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I took another drag, drawing smoke deep into my lungs. “Are you having a good night, Karl?”
The driver rocked back on his heels. “Yes, sir. How about you?”
Cold night air wrapped around me, and I watched the party from a distance. Everyone in there was having fun, and I was standing out here. Why did I feel so shit? I should have been in there mingling.
“Not really. Can you get me out of here?”
Karl nodded. “Of course. Back to the Beaufort?”
I sighed. No. An evening on my own in the Beaufort sounded even worse. “I want a drink in peace. Somewhere quiet and discreet where I won’t be bothered. No paparazzi.”
Karl scraped his beard and peered around the car park. “Not many places like that round here. I can only think of one.”
“Is it discreet?”
Karl nodded. “Your dad used to own it.”
In that case, it was perfect. Any place that Dad went to a lot would need to be discreet. I patted Karl on the back. “Fine. Let’s go and have a drink.”
Karl stiffened. “I don’t drink while I’m on the job.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll drink for both of us.”
Chapter 7
Miri
Myeyesburnedwithexhaustion. I hadn’t slept after my conversation with Deano. A tense knot resided in my stomach and wouldn’t let me relax. Even a day in the gym and a grueling training session couldn’t shift my sense of foreboding. There was no way I could contemplate Deano’s demands. Stripping was not an option. Getting up in front of people and dancing naked wasn’t even something I could imagine. It just wasn’t me.
I lowered myself into an ice bath next to Phoebe. My teeth chattered and chills raced all over my skin. I sucked in breaths, trying to calm myself enough to tell Phoebe what was going on. She was my closest friend. The only person outside of my family that I trusted. I couldn’t tell anyone else. They’d only worry.
Phoebe’s gaze roved over my face and a small smile quirked her lips. “So, hear me out … I have this friend. I’ve been wanting to set you up on a date—”
“Absolutely not.” My body shuddered; I spoke through gritted teeth. “That’s the last thing I need. There’s something going on that I need to talk to you—”
“It’s the best thing for a breakup. You need to get back out there. Nothing serious. Have some fun.”
“No. Listen, Phoebe, I …”
I opened my mouth, battling to find the right words to explain what an absolute mess I’d made. Phoebe frowned and studied my face.
“Is it your ? Is everything okay?”
“No. It’s something else …”
My heart pounded. I’d have to tell her. She’d offer me the money, which would be embarrassing and awful, but still, better to owe Phoebe than a loose cannon like Deano.
“Phoebe, I’ve messed up. It’s cost so much to get the house ready for Mum to come home, so I—”
My phone buzzed on the bench by the lockers. My nerves tensed. I eased out of the bath. Frankie’s face flashed on the phone screen.
Mum.
I jumped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around myself, and answered the phone. Muffled conversations, beeping, and moaning filled my ears. My heart sank.
“Frankie? Is it Mum? What—”
“It’s not Mum.” Frankie’s voice cracked with tears. “It’s Reece. You need to come to the hospital.”
