Page 102 of The Devil's Deceit

This is his plan. He didn’t want me stopped.

This is much worse than if he’d confronted me and demanded an explanation, and he knows it, because he knowsme.

My car doesn’t have a hands-free option for me to call Arron and let him know I’m out, and I can’t risk getting pulled over by the police for using a mobile phone while driving. The journey home is torturous. Every set of headlights that loom in my mirror send another shot of adrenalineinto my bloodstream. My hands are so sweaty, they’re slipping on the steering wheel, and I grip it tighter.

Stay strong. Almost there.

As my road comes into view, a shaky breath stutters past my lips. Arron’s car isn’t parked in its usual space. He must still be out trying to find Daniel. I turn into the driveway and park, then cut the engine. My hands are shaking that much it takes me three attempts to pull up Arron’s contact details and hit the call button.

“Grace?”

A sob leaps into my throat, but I swallow it down. I can’t afford to lose control. I need to keep my head on straight and get as far away from here as fast as possible.

“I’m out. I’m at home. I have to go, Arron. Christian knows everything. He told me to run, and I am.”

“Wait. Grace, just wait. Don’t do anything until I get there. I’m ten minutes away. Promise me.”

I say nothing.

“Promise me,Grace.” The roar of a car engine comes over the phone line. “I’m on my way.”

“Okay,” I whisper. “But hurry. I don’t have long.”

As I get out of my car, I scan the neighborhood for anything that looks out of the ordinary.And so it begins.This is what my life will be like now. I could call Christian’s bluff, refuse to leave, and just wait for him to turn up here, but I’m too much of a coward. I can’t hide forever, but I can for long enough to hopefully let the dust settle on his anger. His family, too. Once he tells them everything, they’ll all be out for my blood.

Time is what I need. After all, I’m only doing what Christian wants me to do.

True to his word, Arron arrives home ten minutes later.Even though I know it’s him, I jump at the slamming of the front door. I slip my hand inside my jacket pocket for my passport, even though I only put it there a few minutes ago.

Arron’s face crumples when he sees me, and it takes strength I didn’t know I had to hold it together. He reaches out his arms, and I tuck myself inside.

“Tell me what happened?”

“Christian got out.”

“How?”

I peel away and prop myself on the arm of Dad’s favorite chair. “I don’t know. He called me. Told me he knows everything and said to run.”

“What about Daniel?”

I shrug. “Don’t know and don’t care. He fucked me over. I had it all under control, and now I’m screwed. I planned to tell Christian everything on my terms, but now that’s impossible. Whatever has happened to Daniel is on his head. I couldn’t give a shit.”

Arron nods, but it’s more in thought than an agreement with what I’m saying. “He’s still family.”

“No.” I shake my head vehemently. “Not any longer. He said things to me I will never forget, and he put me in danger. You can call him family if you like, but he’s no family of mine.” I stand and pick up my suitcase.

“Let me come with you, please.”

“No. It’s better this way. Christian won’t hurt you. It’s me he wants to hurt. You’ll be safe.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet. Somewhere off grid that doesn’t have CCTV on every street corner. His family are powerful. They’ll easily be able to track me, so I need to make it as difficultas I can.”

“Stay, please. We can talk to Christian, make him understand.”

“He won’t listen. Not now when it’s raw. It’s better to wait for things to blow over. When I think enough time has passed, I will face him.”