Page 23 of Six for Gold (The Magpie Rhyme #6)

C had

Chad couldn’t remember the bridge.

He couldn’t remember the phone call from Josh inviting him over.

His memory of his and Romeo’s time at the cottage was sparse—snapshots of moments, both good when he was with Romeo or Merc, and bad when he found himself alone, heart pounding, not knowing how or why he was pacing the cottage in the middle of the night but with a gut feeling he was supposed to be doing something .

If he did that something , things would be better.

Jumping.

A deliberate act, unlike falling.

Keeley had made him jump.

And if it had been any other location, a bridge over a road like Alexandra or the top of a parking ramp like Thomas, Chad would be dead.

That thought had woken Romeo a few times in the night, and he’d shaken Chad awake, needing to know he was all right. Chad didn’t blame him, he still had to pinch himself sometimes when he dreamed of drowning.

The cold hit of water woke him up with one name on his lips.

Romeo.

He’d managed to surface.

The jogger on the bridge had seen him.

He’d been swept under again, weighted down by his soaked clothes.

The water burned like fire. It violently assaulted his mouth and nose. Once he breathed it in, he couldn’t stop, choking and convulsing. It hurt. Worse than anything he’d ever experienced, and he didn’t make that claim lightly after being tortured by a mad man with a scalpel.

Keeley had killed him.

But he’d come back.

And the first month had been disorientating, learning about himself and all he’d been through while knowing something was missing.

Ally and Josh were careful whenever the topic of Romeo came up.

He didn’t blame them.

The first time he’d heard the name since waking up, he’d gasped and started shaking.

Romeo.

He’d screamed it.

It had torn at his vocal cords.

He clutched his throat, remembering the pain of that name.

It had taken everything to shout it rather than to succumb to the water.

Josh panicked. Ally cursed.

They both had to calm him down, encouraging him to take deep breaths.

For all they revealed about Romeo Knight, it didn’t match the memories Chad had of him. There were kisses, and cuddles, laughs, puzzle games, and awful jokes, and then that blood curdling cry of the name.

Chad had screamed for him.

And that changed his perception of Romeo, and of himself too.

He hadn’t screamed for anyone like that in his life, but he’d screamed for Romeo.

Romeo Knight.

The Countdown Killer.

Except, that wasn’t all he was, not to Chad.

He was everything Chad had almost lost, and although Romeo had reassured him in the last few days what happened wasn’t his fault, he still felt guilty.

He felt guilty for jumping but not for squeezing the life out of Keeley.

Chad hadn’t trusted her, but it only took a moment of weakness from him for her to sink her claws in. One weak moment accepting a drink while she eased his panic.

It stung knowing he’d given her that opening.

But never again.

Never again would someone get that close.

Chad sat on the bottom step of the stairs, clutching his keys in his hand.

His car outside was packed with all they needed to start the new chapter in their lives.

He no longer had the responsibility of his job to pin him down, no longer had the weight of expectation to hold him back or the desire to prove himself worthy of life.

He’d never achieved it.

It took him decades to finally know who he was trying to prove that worth to.

He’d thought it was to his mother, to his unknown father, to his colleagues, and friends, the public, to killers, past and present, but it had always been to himself, and that was an unachievable goal.

As Romeo had said, he’d set himself up to fail.

But one man knew his worth, and he’d never had to prove it to him.

Romeo loved him for being him with all his broken parts and conflicted morals.

He was everything to Romeo, and Romeo was now everything to him.

Romeo had driven off in Keeley’s car an hour before with strict instructions to keep to the country roads.

He’d texted Chad once he’d parked it in thick undergrowth.

See you soon.

Chad knew where he’d be waiting.

Keeley’s car would be found ... eventually.

When Chad heard Josh pulling up outside, he eased out a breath, getting to his feet.

He didn’t open the door, and welcome Josh and Ally inside, he stepped out and locked up behind himself for the final time.

Josh beamed at him as he hurried round to let Merc out from the back.

Merc yipped and yapped as he bounded into Chad’s legs.

“All set?” Josh asked.

His eyes were bright, and his smile encouraged a wavering one from Chad. For a moment, Chad couldn’t speak. He nodded instead.

Ally leaned against the car, gaze to the ground.

She knew.

Josh had taken Chad at his word, believing he’d be back in a few months, a year at most, but Ally knew he didn’t plan on returning.

The house would remain his, but he and Romeo had no plan to live in it again.

It was the end of this part of his life and the start of a new one.

She didn’t protest, or question his decision, but had accepted it without fuss.

Chad went to her first.

She hugged Chad tight and whispered into his ear. “Be happy.”

“I am,” he told her, then he leaned back and let her see his smile.

It was true, he was, and maybe he shouldn’t have been, maybe judgmental people would’ve said he had no right to be, or it was inappropriate, but he’d given power to those people for too long.

Ally took his face in both hands, searching his eyes. Whatever she found in them made her smile back. A tear rushed down her cheek, dragging her purple eyeliner with it.

