Page 71

Willow

With the slam of the door, I finally crumbled. Sobs wracked my body, my palms covering my face as tears streamed.

“Oh Willow, I’m so sorry.” Fran guided me to the stairs, rubbing my back in soothing circles. She tried to placate me with promises she couldn’t guarantee.

In the space of two hours, everything had come crashing down. It was a life I’d fallen head over heels in love with, and I couldn’t see a resolution. Eventually I calmed, wiping my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I hiccuped. “You shouldn’t be caught in the middle of this.”

“I don’t mind. He may be my dad, but he was an idiot and needs to realise it.

Never let them get away with it, that’s what I’ve learned.

” I frowned, making a mental note to question that another time.

“How do you fancy a big cheesy fondue with all the bread?” she suggested hopefully.

“It’s about the only thing I’m capable of making, it’s that or angel delight.

” I nodded. “Go clean up and I’ll make it. ”

I returned upstairs, Dickens and Darwin following me as they did when life was off kilter. I returned my jacket to its home and shoes to theirs. Because even if I was hurt by Jack’s actions, this was home. He was home, and I wanted him even now.

I instantly regretted accusing him of being as bad as Cain.

He was nothing like him, I’d never doubted his devotion or adoration.

I knew his deception had been out of love, but I needed to breathe away from his perfect existence.

I needed to process that this wasn’t a mirror image of my previous relationship.

He’d made decisions about our relationship without me, and I was terrified our future would turn into the horrors of my past.

Dickens sat in the bathroom door as I removed the tear-stained makeup, his brother joining him with soft whines, bouncing from paw to paw.

“I know, boys. We’ll be okay.”

I pulled my hair into a lazy ponytail and puffed a breath out, letting my shoulders sag and the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach spread. Goosebumps veiled my skin and hairs pricked on the back of my neck. Something felt off, more off than ten minutes prior.

My suspicions were confirmed when the clatter and smash of dishes downstairs caught my attention. The dogs began to growl, scattering until they scratched at the bedroom door. Quietly following them, I held my ear to the door.

A female scream rose through the house and a familiar male voice snapped back, as more crockery smashed on the hard floor.

My ear to the door, I dialled emergency services and stumbled over my words, begging for help.

“I-I’m pretty sure it’s my ex-boyfriend.” Tears sprouted over my lids. “His name is Cain Heller. He was arrested for domestic assault charges, and he’s been stalking me for the past month.”

I supplied them with the address and all the information on Cain I could. When his voice called through the house, the dogs barked uncontrollably. “Come on, Willow. You can’t let little Francesca have all the fun.”

“Fuck, he knows I’m here,” I whispered.

“Stay where you are,” the call handler instructed.

“I can’t. You don’t understand. He’ll kill her.”

“Miss, please stay where you are. You’ll only put both of you at risk.”

Staying put wasn’t a fucking option.

“I’m putting my phone in my pocket.” I ignored his further attempts to argue and shoved my phone in the back pocket of my jeans.

I cracked open the door, scared to breathe.

Unfortunately, the dogs saw their opportunity to warn off the intruder, scrambling to get out.

I slipped through, shutting the door behind me as quietly as possibly.

The last thing we needed was animals involved or worse, hurt.

Their whines and barks worsened when the same voice called out, angrier this time.

“I know you’re there, Willow.”

Swallowing, I took a deep breath in and softly padded along the hallway, taking the steps downstairs. The entryway was empty, lights on as they had been twenty minutes prior. Goosebumps layered over my skin, a warning.

I closed my eyes, willing a false sense of strength I wasn’t sure I had.

Clinging to the bannisters, I took the final step and turned in the hallway.

All the doors were closed, items in their rightful place.

Everything looked normal, despite the growing pit in my gut that everything was far from normal.

Whimpers pulled through the gap underneath the kitchen door along with the soft glow of the warm lights. I forced myself towards the door, terrified of what I’d find behind. Pushing the ajar door open, it hit the wall with a soft thud, and I sucked in a sharp breath .

Fran’s eyes pinged to mine, full of fear, warning, and tears. Her body trembled, a trickle of blood ran from her temple down her cheek. Fran was sitting on a bar stool, her arms pulled behind her back, material was stuffed into her mouth.

Casually leaning against the island, as if my delay was an inconvenience, was Cain. His greasy black hair was messily pushed back. He wore tattered black jeans, a grey zip hoodie, and black vest underneath. The silver chain that haunted me when his body covered mine still sat around his collarbone.

Every choice he’d made was like he was destined to hide in the shadows, creeping in nightmares and only coming into the light to make them come true.

With the time apart I looked at him with nothing but disdain. From the angular points of his body, to the constant scowl like a child who’d been told no. I questioned how I’d ever had feelings for him.

One elbow held him up against the marble countertop, the other hand toyed with the bunch of blue and white carnations Jack bought to cheer me up during my period.

Cain tugged and discarded each petal like they personally offended him.

As Fran whimpered, his eyes lifted to her, then followed her focus to me. His scowl shifted to a grotesque smirk.

“How kind of you to join us.”

He stood and sauntered towards me, lazily scuffing his shoes as he moved. He stopped, centimetres between us. I could smell his cigarettes and sugary energy drinks as he released hot breaths over me.

“Shame it’s under these fraught circumstances.” He raised his hand, his calloused thumb brushing down my cheek. I reared my head back and slapped his away

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped. “And you sure as shit don’t touch her.”

He laughed humourlessly and stepped backwards, holding eye contact.

“You’ve found yourself in quite the cosy little setup here, haven’t you?

Shacking up with the boss, becoming cosy little bosom buddies with his daughter, sharing his bed at night instead of mine.

The thing is, Willow,” his right hand moved behind him, and when it fell to his side again, my gaze followed the movement.

“You don’t have much of a say.” With a flick of his wrist, a blade was revealed.

I watched in horror as he reversed, his eyes still on me, until he stood behind Fran. With his left arm bracing her shoulders he began to drag the tip of the knife across her neck. The pressure wasn’t enough to draw blood, but enough to express the threat and control.

“Cain. Put the knife down,” I spoke, prioritising the clarity of my voice for the live call. “You know she has nothing to do with this.”

“She doesn’t. But her daddy does, and you do.” He pointed the knife towards me. “You’ve ruined lives, little Willow. ”

He grazed the knife down Fran’s right cheek, jaw and up the left as he spoke nonchalantly.

His accusation wove itself through my newfound freedom, plucking out my insecurities and fears. Jack had quashed my worries every time, but I had brought danger to their door. I had put Fran and Jack directly in the line of fire. Cain smirked as he watched the realisation settle.

“What are you going to do?”

“Well,” he replied mockingly. “Jack Lambert stole you from me. There’s two people he cares most about in all the world, isn’t there?

You,” he pointed the knife at me again, “and you.” He bent down, speaking into Fran’s ear before pushing his nose into her neck and sniffing obscenely.

Fran’s eyes clamped shut, pulling away from his as best she could.

“That was a good idea of mine, wasn’t it, Francesca?

I could hurt you both. Now that would hurt Mr Lambert, wouldn’t it? ”