Page 79 of North (The Moral Compass 2)

“Who?” North screws up his face as East points to the ceiling, gesturing to the new guest upstairs.

“Sort your phone out, North. I’m going to bed. And unless the house is on fire, which is bloody probable in this place, no one wake me up in the morning, please.”

I reach our bedroom, but I can’t help but eavesdrop on the conversation going on between South and this new guest. He’s explaining everything that has happened, and then he says, “So, you see, your mum believed everything Jaxon told her. If she had just asked, I could have told her he was bad, but she didn’t.”

I can’t help myself; I open the door.

“Why are you telling her our business, South?”

“Did North not tell you?”

“No, he didn’t get the chance because someone has been fucking around with his phone and sending me weird text messages. Haven’t they, Daisy?” I look her dead on in the face. “So, can you please tell me why you are telling her family business, South?”

“Kara, don’t get mad, but this is Paula’s daughter.”

“Paula’s daughter? You mean the woman who very nearly killed your brother, my boyfriend? Why is she here?”

“She has nowhere else to go, Kara. I know you will be angry, but, look, you cannot blame the son for the sins of the father. You, of all people, should understand that.”

He’s right.

“But it doesn’t excuse her messing with North’s phone.” I turn to her. “Listen, Daisy, you and I will get on just great, but don’t ever touch North’s phone again, okay? I was pretty pissed off at that text you sent. Now that I’ve said my piece, I’m going to bed. See you all tomorrow sometime.”

I get into bed, and it’s not long before I feel the bed dip beside me, and North’s body encases mine. So, it is no wonder I’m woken with fright when I can hear shouting and screaming coming from the hallway.

Sherie is yelling French words. I have no idea what she is saying, but South is also shouting back at her in French. North and I look on as they both go at each other in a completely foreign language.

Sutton appears in the hallway also speaking French, but hers is more a whispering shout than yelling. They both look at each other, turn, and walk back to their respective rooms.

“What the hell was that?” I look up to North who is grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“What?” he shrugs.

“That? Those two going at each other in French?”

“Don’t know, but I bet there is a story there.”

“They have never even met before. You need your bumps felt if you think those two would ever get it on. She hates him for what he said about me.” I push his chest to go back into the bedroom.

“Only if you’re offering, Princess.” He picks me up, spins me round, and kicks the door shut behind him.

Chapter 53

North

Morningcomesalltooquickly. It only feels like I’ve been asleep an hour, but when I look at the clock, it’s nearly 8:00 a.m. Kara is still fast asleep, and I know she needs her rest, so I dress in stealth mode and head down to the kitchen for breakfast.

I’m surprised that everyone, including Daisy, is around the island. Mum seems to have chilled out a little this morning and is fussing around her, making her feel welcome. Sherie’s eyes are throwing daggers at South. Sutton and East are looking at something on the computer, and West is feeding one of the girls. The other two are asleep in their baskets. The kitchen feels full and busy, and there is a tension in the air that’s not very comfortable.

“Zed is coming this afternoon. Can you and South be available?” West asks.

“Yeah, no problem. I don’t think Kara has any plans.”

“It’ll just be the guys.”

“Yeah, I’d like to spend some time with Kara, Sherie, and East by the pool,” Sutton requests. “Oh, and you too, Daisy.”

This feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

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