: Chapter 4

Lia

My fingers shook, my adrenaline leaving me. In the Inverness suburbs, I returned to the house I’d rented—the first time I’d ever done such a thing—and slid out of the car.

The front door opened, and Lincoln stood in the frame, Evie in his arms.

I stifled a sob and ran to them, collecting my little girl in my arms. She clutched me, hands straight into my hair as always, and I hid my face until I’d composed myself.

Lincoln ushered us inside. “I take it that didn’t go well. Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”

“It was worse. Thank you for looking after Evie. Was she okay?”

“She woke and had her snack, then we played a counting game. We had a sneaky cartoon session right before you got home, just to distract her from missing you too much, but no need to mention that to your dad.”

In the lounge, I dropped onto the couch, Evie immediately snuggling in closer. I let my breathing relax, and we reconnected. She and I were so attached, I had no clue how either of us would handle being separated when the time came.

I brushed my fingers over her beautiful red hair, and a whomp of pain hit me at the memory of seeing Max again. Once upon a time, he’d laid out on a couch in my hotel with his head in my lap, telling me sweet things as I caressed his hair.

None of that loving boy had been present in the angry man I’d met today.

I’d killed off the love—that was on me—but the rest?

Lincoln pottered around the room, tidying. He’d already cleared my uneaten lunch from where I’d basically bolted earlier. It wasn’t part of his job to take care of me, but he was a kind-hearted man.

“Linc? I did something stupid,” I said.

“Oh?”

“I told Max you were my boyfriend.”

“Anytime.” He winked extravagantly, but panic quickly followed. “God, that was a joke. Please don’t tell your dad I said that either or I’ll be for the chop.”

A laugh spilled out of me, and Evie sat up, gazing at my mouth. She loved my laughter. I didn’t do it enough.

Lincoln perched on the chair opposite. “Want to tell me how it went down today?”

I gestured at Evie, and he nodded understanding. The fact that my daughter wouldn’t speak didn’t affect her hearing or understanding. She picked up far more than people gave her credit for.

“Later,” I mouthed, then set out to play with my baby girl.

At eight, with Evie tucked into a cot bed in the master bedroom, I wandered downstairs in the snug little home. From its last-minute availability and pictures of local hiking spots on the wall, it was obviously a holiday let. Not that we’d get out to do much exploring. We were on a time limit.

At the same moment, Lincoln emerged into the hall with a bowl held out. “Here. Eat.”

The rich scent of something spicy reached me.

“You cooked? You didn’t have to.”

“I know, but what else am I supposed to do? Go to a nightclub? So long as you don’t mind me hanging out for the evening, I’m happy to do meal prep. Besides, you didn’t eat today, and I want to hear all about what baby daddy had to say for himself. I figured fuelling you up would help.”

I took the food with gratitude and carried it to the lounge. After eating a few bites—Linc had been right that I’d been too nervous to eat earlier—I grabbed my phone and video-called my father.

I gestured to Linc then to the phone. “Two birds, one stone. Dad will want to know, too.”

He yipped then scooted to get out of shot. For reasons I’d never understood, Lincoln was terrified of my dad.

The man himself appeared onscreen, a wood-panelled office behind him. “Aurelia. I called home, and the housekeeper said you’d gone away for a couple of days. Where are you?”

I sucked in a breath. “I meant to tell you, sorry.”

He peered at the screen. “I don’t recognise that room. Give me your location. Now.”

“Oh, Dad, I’m safe. I took Evie to Scotland.”

He stilled at his desk. “Scotland.”

“It was time.”

Dad closed his eyes for a long moment. Revered in government circles, he was the best man who ever breathed. Powerful, skilled in his highly important job, but most of all, he loved me the same way I loved Evie.

He was my only living parent. I kept nothing from him, even if this time I was a little late in telling him my plans.

“Evie’s father,” he surmised.

“It had to be done. She deserves nothing less.”

“I wish you’d asked me first. I could’ve prepared you better. Where are you staying? Is it secure?”

I held up the phone so he could see the room. Linc ducked behind a chair.

“Safe and sound. It has a good security system, with external lighting, and we’re in the middle of a quiet residential street, overlooked on both sides. Only a small garden at the back and no lane access. I booked in under Lincoln’s name so no one knows I’m here.”

“At least Lincoln is with you. But I’d rather have you in a secure facility—”

“And I’m a twenty-year-old single mother. I can cope. Please, Dad. I’ve got this.”

He rubbed his forehead. “I will never stop worrying about you, but you’re right. So tell me, have you seen the man in question?”

My good mood soured. “Yes. It went just like you said. He denied all knowledge.”

“That little bastard. I’m sorry.”

