging in the doorway.

He murmurs to Gregory as his wife eases me onto my feet, “Thanks for taking care of her. I’ll send someone over to collect the car.”

Trying to argue with Jack Morgan is futile, I know that. I allow myself to be steered out onto the stairs and back down to the ground floor where a large, black Audi is parked behind the modest little Peugeot. I slide into the back seat, followed by Ruth.

“What about my exam?” I protest, but weakly. I really don’t feel like it right now.

“We can sort something out,” Jack answers from the driving seat. “There must be retakes or something.”

There are, but… It’s not ideal, but I can see I have no choice. I subside into silence.

The journeyback to Caernbro Ghyll gives me an opportunity to think. To plan. As soon as the Audi glides to a halt at the front steps, I’m out and charging up to the main door.

“Leila, wait…” Ruth calls after me, but I’m not listening.

I run up the stairs and let myself into Zayn’s apartment. First things first, I dial his number on my phone. If he has some sort of explanation, I might as well hear it. Maybe he can make all this go away.

The call goes to voicemail. I leave a message. “Zayn, I went to my flat. I saw the…damage. Call me. Please.”

I wait for ten minutes, but no returned call. I try again and leave another message. “I know it was Mehrban and Iftikar. What did you…did you do something to them?”

I pace the floor for a further ten minutes before trying again. “Zayn, I need to talk to you. Call me back. Please. It’s urgent.”

I wait half an hour before admitting defeat. He isn’t going to phone me back. I make another call, this time to my Auntie Farina, Uncle Abdul’s wife and Mehrban and Iftikar’s mother.

“Auntie?” I blurt as soon as she answers. “It’s me. Leila.”

“Leila?” She sounds to have been crying. “Is it you?”

“Yes, Auntie. I?—”

“Have you seen your cousins?” she demands. “Or your uncle?”

“I…no,” I begin. “I was?—”

“They’ve disappeared,” she sobs. “Two days ago, and not a word.”

My knees go weak. I sink onto the bed. “What…what happened?”

“I don’t know,” she wails. “The boys went to work, as usual. They never came back. I’m so worried. The police say they’re not vulnerable, not a priority, but I know something’s wrong. They would never just go off, not without saying anything.”

“The police?” My head is spinning. “You called the police?”

“Of course, I had to. It’s been two days.”

“Yes, I see, but…”

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