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“Christy, do you already know why we’re here?” Kate asks, her question making my brain ache.
She looks at Kate and shakes her head. “No, I don’t.”
Relief passes over Kate’s features. “Then I guess, this time, you weren’t meant to know?”
Christy ponders Kate’s logic—which, by the way, makes no sense to me—and then nods her head. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll go change, this dressisa bit itchy.”
Frank gives Christy’s nose a tweak. “Thanks, love.”
“It’s no bother. I know some people get weirded out about it all.” She eyes me then, taking her measure of me in a way she hasn’t done since we arrived. “But Roger’s a good guy and I already know he’ll be cool about it all. ”
“Cool about what?” I ask, thoroughly fucking confused now.
“You’re about to find out,stud-muffin,” Christy says, snorting with laughter as she heads out of the kitchen and upstairs to change.
“Did I miss something?” I ask, looking between the three of them. Frank blows out a breath and Sandy gives me a guarded smile, but it’s Kate’s expression that concerns me the most. “What?”
“Let’s take this moment to explain to Frank and Sandy why we turned up today,” Kate says. “Then we’ll get onto Christy.”
“Sure thing,” I say, patient enough to wait for the big reveal, or whatever this is, as Kate turns her attention to the couple.
“We came today because I had reason to believe someone was coming for Christy in retaliation to an incident that happened at my club a few weeks back.”
Sandy gasps, and Frank looks at us both in shock. “Someone would hurt her to get at you?” he asks, his gaze darkening as he reaches for Sandy’s hand and squeezes. Frank might be a nice man, but I recognise that look in his eyes. Like Kate, he’d do anything to protect his family.
“That’s what I’d thought when I couldn’t get a hold of you. So you understand that I didn’t have any other choice but to come here.”
“You must’ve been so worried,” Sandy says, reaching for Kate’s hand and giving it a pat.
“I was fucking terrified,” she admits with a heavy sigh.
“We’re sorry,” Frank says earnestly. “We haven’t had to deal with anything like this before. Christy was kept away from your world for so long because your father made sure no one knew about her.”
“And that will remain the same. No one, apart from the four of us, will know we’re related. Anyone who finds out will be dealt with accordingly,” Kate says, reassuring them as much as herself.
“Dealt with? You mean…?” Sandy questions, her eyes widening as understanding dawns.
“I won’t apologise for dealing with a threat to my family,” Kate says. “I will do what I have to do in order to keep Christy safe. No question. You understand?”
Sandy’s mouth pops open, then shuts again as she takes in what Kate has said.
Frank nods. “Yes, we understand.”
“Good. I left Christy in your care because I truly believe she’s safest here with you. I don’t want her growing up in our world, but I’m not foolish enough to ignore the fact that anyone at any point could find out about her and use her to get to me,” Kate explains, side-eying me.
“Which means,” I continue on for Kate, “That youmustfollow Kate’s rules. We need to be able to communicate with you at any point night or day, and vice versa.”
“Of course, it won’t happen again,” Frank says, attempting to appease us.
“If you see anyone suspicious or out of the ordinary around the village or near your home you call us immediately,” Kate says. “Don’t second-guess yourself. Just call and we’ll do the rest.”
“Yes, absolutely,” Sandy says, finally getting with the programme after her initial shock wore off.
“For now, we will station someone nearby who’ll be able to get to you quickly should we feel she’s in any danger, whilst we deal with the current issue,” I say, glancing at Kate who nods her head in agreement.
“Good idea. We’ll send you a photo of her, so you know who to look for if the worst was to happen,” Kate adds.
“Her?” Frank grins. “Well then, that makes it all the more exciting.”