I swallowed regret and moved on to my burning question. “Can you tell me again how it went down? How did Aunt Marie inform him about Evie?”

“I hardly know. Wait, I’ll patch in Felix.” He pressed something on his screen, then another video box appeared.

Felix looked up from his desk, a window overlooking a city behind him. In their part of the world, it was daytime. “Sir. Miss Aurelia.”

“Felix, I need a memory aid. When Lia was admitted to hospital, you located my aunt Marie.”

“That was Stephen, your previous assistant, but I have all of the notes available.”

“Right. Where was I?”

Felix clicked something then consulted his screen. “Pakistan, sir. Miss Aurelia was in hospital in Dubai.”

Dad relied heavily on his assistants and their records. We moved around so much, going where his job took us. Detailed accounts were essential.

“I remember. And my aunt?”

“Stephen notes that he located the woman in Scotland, at the address you recalled, and passed her contact details to you. You spoke to her once and compensated her for carrying out a local task.”

I sat forward. “You paid her? I didn’t know that. Felix, could you please give me her details?”

Felix hesitated, waiting on my father.

Once before, I’d asked this, needing the word from the horse’s mouth. It had been arranged for me to speak on the phone with Aunt Marie, and she’d given a short but upsetting account of visiting Max only to be turned away. Despite being so poorly, I’d needed to be sure that she’d shown him my scan pictures, and she’d confirmed he wouldn’t even look. Later, after Evie’s birth, Aunt Marie had returned with a picture of our newborn.

Again, Max had rejected her.

That time, I hadn’t spoken to her directly. I didn’t need to, plus my great-aunt had lost her husband. She’d been grieving.

I’d licked my own wounds in private.

Yet against all that history, I couldn’t reconcile the way he’d behaved today.

Dad stroked his short beard. “Talk to her if you wish. I’m not sure what good it would do to disturb the woman now. She has never played a significant role in our lives, useful as she was at the time. But if it helps you, I’ll be glad for it. I assume you’ll be coming home tonight?”

My aim in travelling to Scotland had been solely to speak to Max. Job done, yet he’d thrown information back at me. That, I hadn’t even begun to think through. Max’s claim that I’d slept with his brother was outrageous. I couldn’t believe it. He’d implied that Evie’s fatherhood was in doubt, and that, too, I wouldn’t accept.

For the first time in my life, I deliberately excluded my father from important information.

“Here’s the thing, Dad. Max claimed he was never told about Evie. I know he’s lying. That’s why I want to speak to Aunt Marie so I can call him out with all the facts. I’ll be here a couple more days.”

“But your studies. Evie’s therapy.”

“We’ll catch up when we’re back.”

A knock rattled Dad’s door, and he raised his frustrated gaze to whoever had entered, the emotion leaving him in a heartbeat as he settled his features for his caller.

A prickle of fear ran over my skin. Dad’s career was dangerous. More than once, he’d had threats against his life. Hence his worry for our safety.

I wished beyond anything that we could creep off to some safe corner of the world and put down roots. Together, and out of harm’s way.

Dad gestured at the screen. “I have to go. Duty calls. I can’t say I like what you’re doing, but I understand. I will expect twice-daily updates via Felix, and for you to be home by the weekend.”

“Friday, sir,” Felix interjected. “Miss Aurelia will need to be back in time to relocate.”

“Indeed. Friday, Aurelia.”

Which meant I only had tomorrow, then I’d need to get us all on a flight back. “No problem. Love you, Dad. Stay safe.”

He hung up, but I waited for Felix who was still on the line.

“How’s he doing?” I asked Dad’s assistant.

“Absolutely fine. You needn’t worry. We would never let anything happen to him.” Felix brushed a hand over his suit jacket, as immaculate as his millimetre-perfect blond crewcut.

“I know that. Is this job particularly dangerous? It’s finishing sooner than planned.”

Felix gave a tight smile. He couldn’t tell me, and I had no idea why I’d asked.

“Let me get that information on your relation for you,” he replied instead.

Lincoln emerged from his hiding place and fake-mopped his brow. He waved to Felix then held up the remote control to me, asking permission to watch a show.

All my life, I’d been used to this way of living. Around Dad, everyone acted formally and by function. We all served a greater purpose with him at the centre. Then, when he was gone, we were able to relax a little.

To the background of an American sitcom, I received the phone number and home address of the great-aunt I’d never met but who had represented me in one of the toughest times of my life.

Before I lost my nerve, I got off the call and dialled her. Her answerphone kicked in immediately, but I didn’t leave a message.

Tomorrow, I’d make a second attempt.

Then, armed with information, I’d once again take on Max.