Page 89 of Subbing For Santa

No, he doesn’t.

“You told me once you knew my parents’ and my sister’s names. But do you know much about them?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yes. Your father Dougal went missing years ago. I haven’t been able to find anything else on him, but your mum, Roma, has been in a good relationship for the last five years. Brett seems like a good guy.”

My brows shoot up. “She’s in a relationship? Brett who?”

Griff frowns. “Don’t you know?”

I shake my head. “No. I haven’t seen my mum since I left years ago. I wasn’t even sure if she was alive.”

Griffin’s frown deepens. “If you’re estranged from your mother, then why do you want me to meet her?”

I drop my gaze to his chest, not able to look into his eyes. “I don’t want to take you there to meet my mum.”

“Your sister Elizabeth, then?”

I shake my head. “No. I need to show you something.” My eyes dart back up to his. “And after that, we’ll know if you reallydowant to keep me.”

He frowns. “What does that mean?”

I shake my head as shame fills me. “I can’t say the words, Griff, so I need to show you.”

Griffin studies my face for a few long, drawn-out moments. “Ok, then. Let’s go to Queensland. We can leave soon. I’ll arrange our private plane to take us.”

“Private plane?” I ask, my mouth dropping open in surprise, and Griffin grins.

“There are a lot of perks to being with a Marx man, little elf. Private planes are one of them.”

I nod, letting a small smile break free.

“Aggie…” Griffin’s face morphs into concern. “I just shot someone in front of you. Are you sure you don’t hate me?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think I could ever hate you, Griff. I just hope you still feel the same way about me once you learn the truth.”

Chapter twenty-five

Homecoming

Agatha

Withintwohours,weare on a private plane, flying to Queensland. The plane is small, with a pilot and a hostess, and it’s a surreal experience to fly in such privacy. When Griffin doesn’t think I can see him, he looks at me with worry. I see it in the blurred reflection of the car and plane windows and the mirrors across the space.

Is he still worried about killing a man in front of me, or worried about what he is going to learn about me? I feel sick to my stomach with worry over the latter. I’ve never spoken a word about this to anyone and I’m terrified that not only will I lose Griffin over it, but I may lose my life over it. Either by death, or prison.

I have to go through with this, though. I’ve lived too many lonely Christmases to give up the chance that Griffin might be the only person on the planet that will understand.

I fucking hope he does.

“You wanna tell me about your mum and sister?”

Griffin’s words drag my gaze from the fluffy white clouds below us, and I see him looking relaxed as he sips on his whiskey next to me.

“Doyouwant to tell me about my mum and sister? I get the feeling you know more about them than I do.”

He smirks. “I didn’t know you were estranged from them, so I guess I don’t know everything.”

Smiling, I nod before my face falls neutral. “Is my sister ok? She must be in her mid-twenties now.”

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