Page 86 of Resist

“I feel I need to explain what happened before.” No one spoke, so I continued. “My ex-husband lives here in Cairns. That was him on the billboard next to ours. He’s quite influential and should I say… powerful. We’re estranged because he …” I hesitated, which was when Lucas rested his hand on my shoulder. “… Because he’s dangerous.” My hand magnetized to my neck, the action involuntarily, as if my body remembered that was the last place Colin assaulted. I could almost feel the sting.

Dropping my hand to meet the other, I wrung them together and continued. “I didn’t want him to know I was here. I’d planned on coming and leaving undetected, but that billboard outside of town … well … that changes things.”

Patsy dipped her head, and Baz put his arm around her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

“Patsy, you weren’t to know—”

“I should’ve checked which city—”

“Patsy. You. Weren’t. To. Know.” I gave her a stern look. “But, yes, let’s cover all bases in future, okay?”

She nodded.

“So, is this arsehole gonna show up?” Josh asked.

The thought chilled me to the bone because, yes, I suspected he would. “I honestly don’t know,” I said, lying. “But I don’t want you guys to worry about that—”

“Oh, I’m not worried.” Josh let out an almost sinister laugh. “I want him to show up.”

“Bugs, this is Helena’s business,” Matt said.

“And if he comes near her, it’s gonna be m—”

“My business!” Lucas’s tone of voice was severe, yet both he and Josh exchanged looks that I swear translated to ‘Fucken oath, and I got your back. Fist bump’.

“No, it’s not, Lucas. Matt is right; it’s mine, and I want it to stay that way. These next few shows are big ones, and I don’t want any of you distracted.” Pivoting on the spot, I faced the hotel. “This venue is amazing. Let’s get checked in and go see the theatre.” Everyone began to disperse. “Oh, and another thing … try and stay out of the casino, yeah?”

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”

I rolled my eyes at Noah’s Yoda quote. “Thank you for that, Master Jedi.”

He raised his hand like Spock, which confused me more than his man-bun.

Lucas chuckled. “Just go with it.”

“Don’t worry, I am.”

We made our way inside, ferns and earth-inspired wooden sculptures dotting the reception area. It was very bright, airy and tropical but also modern contemporary. The décor and design had a lightness to it, and I started to feel at ease once again.

“You sure you’re all right?” Lucas asked as we walked hand-in-hand toward the check-in desk.

“Yeah. I think so. I’m just trying not to think about him.”

“Good. Think about me instead.”

“Oh yeah?” We walked past a seated area and my body stiffened.

“What is it?”

I glanced back, over my shoulder, and studied the man we’d just walked past, a newspaper held in front of him, my heartbeat easing when I realized he wasn’t Colin. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Lucas gave me a wry smile.

I ignored it. “So… you were telling me I should think about you instead?”

“I was.”

“And in what way should I think about you?”