Page 69 of Hold On

“No, thank you. We’ve just eaten,” Dominic spoke quickly. This was not a conversation to have over cake.

“Then take a seat.” She gestured to the couch.

They put their helmets on the carpet. As they sat, Ren pressed his thigh against his. There had been plenty of time for Dominic to think of what he wanted to say but words failed to emerge from his mouth. It was becoming a habit. He stared at the carpet and counted to ten.

“I’m sorry,” Merlene said before he’d managed to pull himself together.

Dominic’s head shot up.Shewas sorry?

“We should have let Col see you more often. We thought it was better that he made the break from you, concentrated on himself and stopped worrying about you. We were only trying to do the best for him, but failed to pay enough attention to what he needed.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry,” he said quietly. “You were the best people to ever come into Col’s life. He is so lucky to have had a chance to appreciate what good parents can be like, to see what a home should be. The day you took him out of care was…” Dominic swallowed hard. “I’m beyond grateful for everything you’ve done for him. In part, I didn’t want him to keep coming to see me. I didn’t think it was good for him. And yet I also longed to see him. I don’t think any of us could stop him doing what he wanted.”

He took a deep breath. “So thank you for being you. Thank you for helping him grow into such a great guy. I’m sorry that I asked him not to change his name to yours. It was selfish. I wish he had changed it. It must have hurt that he sided with what I wanted and I apologise for that.”

Merlene took hold of her husband’s hand. “Wewerehurt but we did understand and Col is still our son even without our name. We couldn’t have asked for better.”

“You love him as much as we do,” Livingston said.

I love him more.But this wasn’t a competition. What right did he have to think they loved Col less than he did?

“You did a terrible thing,” Merlene said. “To take the lives of three people. To do those awful…” She released a shaky breath. “Col said you killed the man in prison in self-defence, that the jury were wrong to find you guilty of murder.”

Dominic felt his fingers clenching into his palms. He wasn’t going to apologise for what he’d done. He hadn’t come here to explain himself.

“But Dominic has paid for his actions,” her husband said to her. “This is a new start. Another chance.”

“We believe in forgiveness and second chances,” Merlene said.

And would you have had me forgive my parents?But Dominic said nothing.

“If you hadn’t have called, we were going to ask you to come and see us,” Merlene said. “We don’t want Col to give up his stone carving to work with you. He’s so talented. It would be a waste. I’m sorry but that’s how we feel.”

“I agree,” Dominic said. “I don’t want him to give up on that either. His carvings are wonderful.”

She sagged against her husband. “So you won’t work with him? He’s probably said he can still do it and work with you too.”

“I won’t go into business with Col and Theo. I’m going to be moving away soon.”

They looked shocked.

“But… Col…” She wrung her hands. “I don’t want to drag the two of you apart. He’s looked forward to you being released for so long. I just don’t want him to stop carving.”

“He’ll be fine. I’m out of prison and that’s all that matters.”Not really, but…

“He can visit you,” she said.

Dominic could see she was pleased he was moving away. He understood but now he was torn. How much of the truth should he tell? He didn’t want to scare them if there was no need but… “Col won’t know where I am. Not for a while. It’s possible that trouble has followed me from prison. There might be a Turkish family looking to get even with me. The marquess is trying to find out if there’s any truth in that, but for the time being, Col—and maybe you as well—would be better off not knowing where I am. I’m sorry. I don’t think the two of you will be in any danger but Col might be. The marquess has brought in extra security until this is sorted one way or another. You need to be careful until this is over.”

“What?” they gasped in unison, clutching each other.

“I’m sorry.” Dominic grabbed his helmet and pushed to his feet. Ren joined him. The Thomases stood too.

“So you’ve brought more trouble to Col’s life.” Merlene clung to her husband.

Dominic could feel himself beginning to shake, his weak control on his emotions starting to falter. “If I’d not let Col meet me when I was released… If I’d refused to tell him where I was going… If I’d reported that whispered threat… But I didn’t. Maybe I should have guessed I’d bring trouble with me. Maybe I should have stayed away from him. My life is full of things I should have done and shouldn’t have done.”

Dominic tried and failed to swallow the lump in his throat. He felt Ren’s fingers on his back, rubbing a circle. It gave him unexpected strength.

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