Chad brushed it away with his thumb. “You be happy too.”

She nodded. “I will.”

“Thank you,” Chad said, his throat tightened fast. “For all you’ve done for me. Ally, you’ve—”

“Oh, stop it,” she said, pushing his shoulder. “Keep on like that and I’ll be blubbering all night long.”

“Yeah,” Josh said. “Please don’t. You’re driving off into the sunset leaving me to pick up the pieces, and I’m not good with hysterical women.”

“Hysterical?” Ally clipped Josh’s ear. “I’ll show you hysterical.”

“Old dog,” Chad muttered fondly. “Playful pup.”

Josh rubbed his red ear. “One of these days, I am going to cuff you.”

“As long as it’s not to a bed.” Ally snapped.

Chad smothered his laugh beneath his hand as he crouched in front of Merc.

“Hey,” Chad whispered. Merc stopped panting and gave Chad his full attention. The sight of Merc’s big grey eyes put a lump in his throat. The decision to leave Merc behind hadn’t been an easy one, but he needed someone reliable to look after him.

Chad stroked and scratched Merc’s neck. “You’re a good boy, you know that?”

Merc’s pupils dilated as his tail picked up pace. By the pleased look on his face, he knew he was a good boy but appreciated Chad telling him.

Chad snorted, and hugged Merc close to press a kiss to his broad head. When he pulled back, Merc began licking his face, and Chad took his kisses with a sad smile.

“That’s so unhygienic.” Ally mumbled.

“Have you tried your cooking?” Josh asked her.

Chad blocked them out and spoke to Merc. “I’m leaving you with a very important job.”

Merc stopped licking him. His ears pricked as he listened.

“You’ve got to take care of Josh. You’ve got to jump on him, and slobber on him,” he glanced at Josh. “You’ve got to eat his shoelaces, and fart all over his bed.”

“Very funny,” Josh said, deadpan.

“But most of all, you’ve got to love him. He’s a very special guy, your dad.”

Josh snorted. “A bit up yourself, aren’t you?”

“I was talking about you,” Chad smirked, speaking over his shoulder to Josh. “You’re Merc’s dad. You’ve been there for him when I couldn’t. He loves you, and I know you love him too. I know he’s in safe hands with you, and you’re ... you’re in his safe paws.”

Chad turned back to Merc. “He’s going to be the dad to you that I wanted to be. The one you deserve.”

“But ... you are coming back, right?” Josh asked.

Chad winced at the wavering in Josh’s voice. He stood up, smiling.

“Of course, but when I do, he’s still yours, Josh, and you’re still his.”

“I swear I’ll take such good care of him.”

Chad squeezed Josh’s shoulder. “You already do.”

He pulled Josh into a hug, wrapping him up tight.

Josh’s arms came around him, holding on. “Sappy bastard.”

Chad smiled and shut his eyes.

“I won’t let you down.”

“Josh—”

“I won’t,” he said firmly.

Chad sunk his teeth into his lip.

Shadows passed overhead. Josh and Ally both looked up at the magpies.

Chad didn’t.

He knew there would be seven of them, seven for a secret never to be told.

Josh would never let him down, he couldn’t, but one day Chad would let Josh down. One day he’d learn the truth, because secrets, even ones untold, had a way of coming out.

Josh’s arms were iron around Chad, shaking him slightly. “I’m going to find her.”

“I know you will.”

One day.

Josh released him and took a step back. He still had hero worship on his face when he looked at Chad. Chad averted his gaze, blinking back the burning in his eyes.

One day, Josh wouldn’t look at him like that again.

One day, he’d know the truth, and he’d come after Chad.

Josh would hunt them down.

The next time they saw each other, there would be the same look in Chad’s eyes, but a different one in Josh’s and that realization cut deep.

Josh noticed Chad avoiding his gaze, “Hey, guys can cry too, you know,” he wiped his eyes. “See? Luckily for all of us, I’m an attractive crier, not a wailer, not unless I really get going.”

“Let’s avoid that at all costs,” Ally said, snuffling.

Chad put one hand on Josh’s shoulder, and the other one on Ally’s. “You know I love you both.”

“The hell, Chad,” Josh whined. “I’m trying to hold back the waterworks.”

Chad snorted. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to let you know.”

“How about don’t,” Josh said. “Ally’s tears have run all the way to her mouth. The amount of eyeliner she’s consumed is probably toxic.”

“I’m fine,” Ally croaked. “Just about keeping it together.”

Chad clutched onto them. “Whatever happens in life, never doubt how much you two mean to me.”

“Shut up,” Josh said, yanking Chad into another hug. He wrapped his arm around Ally too, bringing her into the embrace.

They stood like that for a minute, then broke away from the hug at the same moment.

Josh pointed behind Chad. “What’s going to happen to your haunted house while you’re gone?”

Chad looked back at it, but his gaze skimmed across to the edge of the field. “The ghosts can roam free for a while.”

