Page 79 of Lust

“Let’s get home first, then we’ll go and see him later,” Ro tells her.

“No, I want to check he’s okay, and I think I might stay with him for a bit.”

I spin in my seat, wincing as an arc of pain shoots up my right side. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why?” she scowls at me. “What are you not telling me, Blake Cassidy?”

“He’s not there,” Ro states casually.

“No, then where is he?” Neither of us answer for a few minutes. “Roman, where is he?”

I dip my head and sigh. Looking back up at her, she looks to me, and I know she can read it my eyes. “He was arrested last night, Syd.”

Her face morphs from anger to resignation, and she slumps back in her seat, looking out the window.

“It’ll be ok?—”

“Please don’t say it’ll be okay. Nothing about any of this is okay, Blake.” She turns her tortured expression on me as tears well in her eyes. “He’s going to prison, isn’t he? And don’t lie to me. No more damn lies.”

“It’s possible, yes. But we got him a good lawyer and he can argue extenuating circumstances. It’s not an open and shut case.”

She looks away, staring out the window again. “And Hannah, how’s she?”

“We popped in to see them before coming to you, and she’s doing good.”

“Is she? Is she really, Blake? Her mum just died, and she’s been… I doubt she’ll ever begoodagain.”

She drops her head back and closes her eyes, effectively cutting off any further conversation. We drive the rest of the way in silence.

Syd heads straight for her room, the one she was using before all this shit went down, and Ro and I go to the kitchen, giving her some space.

“This is a fucking mess, Ro,” I say, sitting on one of the stools as Ro opens the fridge.

“You want one of these?” he asks, holding up a beer.

“Hell yes! I think I might become an alcoholic. At least it will numb the pain. Why the fuck are broken ribs so painful?” He hands me my beer, and I take a healthy mouthful, letting out a satisfied sigh as I pull the bottle away from my mouth.

Ro leans against the counter beside me, drinking his own beer. “Roxy called this morning. She’s given me a number for a friend who works with victims of sexual assault, specifically trafficking.”

“Sounds good. Maybe we can get Syd and Hannah to go together?”

“She mentioned she might have some work for us, if we’re interested.”

“If it involves taking out vile cunts like JC, then count me the fuck in.” I don’t even need to think about it. And it’s not like it will be far from what we’ve been doing anyway.

“You spoke to her about what went down in that barn?” I ask, knowing it’s been playing on his mind. It’s been playing on mine.

He shakes his head. “I will.”

“Good. Sooner rather than later. Don’t let it fester and grow more heads.”

He chuckles. “Yes, doctor,” he says, around a smile.

“No, nurse. I’d look good in a nurse’s uniform,” I say, an idea forming in my head. Ro arches a brow as he looks at me, his bottle paused halfway to his lips. “Yeah, thought you’d like that idea,” I tell him with a wink.

“Filthy!” he says, placing his bottle down.

And we set about making some dinner. We’ll be okay. It’s going to take some time, but we’ll get there.

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