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I thought about arguing the toss, but then decided not to. I could spy from behind the door.
“Of course, Dad. Safe travels now.”
“Bye, princess. Until we meet again.”
Who knew when that would be. I tried not to think about it.
I pushed the door nearly closed but left it open just enough.
“I want you gone from this city, this country,” said my father, “before morning. Or else I’ll call in every favour I’m owed, and pay whoever wants to be paid, to hunt you down like the filthy dog you are.”
“She loves me,” Eric protested.
“Yeah, she mentioned that.” Caelan grunted and so did my father. “But I’m forcing what’s called an intervention to save her from the perils of what men like you offer women like my daughter.” I heard nothing but snarling for a minute or so. “She doesn’t trust you. She won’t ever trust you. Not in the way she trusts Caelan. And honestly, even I trust Caelan. So you don’t stand a chance pal and I’m here to save her from herself. So, she’ll have nothing more to do with you because my feelings are that you are scum and if you don’t leave, I will kill you myself with my bare hands. And, I’ll enjoy it far too much.” Eric had no response to that. “Since you’re the reason my daughter is in there now, tormented and churned up because of you, ya stupid cunt… I’d advise you, very strongly, to get the fuck out of this country. Name your price and it’ll be done.”
“Ten million,” said Eric, without any further protest.
“Done. Leave your bank details with Caelan. Then fuck off. I want photographic proof, timestamped, that you’re out of the country before I pay ya. And I want Caelan here to have a friend put a trace on your passport so we can make doubly sure you don’t fucking come back.”
“Fine,” huffed Eric.
“If you come back and come anywhere near her, Caelan will have one of my men hunt you down and gut you. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“And you swear it?”
“I swear it.”
“I mean it, fella. No funny business. I’ll have you gone.”
“I believe you. As long as I get the money, I don’t give a fuck.”
There it was. Money. So long as he got his money. Maybe that’s what he’d been holding out for. Some kind of bargain.
I smiled because even though I was hurting, I’d known my father would know what to do and how to play this. He’d sorted it out for me and it would be done.
No good could come of Eric hanging around.
I’d loved an idea. Nothing more.
Who he’d pretended to be when he was with me didn’t exist.
“Thanks, Blake,” said Caelan, his voice uncharacteristically faint.
“Don’t say another word. If you leave her again, I’ll come for you next. Pray to your god and all the others that you can win her back. Because right now, knowing her as well as I do, she’s about ready to run with that bairn and get herself good and lost. You hear me?”
“I hear you,” said Caelan, sounding ashamed and solemn.
“Sort it out,” said Blake Rathbone, right before banging the front door shut.
I watched out of the window as he chased to the car, got inside, then was driven off into the night.
Out in the hallway, I heard Caelan say, “This is for the best.”
“Fuck you, Caelan,” growled Eric.
I entered the hallway and found them both glaring at one another.
