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“I didn’t tell her to do anything, sweetheart,” I sigh. That’s mostly true, anyway. I don’t give Ella too many orders, and in return she doesn’t ask too many questions about my family, my business dealings, or where we might be traveling next. “Ella will be waiting for us at home when we get there this evening, so don’t worry.”
Yeah, she still looks worried. And upset.
I just hope the play rehearsal will take her mind off all the stuff going on at home and allow her to escape for a couple hours of fun.
I use the rest of the trip to Isla’s school to make some phone calls, so I don’t notice the text from Ella until we’re climbing out of the SUV with just a few minutes to spare before the rehearsal.
James is here. I don’t know what to do.
“What the fuck?” I mutter out loud, earning me a disapproving look from my daughter.
“Language, Dad.”
“Sorry, honey.” The text is from ten minutes ago, which means Ella has been stuck alone with James for at least that long.
Shit.
I text Ella back to let her know I’m on my way, then fire off another quick text to Saffron, asking her to cover for me at the rehearsal. Now I just have to break the news to Isla.
I wait until we’re inside and I can see some of the other kids running off to join their teacher before I lean in to give her a good luck hug and let her know what’s going on. “Sweetheart, I need to miss a few minutes of your rehearsal, but I don’t want you to worry because Aunt Saffron will be here to watch you, okay?”
She frowns up at me. “Where are you going?”
I obviously can’t tell her the truth and I don’t have time to come up with a lie. “I just need to check on something at home. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can, though.” I nod toward Isla’s teacher and classmates. “Go on now, have fun with your friends. That’s what we’re here for, right?”
“Yeah, I guess.” She’s disappointed and I don’t blame her. This is out of my hands, though. James shouldn’t be at my house, and he sure as hell shouldn’t be alone with Ella.
“Listen, I promise I’ll be here to watch your entire performance later this week, okay? From start to finish, nothing is going to keep me away.”
She perks up a little. “Not even if your work calls?”
“I won’t answer.”
“You won’t have a meeting at the last minute?”
Damn, she really has heard all my excuses before, hasn’t she?
“No meetings,” I shake my head, silently cursing myself for making her feel like she needs to question me like this. She obviously doesn’t trust me, and that’s something I have to fix. I can only fix one thing at a time, though, and it’s Ella’s turn right now. “You have my word that I’ll be here with you the entire time, Isla. Now go on and break a leg.”
She gasps. “You want me to break my leg?”
In spite of everything else that’s going on, I find myself laughing as I pick her up and give her a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s just an expression, my love. Now hurry, so you don’t get in trouble for being late.”
I set her back on her feet and watch until her teacher greets her, then I turn and make a mad dash for the door. I haven’t had another message from Ella since that first one, and the silence is starting to worry me.
I have no idea why he’s there or what made him think it was okay to stop by unannounced in the first place, but I’m going to set him straight.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
KEIRAN
“Ella?” I call out her name as soon as the elevator doors open. “Ella, are you here? James?”
I step into the living room but I can’t see or hear anyone. I’m trying not to panic but something is definitely wrong here.
“Ella?” I call out again as I hurry down the hallway toward her room. “Ella, I’m here—can you hear me?”
A muffled sound comes from the other side of her door and I throw it open wide without even thinking about knocking. “Jesus, Ella.” She’s huddled in her bed, lying on her side and crying so quietly that I still can hardly hear her even though she’s right in front of me.
