Page 108 of So Wild

“Not quite, have you spoken to Sam?”

“Hard to speak to someone who doesn’t have a mobile phone,” Nicole said drily. “I know she took off to see you. What’s happened? She’s not hurt, is she?”

“No, but my father…look, it’s a long story but I think he’ll be coming to the shop this morning. Now, possibly.”

“Oh gosh,why?”

“I’m sorry, but itisa long story and I have a really bad feeling. Would you consider locking your doors? I’m only fifteen minutes away.”

Nicole gave a nervous hum. “I’m not sure. We’ve got a full morning booked for the first time in ages. What do you think your dad’s going to do?”

“I don’t know, but he’s not well. He lost it when he found out I blocked his heritage application and he knows he’s not going to get the property. I’m worried he might…do something to your building as a last resort.”

“Oh god, should we call the police?”

“I don’t know,” he said, feeling helpless. “There’s not a lot to go on if I’m just being a paranoid bastard and dad’s nowhere near your place.”

“Then what—”

A Mercedes swerved into the lane in front of him and immediately slowed down, forcing him to slam his own brakes to avoid a crash.

“Watch what you’re doing, you Muppet!” Scott hollered.

“Are you okay?”

“I will be once I know you’re all safe. Is that big bloke, Noah, in?”

Nicole gave an irritable huh. “No, he took a day off to go do some mysterious thing we’re not allowed to ask about.”

Scott’s collar seemed to tighten around his throat. Sexist as it was, knowing Noah was there to protect Nicole and Tabby would have gone a long way to easing his nerves.

“Gil’s here though,” Nicole said brightly.

Scott didn’t say anything. From what Sam had told him, Gil was hardly the hero they needed. He put his foot down, inching over the speed limit. “Okay, I’m ten minutes away. Keep your eyes peeled and if you see my father, please lock the door and call the police.”

“Sure, um, is Sam with you?”

“No, we took separate cars. If she gets back before me, please tell her to be careful and not to tackle my dad.”

Nicole gave a nervous giggle. “This is Samantha DaSilva we’re talking about. I’m amazed she hasn’t tackled him, already.”

“I know, and I love that about her, but—”

“You love that about Sam?” Nicole interrupted. “YouloveSam?”

Impossibly, stupidly Scott felt a grin spreading across his face. “None of that, please. This is a serious situation.”

“So you’re serious about my sister?”

His grin involuntarily spread wider. “Of course, I’m serious about her, I’ve been serious about her since I was eight, but we need to focus on—”

Someone screamed on Nicole’s end of the line—a high piercing scream.

“What was that?” Scott bellowed.

“Tabby? Is that you?” Nicole called.

There was another loud bang, followed by a scream.

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