AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Star,” I croak out, a mixture of pain and shock making it almost impossible to talk. She hears me and is immediately by my side, dropping to her knees.
“Roxy.” Her head drops to my side, and an image of her doing the same thing once when I was sick flashes through my mind. The tears fall unceremoniously as a sob forces its way free, breaking my heart and ripping apart my throat as it does.
I feel her shaking and rest my hand on her head. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” I soothe.
She raises her head, our eyes meeting properly for the first time, and I move to sit up. Shifting to sit next to me, I can’t take my eyes off her. Her once shoulder length brown hair is now a short pixie cut with the ends highlighted. She’s wearing a light dusting of make up on her face, which only accentuates her natural beauty. I reach out a hand to touch her, to make sure she’s real, that she’s really here. When I hesitate, she grasps my hand and pulls it to her face. She rests her cheek in my hand just like when she was younger, and more tears fall.
After several minutes, I stroke my thumb over her cheek before pulling away. Turning to Kavanagh, anger rises as question after question runs riot through my mind.
“How…what…I…” Words fail me. I literally am unable to form a coherent sentence. Shock and relief and every other possible emotion are like a deluge of rain rushing over me, and I can’t get my bearings. I try again, turning back to Star, but the questions still don’t come. “You’re here. You’re really here.”
“Yes, I’m here. I’m sorry for giving you such a shock. I guess I didn’t think it through.”
“No, you didn’t think it through,” Kavanagh snaps, his tone full of reprimand, like a father disciplining his daughter, and I don’t like it.
“Hey, don’t talk to her like that. Who do y—” A hand on my arm, which is outstretched and poking a very pointed and pissed off finger in Kavanagh’s direction, stops me.
“It’s okay, Roxy.”
“No, it’s not fucking okay,” I snap, getting to my feet full of rancour and displeasure now the shock is wearing off. “You have no damn right to reprimand her,” I say, taking a step closer to Kavanagh and poking him in the chest. “You’re not her family, so—” My words are cut off and my hand slapped away.
“Do not overstep in my home, Roxanne. Remember who you’re talking to. I understand this has been a shock for you, so I’ll let it go this once. But don’t ever forget who I am, or what I’ve done for you and your sister.”
Star steps between us, pushing Kavanagh away. “That’s enough, Aiden. Go make tea or some shit. Better yet, order some food.” He steps back, but his eyes remain on me the whole time. This is the real Aiden Kavanagh—the man I met in that warehouse, only difference is the expensive suit he’s wearing now the mask has slipped.
Star places a hand on his chest, and his eyes soften as he looks at her. It’s not a romantic touch, more a brotherly one and strikes a dagger through my heart. He casts one more threatening look my way before turning and leaving.
When I look around the room, I see we are alone. Taking a seat back on the sofa before I fall down, I watch as Star moves back to join me. She’s wearing a beautiful navy blue fitted suit with a pair of nude heels, looking like a top-class businesswoman. I can’t believe this is my baby sister.
“What was that? I don’t understand, Star.”
“I know, and I’ll try to answer all your questions, but there are some things that I can’t—won’t—speak about.”
I frown at her words because it’s obvious there is a very long fucking story here, but I fear I’m only going to be getting half of it. I try not to be bitter about that, bitter that Kavanagh knows more about my own sister than me, but it’s fucking hard.
“Okay. Not gonna lie and say that doesn’t hurt because there was a time when you’d tell me anything…” The rest of my words get trapped in the knot of emotion sitting in my throat.
“It’s not like that, Roxy. I will tell you, just not yet. I’m not ready for that conversation.” Her own voice is strained, and I can tell how much it’s hurting her too.
“Can you at least tell where you’ve been all this time?”
Her eyes darken at my question, and I watch as she fidgets in her seat and brushes her hand down her thigh.
“I’ve been with the Kavanagh family.”
“Since the…that night?” She shakes her head before dropping eye contact with me. Sensing this is an area she’s not comfortable with, I tread carefully.
“Can you tell me what happened?” She becomes more agitated, so I reach out and clasp her hand in mine, squeezing to let her know it’s okay.
Star takes a deep breath before she begins. “I was in the kitchen cutting veg for tea with Mum, it was one of her better days, when there was a knock at the door. When Mum looked out the kitchen window to see who it was, she immediately became nervous and hurried me to the cupboard under the stairs, telling me to be quiet and stay there no matter what.” She pauses, breathing deeply before continuing, “He started shouting at her as soon as the door opened, and there was a struggle. Mum was screaming…” I squeeze her hand again, but she pulls away. Getting to her feet, she begins pacing. “There was a lot of noise, then Mum went quiet, and I knew something bad had happened, but I couldn’t move. I was so scared, Roxy,” she says, turning back to face me.
Sensing she needs the space, I stay where I am, despite it going against everything in me to do so. “Star, it wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid. And Mum told you to stay where you were.”
“I know, not that it did any good,” she says, dolefully. “After it had gone completely silent, I waited what seemed like forever before I pushed the door open a fraction and crept out slowly. I thought he’d gone, but he was still there. When I turned to go to the lounge, there he was covered in blood and still clutching the knife…”
This time I do get up and go to her, embracing her as sobs wrack her body. I feel her tense momentarily as my arms wrap around her “Fuck, Star. I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t there. I should have been there.”
She pushes back. “Roxy, then it wouldn’t just have been Mum but you too. I’m glad you weren’t there.”
