“It’s okay,” he says calmly. “We will figure something out.”
Something about his tone breaks me. He sounds so confident, so sure. There is not the slightest bit of hesitation or reluctance in helping me. He says it as if it’s the only possible course of action, as if there is no other option. I can just tell that leaving me to my fate will never even cross his mind. He knows exactly what I am and it doesn’t bother him. And he said ‘we’. We. He thinks of me and him as a ‘we’.
I wail. It’s like every time I wanted to cry as a child but wasn’t allowed to, is bursting out of me. Every hurt, every moment of fear, every second of loneliness, is all pouring out of my soul. I’m covering Kit in snot and tears, but he just holds me. Waits serenely for me to finish. Somehow he knows I need to let it all out.
When I eventually calm down a little, he guides me to the sofa. His mom makes me drink tea and feeds me cookies while Kit sits by my side holding my hand. I have no idea what I’m going to do, but whatever it is, I know for the first time in my life I’m not going to be facing it alone. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.
Chapter twenty-seven
Kit
Mackenzieisterrified,notthat anyone can tell by looking at him. But I know. I’d like to say it’s because I know him so well, but truthfully, it’s more because he is holding my hand and I can feel him shaking.
Mum is sitting on his other side in the back of the car. She takes his other hand and he grips it tight enough to whiten his knuckles. The sight makes me feel all gooey inside. Not because he is scared enough to need to hold her hand, but that he is accepting her help, her love. I adore that Mum has practically adopted him and taken him under her wing. He deserves to experience what a real mom is like.
We are on our way to meet with Miranda. She has accepted my agent’s office as a neutral enough location. The whole thing feels far too cloak and dagger. Part of me can’t believe that this is my real life.
Mackenzie doesn’t hesitate when we arrive. I guess he wants to get this over and done with. I can relate to that. We hustle inside before anyone sees us.
Sally gives us a curious look as we enter but she doesn’t say anything. Just nods in greeting and lets us make our way to her meeting room.
Miranda is already here. Standing at the head of the conference table, engrossed in her phone. She is alone. It doesn’t make her look weak. It does the exact opposite, she is showing us that she doesn’t need an entourage because she is in control here. Unlike Mackenzie. It’s a damn good power move.
“Have you come to your senses?” she asks without looking up.
“No!” I snap on Mackenzie’s behalf, falling into her trap of agreeing that returning to her is the sensible thing to do.
I take a deep calming breath. Then I look at Mackenzie. Does he need me to speak on his behalf or is this something he wants to do? His shoulders straighten and I let him do his thing.
“I’m here to tell you that if you release the tape, I will tell all about my adoption and your birth son.”
She bristles and her eyes narrow. She is actually looking up from her phone. We’ve certainly got her attention if nothing else.
A long, tense, silent moment passes.
“Why would anyone believe you? You don’t have any evidence. And after everyone knows what a home-wrecking fiend you are, your words will be worthless.”
Mackenzie shudders but holds her gaze evenly. “Are you sure you want to take that risk?”
His voice is soft but full of deadly promise. It raises the hairs on the back of my neck and makes me want to never piss him off. I’ve never seen this side of him before and I love it. Just as long as it’s never directed at me.
Miranda scowls, and she and Mackenzie enter into a glare-off. I cross my arms as I stand silently by his side. I don’t need to look to know Mum is looking positively murderous. She may be small, but when I was a kid, I watched her chase two burglars out of our flat with a frying pan. She’s tough and vicious. Like a Jack Russell. Living where she does, she’s had no choice in that.
“I can also tell the world about how you sold me when I was a child.”
Miranda huffs. “I know you, you don’t want anyone knowing that. Besides, after this tape gets out, it will just look like you are making excuses. Again, you have no evidence.”
She wiggles her phone in the air, in a clear reminder that unlike him, she does have concrete proof.
Mackenzie shrugs. “I won’t have much else to lose, will I? And shit sticks. Especially after Jeff and Ghislaine.”
Her glare intensifies but I can tell she is flustered. Like I am. Something about Mackenzie referring to those notorious creeps by their first names, like they were friends of the family, sends shivers down my spine. A second later, it dawns on me that he probably did know them and I nearly vomit.
“I have had enough of this!” she announces. “I will give you twelve more hours to get over this ridiculous rebellion and come to your senses.”
She barges past us and storms out of the door. I can tell she is shocked that Mackenzie is standing up to her. She wasn’t expecting that. It’s definitely got her rattled, but I have no idea if it is enough. It could go either way.
Beside me, Mackenzie sags as if all the fight has suddenly been knocked out of him. I pull him close to me and wrap my arms around him. He holds onto me in the way I have come to adore. He is so precious.
