Page 5 of Hold On

Dominic took a deep breath.

“Or maybe you’d like the police to pick you up tomorrow?” Sturdy sneered.

Dominic turned and walked through the door. It was a battle he couldn’t bring himself to continue.

He kept thinking he’d feel a hand on his arm, that Sturdy would drag him back, that something would happen behind him, but the door slammed shut and he was on his own. Outside. Free. Except that parting shot had hit hard.

Why had Sturdy done that?Why did I retaliate?His heart was racing. Sturdy had probably wanted to spoil this moment and he’d succeeded.

Only if I let him.

As Dominic headed for the car park, he saw Col running towards him, his face wreathed in a smile, and he walked faster. Not Billy any more. Col had chosen the name and Dominic would use it.

Col threw himself at him and Dominic almost dropped the books.

“Oh my God. I can’t believe it,” Col gasped.

Dominic was having problems believing it too. His heart clamped and his lungs locked. His legs suddenly felt boneless.

“Let me take those.” Col lifted the bag from his arms. “Are you okay?”

Dominic turned, glanced back at Marsden, then faced forward. He never wanted to see that place again. He took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m okay.”

“Theo’s waiting in the car.”

“We won’t be short of conversation then.”

Col chuckled. “Forgive him if he says something inappropriate. He spent the entire journey trying to think up suitable topics.”

Theo was out of the car by the time they reached it. After Dominic had signed the form to let Theo visit with Col, Theo had come several times. He wasn’t what Dominic had expected, but Theo loved his brother and his brother loved Theo, and that was all that mattered.

“Hi, Dominic.” Theo looked as though he wanted to hug him, but wasn’t sure if he should.

He shouldn’t.

“Hi. Am I in the back?” Dominic didn’t wait for an answer. He just opened a rear door, climbed in and fastened his seat belt.

“Is there anything you want to do, see or eat before we head back?” Col asked from the passenger seat.

Dominic shook his head.

Theo set off and a woman’s voice suddenly said, “Welcome to Belgium.”

Dominic laughed. The sound shocked him.

“This car’s never even been out of the country,” Theo said indignantly. “It’s like it’s possessed.”

They’d not been travelling long before Dominic began to feel queasy. He’d wanted to keep looking out of the window, but instead he lay down and closed his eyes. The seat belt didn’t make that easy but he did the best he could. First time he’d been in a vehicle this size for…Shit!There would be a whole lot offirsts.

“He’s lying down,” Theo whispered.

“I’d assumed so since I’d not spotted him jumping out of the car.”

“If you feel like you need to make a quick exit, Dominic, I’ll give you the advice your brother gave to me.”

“Don’t forget to tuck and roll,” Dominic said.

Theo groaned. “Christ, it runs in the family?”

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