Page 94 of Savage Protector

“Yeah, maybe. Leila found out about the fire at her flat. She’s asking questions. I just need to get home and…explain.”

Tony chuckles. “Good luck with that. Okay, we’ll collect the kids, then we’ll all head straight back. That okay with you two?”

Beck and Rome have no objections.

“Thanks,” I mutter, checking my watch. It must be a good five hours’ drive to Glasgow. I can only hope Rome puts his foot down.

“But I don’t wantto go back to Scotland,” Bilal protests as we bundle the pair of them into the SUV in the Travelodge car park. “I hate fucking Scotland.”

“You can’t stay here,” Tony insists, gently laying the still-sleeping Sarah on the rear seat. “It isn’t safe.”

“What about our mum? We can’t leave her behind. I need to find her.” He steps away from the car. “Just leave me here. Take Sarah if you want, for now, but I’ll be back for her. We’re family, she belongs with me.”

We agreed not to say anything to the kids about Shahida’s apparent death, not until we have definitive proof. Tony has Frankie trawling through archive footage searching for the evidence, but in the meantime, there’s a risk that Abid knows where they are and could mean them harm, too. We’re not letting that happen.

“Just get in the car, Bilal,” I say. “Trust me, this is for the best. Once we’ve tied up any loose ends, you can please yourself where you go, but for now, Scotland is your best option. And Sarah’s.”

The youth regards his little sister, sleeping peacefully, dressed in clean, warm clothes for the first time in God knows how long, and he finally sees the sense in what I’m telling him.

“Okay. But just until it’s safe to come back. I have college, I need to finish my course.”

I don’t bother to point out that there are plenty of decent colleges in Scotland, I just settle for the temporary win. Tony places a blanket over Sarah, and we’re on our way home.

The M6 is almost desertedat this time of night. Rome hits a steady eighty miles an hour for most of the journey, and we cover the distance in just under five hours. It’s approaching seven in the morning as we cruise through the outskirts of Glasgow, heading for Caernbro Ghyll. Both Bilal and Sarah are fast asleep, and the rest of us, apart from Rome, have dozed off once or twice.

The mansion is still in darkness when we pull up outside, though people will probably be stirring by now. Sure enough, a light flicks on in one of the upstairs windows. Jack and Ruth’s apartment.

We wake Bilal up, exit the car, and troop inside, Tony once again carrying Sarah. We meet Jack and Ruth at the bottom of the main stairs.

“Who do we have here?” Ruth peers at the child.

“Do I need to call Megan?” Jack asks. “Is she injured?”

“No, she’s just tired. Can we find her a bed somewhere?” Tony is already starting up the stairs.

“We’ll put her in Faith’s room for now.” Ruth follows him. “Poor little mite. What happened?”

I’m about to make my own way up, but Jack stops me. “I need a word.”

I follow him to the kitchen where he starts making coffee. “I had to stop Leila going to the police yesterday. She took it badly, once she found out what you did.”

“I know. She left voicemails…”

“You need to sort it, Zee. I had a word, but…” He shrugs.

I nod. However much she disapproves of our approach to problem-solving, Leila can’t go to the authorities. Short of locking her in the apartment, though, I’m not at all sure I can convince her otherwise. I sigh. “Okay, I’m on it.”

I accept the coffee he offers me and make my way up to my apartment with it. Time to face the music.

21

Leila

I’m wokenby the sound of the shower. I sit bolt upright, my eyes scanning the room. I spot the empty coffee cup and know it’s not mine. The boots discarded by the door are another clue, and the jacket slung across a chair.

He’s back!

I take a moment to let the sleep fog clear, then slide out of bed. I pad over to the en suite and push the door open.

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