“That’s not creepy at all.”

Chad turned around in time to see Josh grimace.

“But don’t worry, they won’t go far. They can’t. Tormented souls and all that.”

Josh shuddered. “You’re not making it sound any better.”

Ally strode over to Chad’s car and opened the driver’s door.

“I made a ratatouille for you to take with you.”

Chad hesitated, rocking back on his heels. “Urm. Thanks.”

“Josh told me to leave it at home.”

Josh nudged Chad with his elbow. “I had your back.”

“Thank you for making it,” Chad said to Ally, then he spoke over his shoulder, “And thanks for convincing Ally to leave it behind.”

“You’re welcome,” they both answered at the same time.

Chad climbed into his car and switched on the ignition. He rolled the window down, then Ally shut the door.

“Take care of yourself and take care of each other.”

“We will,” Josh said, wrapping an arm around Ally’s shoulder. Rather than bat him away, Ally leaned towards Josh.

“And you take care of yourself,” she said.

“I will.” Chad smiled at them.

“Now go,” Ally said. “Before I change my mind.”

Chad raised his eyebrows. “Yes ... Sergeant. Or should I say sergeants?”

He winked, and Josh beamed. Ally reached up to pinch Josh’s blushing cheek.

Detective Sergeant Josh Hancock. It had a good ring to it.

Chad started the car, waved at them out of the window, then took his time on the dirt track, rolling away from the house. He took so long that Josh, Ally, and Merc had jumped in their car and followed behind all the way to the junction at the end.

Chad turned left, away from Bardhum, and Josh, after smashing his fist on the horn several times, turned right.

They were a fading dot in the car mirror, then they were gone.

Chad eased out a breath and kept the window open so the wind could dry his tears.

When he pulled up into the layby, Romeo was waiting. Ruggedly handsome, with windswept hair, dark stubble, and piercing green eyes. He had his hands shoved in his jacket, and his walking boots were caked in mud. He looked perfect.

Chad spoke to him out of the window. “Car troubles?”

Romeo’s eyes glinted. His smile slowly spread, lifting his cheeks. “As it happens, yes. I seemed to have driven into thick foliage, and I’ve been waiting for a smoking hot guy to take me home.”

“I see,” Chad bit his lip as he smiled back. “In the absence of him, can I be of some assistance?”

Romeo rolled his eyes and made his way round the front of the car to the passenger seat. When he got in, he glanced into the back, tutting at the pile of bags. “Going somewhere?”

Chad pulled back onto the road. “Yes, I’m heading south to take the tunnel to France.”

“And then where are you planning on going?”

“I hear Mantua is nice.”

Romeo smirked. “Really ... the man I’m named after never made it that far...”

“Well, that was his story and this is ours,” Chad replied, resting his hand on Romeo’s thigh. “Those star-crossed lovers might not have made it, but we will.”

“I’m loving your confidence, Mr. Knight,” he raised Chad’s hand to his lips.

Chad shook his head. “I can’t believe you put my name as Knight on that passport.”

“I did consider hyphenating our surnames, but not only does it sound like an awful brand name—”

“Knight-Fuller,” Chad grimaced.

“Precisely, but I thought it would be a little too obvious. There’s hiding in plain sight, and then there’s—”

“Being an idiot.”

Romeo pressed his smile to the back of Chad’s hand again.

“The first name, though,” Chad shot Romeo a frown. “What were you thinking?”

Romeo shrugged. “It’s a placeholder. You can change it once we’re abroad, but I kind of like it.”

“Romeo....” Chad narrowed his eyes. “And Julien . I mean, do I look like a Julien?”

“You look like the man I’m in love with, except you’re doing a lot more— Starts with a W. Seven letters. Ends with an ‘ing’.”

“I am not whining.”

Romeo tipped his head back, laughing.

“All I’m saying is if you get to pick my name, I should get to pick yours.”

“Okay, but if you do something as foolish enough as to suggest Dean, we will be taking a brief detour so I can finish the job.”

“I wasn’t going to suggest it.”

“Good.” Romeo’s eyes met Chad’s. “What then?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” He squeezed Romeo’s hand. “I’d like to keep the Knight, though,” he admitted. “If that’s okay with you?”

“It’s more than okay,” Romeo replied softly. “It’s yours.”

“It’s ours.” Chad shot back, before fixing his attention back to the road and the future they headed towards.

“That’s what they’ll call us,” Romeo’s voice was wistful. He eased out a slow breath. Chad glanced at him, then looked again, taking in Romeo’s wide eyes, and the intense gleam in them as they attached themselves solely to Chad. Like he was everything. Chad felt that look in his chest. He looked at Romeo in the same way, hoping he felt it too. His smile said he did. “Secrets don’t stay secret forever. When it all comes out one day. That’s how the world will know us.” Romeo whispered, then he smiled, and it wasn’t savage or mocking, it was proud. “The Knights.”