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“Running the company made you irritable, and you pushed us away. Mum threw herself into training Charles, but things weren’t right between you and her, so she was probably easy pickings for Tyler when he came back into her life.

You were busy with the business, so you didn’t have time for me.

The day she died, I was so happy to be with her and Charles, sharing some of their magic.

They were on such a high after Charles won the gold medal – it was like nothing could touch them or bring them down.

We were laughing so much – and then the crash happened. ”

He leaned over and gently smoothed his father’s grey hair away from his forehead.

“Tyler set me up. He wanted revenge on me for Mum’s death, and for every bad thing he felt our family did to his.

You were right about him all along; I wish I’d listened.

I was an idiot. I wish you could save me, like when I was a little kid.

I wish you could make everything all better, but instead you’re lying here, in this bed, and I’m on the run.

I’m glad I escaped from Tyler, because otherwise I’d be sitting in his tower, fretting about you, and he’d be holding it over me to torment me.

At least this way I’ve been able to see you and tell you all this stuff, whatever happens next.

I don’t know if you can hear me, but at least I’ve said it to you. ”

He wiped his sleeve over his wet eyes, then glanced towards the door. “I should be going now. I’ve pushed my luck far enough as it is. I just had to see you.”

He stood up, leaned over the bed, and kissed his father’s cheek. “I love you, Dad. I can’t believe that that was ever hard to say – it seems so easy now. I love you. Please get better.”

He was about to pull away when his father’s eyelids fluttered open.

“Alex…?” One side of his mouth formed the word, but the sound came out slurred.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m here. Don’t talk.” He put a gentle finger over his father’s lips.

Noah’s face was screwed up in confused anguish, so Alex stroked his hair again to calm him.

“You’re in pain. I should get someone.” He looked towards the door, reluctant to leave.

“I have to go. I wish I didn’t, but I do.

I hope you heard some of what I said. I hope you know that I love you, and that I’m sorry – for everything. ”

His father said something that he couldn’t make out, so he bent his head to Noah’s lips. The words were so indistinct that he wasn’t sure if his father was saying “I love you”, “I heard you”, or “I hate you”.

“It’s okay. Whatever you think and feel about me – it’s okay. I’ve never stopped loving you. I never will. Now, I have to go. Goodbye, Dad.”

He kissed his father’s cheek again, then went to the door.

He glanced back to see his father looking at him, his eyes gleaming in the dark room.

The machine above Noah’s head began to beep aggressively, and he made a moaning sound.

Alex knew he couldn’t wait any longer – he had to get help.

He left the room and walked back out to the nurse’s station.

“The patient in room fourteen – Noah Lytton – he’s just woken up, and he’s in a lot of pain,” he told the startled nurse. Then he walked off quickly in the direction of the stairs. He heard a commotion behind him, and the sound of footsteps, and then someone shouting, “Hey, you. Stop!”

He glanced behind him to see a security guard in hot pursuit, so he took off, running as fast as he could, his shoes slithering on the tiled floor.

He ran down the stairs, two at a time, and then out into another hallway, and along what felt like a series of never-ending corridors.

He came to the staff accommodation block just as a girl was letting herself in with a biokey.

He pushed his way past her, ignoring her startled cry, then glanced over his shoulder again to see that the security guard was still chasing him.

He ran through the housing block, out of the door, through the grounds, and out onto the street…

straight into the path of a black SUAV. The vehicle came to a screeching halt, only narrowly avoiding hitting him.

He took off in the opposite direction, running as fast as he could.

The SUAV made a sharp turn to follow him, but he slipped down a side street and into a little alleyway behind some shops until he was out of sight.

Climbing a wall, he landed in the back garden of a pub; ignoring the startled glances of the people sitting at picnic tables drinking, he sprinted out of a gate and down another side street.

He looked over his shoulder repeatedly to see if either Tyler’s men or the security guard from the hospital were following him, but nobody was in pursuit.

He heaved a sigh of relief as he realised that he’d evaded them all and took a moment to lean against the wall and get his breath back.

Then he continued on down the street at a slower pace.

There was another turning ahead. As he rounded the corner, he took one last look behind him to make sure he wasn’t being followed… and disappeared into darkness.

A hood was thrown over his head. His arms were grabbed and his hands fastened roughly behind his back, and then he was bundled bodily into a vehicle and slung onto the floor. Someone got in behind him, the door was slammed shut, and they took off at high speed.

He felt someone leaning over him, and he cowered back against a seat, bracing himself. Then the hood was whisked away, and he was staring up into a familiar face.

“Hello, Alex.” Big Mick grinned. “Nice to have you back. Mr Tyler will be pleased – he’s missed you ever so much. I reckon he’s a got a very special welcome home party planned for you, don’t you?”