Page 56 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)

Etienne

Etienne was watching Isabella walk away– admiring her bum as usual ? when his phone rang. Alex’s name on his screen grabbed his attention.

‘You okay?’ he asked reflexively as he pressed green.

‘I’m okay,’ Alex replied and Etienne wondered when they would be free of those first questions. When they might be able to relax and simply say hello.

‘Got any news?’

‘I have a location,’ Alex said. ‘It’s an old farm building in Shentford. I’ve had a look on Google Maps. It’s quite remote.’

Dread flooded through Etienne.

‘I’m coming too,’ said Etienne. ‘And so are Fox and Walker. We’ll wait somewhere nearby — ’

‘You can’t,’ Alex cut in.

‘They won’t know we’re there. It’s so that we can get to you if needs be. . .’

‘No. I just need you to help with the money. Nothing else. Especially now.’

‘What do you mean?’

Alex fell silent, and Etienne watched the cameraman trailing Isabella along the queue. People were smiling and waving to be on the television; Isabella was laughing.

‘What do you mean, Al?’ he repeated.

‘They know who you are, Et,’ he said quietly, and Etienne covered his other ear to hear better. ‘Not only that I have a brother. They know who you are.’

‘What? How?’

‘Old Man Dougall saw you, at Mum and Dad’s grave. He thought you were me, that I’d dyed my hair in some kind of disguise, an attempt to change my looks.’

Etienne realised how hard he was clutching the phone and tried to relax his grip.

It was true, he and Alex looked similar although they were not identical.

There were differences you would see and know if you saw them together.

The colour of their hair was the most obvious.

Alex had blue eyes, Etienne green. Their jaws were different, the shape of their nose.

Alex looked somehow softer than Etienne.

But their build and height were the same– or had been last time he’d seen him.

They were easily confused if seen separately, and from a distance.

‘He couldn’t believe his eyes apparently.

Thought I’d walked straight into his day.

Then he heard you being called Etienne by whoever you were with.

And after you’d gone, he checked the grave.

It says beloved parents of Alex and Etienne Martin.

So, he figured it out and told the brothers. They know your name, Et.’

Images of the graveyard flicked through his mind. Isabella calling him to point out the robin. The old man who walked past.

‘I can’t believe he was there at the same time as you. Apparently, all he does these days is watch television and visit his wife in the cemetery. Of all the chances. . .’

Etienne’s brain was going in a million different directions at once. They knew his name. Etienne Martin was quite an unusual name. Memorable. So, they could easily find him if they wanted to. He shook himself, tried to think calmly.

Why would the Dougalls want anything to do with him?

It was Alex they had the problem with. If the debt was paid– which it would be in a matter of days– they had no reason to need to pay Etienne a visit.

It was only if Alex didn’t pay the money back for any reason that they might come looking.

He swallowed. Fox’s face resurfaced in his mind, the concerned look on his face as he asked, ‘So you’re going to give fifty thousand pounds to a gambler?

’ He squashed the thought as quickly as it appeared. He trusted Alex, one hundred per cent.

‘It doesn’t make any difference, though, does it? We stick to the plan. I still transfer the money to you. You pay them off. You come home.’

‘They told me I’m not calling the shots. And to remember that.’ Alex’s voice had a tremor in it again. ‘Then they told me they knew about you. It felt like a direct threat.’

Etienne’s skin crawled.

‘Who were you with, Et? At the graveyard?’

‘Isabella. A. . . friend.’ He stumbled over the word; it didn’t sit right. He wasn’t sure what to call her, but it wouldn’t be a friend. He watched her as she walked back across the park towards him. When she saw him looking, her face lit up. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Because they commented on it. After they said about knowing you. They said, “His wife’s a looker.”’

Etienne felt his breath stop. Isabella was pulled into the crowd by the bandstand to watch Jayden breakdance.

‘I don’t like it, Et,’ Alex said.

‘Me neither,’ said Etienne, watching Isabella applaud Jayden spinning on his head, and it felt like the understatement of the century. The thought of someone threatening Isabella was like a blow to the stomach. It changed everything. ‘Call me if you hear anything else.’

As he hung up, his jaw hurt as he realised how hard he’d been clenching his teeth.

He watched Isabella laughing and clapping along and knew he couldn’t put her at risk.

Him being in danger was one thing, but he would not bring her into it.

And the only way he could do that was to make sure she was nowhere near him, ever.

All he wanted to do was spend time with her, but he had to stay away– to protect her. To make sure she was safe.

Isabella fist bumped Jayden and waved to the others.

He heard them calling ‘ Ciao ’ after her as she turned away, her eyes immediately seeking Etienne out, searching for him.

When she spotted him, she lifted a hand, her mouth already curving upwards.

But she must have seen something on his face, something in his expression that made her falter.

She slowed in her step, suddenly uncertain, as she stood before him.

‘Ready for that drink then?’ she said, but even the tone of her voice was different, hopeful but hesitant.

He made his face hard, hating himself as he did it.

‘I can’t,’ he said and his voice was flat, harsher than he’d intended. She blinked.

‘Oh,’ Isabella said, momentarily searching for words, the confusion clear on her face. ‘Has something come up? I saw you on the phone.’

‘Yes, something came up,’ Etienne said, wanting to take her by the hand again, and pull her closer, to shield her from what he was about to say. Instead, he looked her in the eye and said it anyway. ‘A better offer.’

She flinched. A flush started on her neck, blooming there as quickly as if he’d slapped her. Her eyes widened and then she blinked, and he thought for one awful moment she might cry.

‘Come on, Isabella, this was only ever about the sex. Or non-sex, actually,’ he said, the words dripping with sarcasm as if the whole idea was ridiculous. ‘It’s never going to be more than that.’

She turned her face away. By the way her throat was moving, he knew she was trying to swallow down a sob.

But she held her ground; he wanted to hold her tight and tell her he was sorry.

Instead, he thought of the Dougalls, letting his mind dwell on the words His wife’s a looker .

He steeled himself and knew he was doing the right thing.

Even if it didn’t feel like it. She had to stay away.

‘You’ve made that crystal clear now, thanks,’ she said and he had to admire her voice.

It didn’t crack or break. She looked him straight in the face as that flush crept up her throat and flooded her cheeks.

‘My mistake. See you around, Etienne.’ She even tried a smile and he felt something physically break inside himself.

As she huddled into her coat and walked away, it was all he could do to stop from running after her.