Page 65 of Where She Is
Daniel pulls me close. “I’ll always be straight with you. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”
I rest against him as he holds me tighter. “Me too.”
We jolt apart by the sound of Joe’s voice. “Please tell me we can go home now?”
Daniel laughs, “Had enough, bro?”
Joe purses his lips, throwing Daniel the side-eye.
We all move inside and while we say our goodbyes to Peter and Diana, I’m left hoping that Candy was the last skeleton I’d find in Daniel Grant’s cupboard.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We arrive hometo find Freya sprawled across the sofa wrapped in a cream silk dressing gown. She watches TV with a large glass of wine and a vacant expression, only glancing our way briefly. I can see she’s had more to drink than she should.
Joe walks around the back of the sofa, leaning over to kiss her cheek. Her face is void of any emotion, and my heart goes out to this lovely man. His aim is to keep the peace, but he receives only the worst of her in return. I could slap her right now.
“How was your evening, sweetie?”
Never has the phrase ‘if looks could kill’ been truer. Freya’s features are reminiscent of a bulldog chewing a wasp as she spits out her reply. “It was shit, thanks.”
She’s spoiling for another fight. Her entire body is stiff and defensive. Joe, as always, is calm and I wonder where on earth he gets his inner strength from. “I’ll get you some water and then we should go to bed.”
“Don’t bother on my account,” Freya mumbles as she storms past me and out of the room. Joe heads to the kitchen andDaniel’s sideway glance to his brother doesn’t go unnoticed. He obviously wants to talk to him.
Daniel looks to me briefly, “I fancy a whisky. Han, can I get you a drink?”
After my run-in at the dance and now Freya’s bitch attitude, my inner coils are tighter than tight. “I’ll join you.”
“Really?” he asks and I nod, too tired to explain.
“Could you get the glasses out, please?” He signals towards a cabinet next to the fireplace. “I’ll get a fresh bottle and some ice.” After I’ve retrieved two glasses, I’m short of something to do so I sit and wait. My fingers to my forehead, I rub my red eyes then stretch out. It’s at this point I feel her presence before I notice her leaning against the door frame.
“I trust you’ve had a good evening?” Her tone is thick with sarcasm. I thought she’d gone to bed, although I was right about her spoiling for a fight. I have to stay civil for all our sakes. I’m certain none of us could stand another confrontation tonight.
“Lovely, thank you. How was—”
“You know, nothing will come of you and Dan.”
Oh God, I have déjà vu. “I beg your pardon?”
She looks in the opposite direction, her tone very matter of fact. “You heard me, Hannie. You’re not his type.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, “And you are?”
She laughs with a sneering smile. “It doesn’t take a genius to work out I’m more his… equal and you are more of a stopgap.”
Here I go again. I’ve had a belly full of women obsessed with Daniel tonight, but I’m fired up and ready to go now. “Well, Freya, he certainly does not want you so maybe you and I are more equal than you think.”
“Let me tell you something, you little bitch, he is mine. I will have him. I always get what I want. Louise didn’t survive me and neither will you.”
“What the hell—” is all I can say while she sits bolt upright and leans toward me.
“I am more of a force to be reckoned with, Miss British, so don’t push me. You’ve already over-stepped the mark by moving in with him and flaunting yourself around here as if you two are an actual couple. You’re not. He doesn’t do relationships so that bubble you live in will soon burst.”
I’m so taken aback by her confidence, I let out an exasperated laugh—a laugh which winds her up even tighter. Her hooded eyes drill into mine. She is incensed.
“So you find this funny? Enjoy it while you can. I got rid of that druggie bitch and he cared about her, but you? You’re no problem, an easy target.”
