CHAPTER 1
KAT
“Lottie,” Caleb says, the relief in his tone palpable.
My gaze goes to the door as Lottie enters, tucked under Elijah’s shoulder. Her head is buried against his chest, his arms locked tightly around her.
I close my eyes and let out a deep breath, sending up a silent prayer of thanks.
“Lottie? Darling.”
Darra jumps to her feet, trembling hands reaching towards her daughter, before coming to rest over her chest.
An ache forms in my throat. Despite everything she’s put my brother and Pen through, no mother should find out her daughter is missing. God only knows where.
“Mum?” Lottie says, her head coming up. “What are you doing here?”
“You expect me to ignore the fact that you didn’t arrive on the plane you were supposed to?” Darra’s voice catches, her eyes blinking rapidly. “I know you think I’m the world’s worst mother, but?—”
“I don’t think you’re the world’s worst mother,” she replies, her eyes widening as she takes in the police officers and familymembers. “I sent you a message telling you I was staying here for my birthday. You didn’t get it?” she whispers, her voice cracking.
“Clearly,” Darra says, her tone hardening.
My stomach clenches as Darra’s mask slips, and Lottie tries to placate her mother.
“Mr Frazer?”
Elijah looks up as the police officer in charge steps forward.
“As Miss Frazer has returned?”
“Yes. Please. If you need a statement, I can bring her to the station later,” Elijah says quickly.
His rigid posture tells me he wants to remove all eyewitnesses. As a family, we don’t need our dirty laundry aired in public.
The officer nods and motions for his colleagues to clear up and move out.
An awkward silence descends.
Pen steps forward and walks them out. I can hear her talking in the corridor. It’s good to see my friend where she’s meant to be, standing beside the love of her life.
“Hey, button,” Caleb says, stepping forward and giving Lottie a hug. “You had us scared.”
“I know, I’m sorry, Uncle Caleb…”
I tune out the rest of their conversation as my eyes come to rest on the man standing in the doorway.
A sudden chill expands deep within my core, and I curl my fingers inward, gripping the chair I’m sitting on.
“What the—” Gabriel hisses.
I sense his gaze move to me, but my focus remains locked on the man in the doorway as I work on schooling my features.
“Zach?” Caleb says, breaking the spell.
Darra moves towards Zach. When she touches his arm, my lungs constrict, spots flashing in my vision. I clench my jaw, swallowing against the painful tightness in my throat.
Zach shakes his head and steps away. “No.” His gaze finally leaves me before landing on my older brother.
