Page 77 of Beyond the Horizon

“NO!” I shout, anxiety ripping through my chest. “What have you done?”

“I haven’t done a damn thing but advise her to live her life!” she retorts defensively.

“You stupid, stupid woman!”

Ma Silva reaches for me, her hand grasping my arm. “Malakai, is she in danger?” Her voice is low, painfully controlled. When I meet her eyes, I nod.

“That kid is hiding something… and now he has Connie.”

“You don’t think the King…?” she whispers.

“I don’t know for sure… There’s someone I know who has been doing some checks. I’ve been waiting to hear the outcome before deciding what to do. This changes things.”

“Oh, god,” Ma Silva cries, her hand flying up to cover her mouth.

I don’t try to comfort her or ease her fears, instead I return my attention to Lola. “I’m going to ask you this one more time. Where. Is. She?”

“Canterbury. They’re staying at the Holiday Inn there.”

I nod my head, turning to Grant now. “Take Ma Silva home. Stay with her until I call with the news.”

“Sure,” he agrees.

“Malakai, what’s going on…?” Lola asks, subdued now that she understands this is something bigger than me just being a jealous, possessive arsehole.

“Ma will fill you in. I’ve got to go.”

With that I turn on my heel and run out of the boat shop and head straight for Princess. Whoever this Peter is, he better not have any connections to the King because if I find out that he has, he’s a dead man walking.

* * *

By the timeI get Princess out of the harbour and across the mainland, it’s pushing eight o’clock. I moor up in Whitstable, the nearest harbour to Canterbury and press the Uber app on my phone, requesting a ride to the Holiday Inn where Connie told Lola she’s staying. Forty minutes later the cabby pulls up outside the hotel.

“Wait here, I might need you to take me somewhere else,” I say to the cabbie, then dash from the car and straight into the reception area.

Behind the desk sits a middle-aged woman who’s eyes widen when I enter. “Good evening, Sir. How may I help you?” she asks, smiling broadly whilst blatantly checking me out.

“I’m looking for my…sister, Connie Silva, she arrived earlier today with Peter Jones. Can you tell me if they’ve checked in?” I ask. I’m fully aware she has every right to deny me, so I lean over the counter and give her my most disarming smile.

“It isn’t really policy…”

Her name tag tells me she’s called Shelbie. So I lower my voice and give her fuck-me eyes. “I appreciate that, Shelbie, but I promise, I’ll make it worth your while…” I let the innuendo hang in the air and hope to fuck this woman falls for it.

“Connie Silva, you say?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

She taps the keyboard in front of her, studying the computer screen for a minute. “Checked in around 5pm. Looks like she and her friend headed out for the evening though. She booked a cab into the centre of town an hour ago.”

“Does it say where to?”

Shelbie bites on her lip knowing she’s said too much already. I make sure that I drag my gaze over her ample cleavage and lean in closer pretending she’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.

“Volts Nightclub.”

I grin broadly, lean over the counter, grab her cheeks in my palms and plant a kiss on her lips. “You, Shelbie, are a fucking beautiful human being.”

Her cheeks flush red and she giggles as I dash out of the hotel and back into the waiting car.

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