AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh. I’m fine.”
Is Henderson in on it too? He must be. Obviously.
“I don’t mean to pry. You just seem, since your coffee?—”
I cut him off. “If I want to go somewhere on my own, without you or Macavoy, would you let me?”
“Would I let you?” His Irish lilt seems less adorable today.
“That’s what I’m asking, yes.”
“Well, you’re obviously free to go wherever you like,” he says. He’s playing for time, thinking how to phrase it. “But I would have to … follow you.”
“But if I asked you not to?” I prod.
“That order would have to come from Mr. Ravenscroft,” he replies.
I thought so.
“Makes sense,” I utter, looking out the window. The rain has just started, and I watch the drops chase each other down the bulletproof glass. Cops and robbers.
“For your own protection, obviously,” he says.
“Yes,” I reply. “Obviously.”
We sit in silence for a while, my new understanding of the situation sinking in, like an eagle’s talons in a mouse.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Mr. Ravenscroft has asked us to meet him at Sable.”
“Where?” my agitation makes me rude.
“Sable. It’s an especially … discreet boutique hotel.”
“Why can’t we just meet at The Raven?”
Or in public. Or at a police station. I don’t like this at all.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t know. He didn’t say.”
Because there are witnesses at The Raven? Because my DNA is all over that room? Because the hotel belongs to the fucking London mafia? Holy shit. I scratch my neck, despite it not being itchy. It’s a nervous tic.
Alistair wouldn’t hurt me. I know he wouldn’t.
If I’m wrong … well, I guess I’ll be finding out very soon.
We pull up outside the hotel that I’ve never seen nor heard of. The rain stopped, and the sky has brightened, but the building still manages to have a sinister look about it. It’s probably just my fear casting a pall. Macavoy opens my door before I’ve even thought of climbing out of the car. Henderson offers me a hand, but I ignore it. I’m angry with him for winning me over with his friendly face and Irish twinkle. He pretends to be such a nice guy.
My body feels heavy and light at the same time. Fight or flight.
I’m terrified, but also sad. I’m gradually understanding that it’s all been a terrible mistake and that I can’t be with Alistair ever again. The realization tears at me, sharp and ugly. He had changed my world in so many beautiful ways. The truth was that I wanted him in my life forever.
The grief is waiting in my throat, ready to choke me to tears. I try to swallow it down for now. There’ll be plenty of time later for more weeping. I have to get through this last meeting and then find my way home to my awful flat where I can rage and wail all I like.
Henderson ushers me past the doorman, who nods at him, and into the hotel. My heart is racing, and I can feel perspiration under my arms. How did things get this menacing, this quickly? Was I in real danger? I refused to believe that Alistair would hurt me, but my nerves are singing. Becks is levelheaded, and she thinks I’m in jeopardy.
It’s Alistair, I tell myself. It’s Alistair. Like a mantra. It calms me down.
