Page 94 of Tied in Knots
Exchanging worried looks, we follow Xander outside. He hands me a shovel and indicates the far side of the garden.
“Please tell me we aren’t digging a grave,” I hiss at him. “Do you know how many people have seen us loitering out here? They are probably watching us now from their back windows.”
“Grave’s already full,” Xander says.
“Jesus. Where?”
He indicates back to the house. “Inside the wall. No one will find him for a while. We need to move Anne out of here, as far away as possible.”
I nod slowly and then look at the shovel. Holding it up, I ask, “What the fuck is this for then?” I ask.
“Anne buried a shoebox of cash over in the back corner under the apple tree. Go and dig it up for her.”
“Oh,” I murmur and head off to do as I’m told, slightly bewildered by events, but rolling with it because Faith seems okay. More than okay. She seemed…free.
I crack on with the task at hand, ramming the spade into the ground and shoving my foot down on it. I’m no stranger to a bit of yard work. My Scottish grandfather used to make me dig his garden up ready for planting in the Spring. And when I say garden, I mean extensive Scottish country estate grounds. ‘Idle hands make the devil’s work’ was his favourite saying. No heir of his was sitting on his arse all day doing fuck all. But I enjoyed it. I start digging and soon, I come across the box. Feeling like a pirate with my buried treasure, I grin and scoop it up out of the ground, only now looking over to see that Ben and Seb are doing the same. Seems Anne had a whole garden full of treasure she was keeping a secret from her arsehole husband.
I head back to Xander and hand the box over, following him back inside. Xander gives the box to Anne. She gives me a grateful smile and places the box on the small round table. Opening it, her smile widens and then she closes it and hands it to Faith.
“Take this and go,” she says. “Live your life the way your father wanted.”
“Mum,” Faith says, tears brimming her eyes. “Dad…”
“Would want you to do as your mum says,” I interrupt her. We can’t get this woman’s hopes up that her husband is still alive if we never find him.
Faith gives me a filthy look, but she nods and keeps her mouth shut. I understand her need to ease her mother’s pain, but now isn’t the time. We need her husband in our hands to give to her.
“Go and pack a bag, and let’s go,” Faith says instead. “Sebastian. Can I have a word please?”
He nods and they go off into a corner, but we all know what she is asking him. He will say yes, and we will all agree that Anne can live in the Manor with us. It’s the least we can do for her for giving us the greatest gift on earth. Her daughter, Faith.
ChapterFifty
Faith
“I know what you’re going to say, and of course your mother is welcome at the Manor,” Sebastian says before I can open my mouth to say anything.
“I’ll pay for her upkeep until we find my dad,” I whisper. “I’ll go out and get a job, so we aren’t sitting around expecting you to pay for everything.”
He sighs. “Oh, Faith. When will you realise that you belong with us? Our omega doesn’t have to work to pay for anything. You will be given whatever you need with no strings attached. This is unconditional, baby girl. I wish you would get it through your pretty head.”
His smile is almost sad.
“I don’t work that way,” I start, but he puts his finger over my lips.
“You do now. And while we’re at it, there is a shipment of clothes coming in tomorrow. That is what I wanted to tell you when I came looking for you yesterday and found you missing.”
I’m horrified.Mortified,even. I shake my head. “No. Absolutely not. I’m here now, I can pack up the rest of my stuff and Derek still has some of my things…”
“Faith.” He takes my shaking hands. “Stop. I want to do this for you. I want you to feel like the Manor is your home and I want you to have all the things your heart desires. Please, let me give you stuff that makes you happy. I want to see you smile and enjoy them.”
I hesitate. As tempted as I am, it’s just wrong. “It sounds like you’re trying to buy me.”
“No, absolutely not. I already have you, don’t I?”
The challenge in his alpha tone is unmistakable. There is no way out of this corner I’ve painted myself into.
“Yes, of course…”
